Tuesday, January 17, 2012 - Unpublished

     As I wrote yesterday's blog the thought crossed my mind that it may have been too raw, too personal to post.  At about the same time, an error message popped up telling me the site was unable to save the draft I was writing.  God used the pop-up message to encourage me to pray, "Lord, if this one's just between You and me and shouldn't be published, then don't let it be posted."  Almost immediately, it disappeared before my eyes due to an Internet server glitch.  
     Was the time I spent in Bible study, prayer and writing wasted?  Not even close.  God was telling me, "Your goal is to listen to what I tell you.  Most days it's to be shared with others, but some days it's meant for your heart, your understanding alone."  God has personal lessons for each of His children.  While it may seem safer and easier to study the general curriculum for all believers, the time will come when God tutors, reviews, or enriches us to affirm what His Word teaches and to jump-start us to act on what we already know.   


Father, Your Ways are infinitely wise and You know what each of us needs to hear from You.  You created Your Son to be our Rabbi, our "Good" Teacher, and through Him You spoke personally to real people in their own personal dilemmas and readiness to hear.  The Bible records instances You ministered and spoke publicly, but how many unpublished words did You speak with individuals and small groups? Paul spent three years alone listening to You in Arabia and Damascus (Gal. 1:17), yet we don't know and probably wouldn't understand what You said to him.  All we know is he heard You, served You, preached the gospel, and wrote to encourage believers. 
     What are You telling us today?  Prepare us to hear and to act on what You say to us personally today.   
In the Name of our Good Teacher, Jesus Christ

January 14, 2012 - Somebody Needs to Do Something

     I've learned, as have so many parents, to call out a specific name when I need help.  If I say, "Somebody, come set the table, dinner's ready," Nobody usually answers because Everyone assumes Somebody did it.  
     So many factors play into what we hear God calling us to do and what we're willing and unwilling to do for Him. Because Zacchaeus sat at his own table with Jesus, he repented of his greed and thievery.  The rich young ruler asked for a specific answer but didn't like what he heard and walked away.  
     And the prophet Isaiah?  Why did he respond to a general call for volunteers?   Why did he say, "Here am I. Send me!"  when he, with his unclean lips, stood among those who were with God around the clock?   He wasn't qualified to speak in God's behalf like the winged seraphs who sing in unbroken praise of His holiness, was he?  Wouldn't some other being, one from the Heavenly Sound and Lighting Effects Department, or Gabriel, from the Heavenly Messenger Department have done a better job at convincing the Israelites their nation would soon end? 
    And above every other excuse Isaiah could've made, was the big:  God didn't call him by name, letting him off the hook if he chose not to volunteer.  God put out an all-call for an unknown mission Isaiah could have ignored . . . . . if he weren't in the Presence of the  Lord Almighty in His glory.  Isaiah forgot all the other qualified beings around him, making himself available and it changed what Somebody did for God.

In the year that King Uzziah died, 

I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, 

and the train of His robe filled the temple.  

Above Him were seraphs, each with six wings:

With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, 

and with two they were flying.  

And they were calling to one another:

'Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty;

the whole earth is full of His glory.'

At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook 

and the temple was filled with smoke.

'Woe is me!' I cried. 'I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty.'

Lord, sometimes I want to disappear into the crowd of people who can do it better than I can.  Sometimes I want to throw my hands over my ears and pretend I didn't hear Your question: "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?"  When those times come, Father, refresh my vision of You in Your holiness contrasted with my woefully unclean heart.  May I see You alone and remember that all things are possible with You.  Fill my heart with such love that I can't NOT answer Your call, even if You don't call my name specifically.

In the Name of Jesus Who answered the Father's call: "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?"  

Based on Isaiah 6

January 12, 2012 - How Well Do I Know Me?

"There's no one righteous, not even one;" 

Romans 3:10

"So I find this law at work:  

When I want to do good, evil is right there with me.  

For in my inner being I delight in God's law;  

but I see another law at work in the members of my body, 

waging war against the law of my mind and 

making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members." 

(the Apostle Paul, Romans 7:21-23

     The rich young ruler came to Jesus confident in his social standing, his wealth, in what he had accomplished morally, and in his spiritual intentions. Jesus knew him better than he knew himself and called on him to give up the one thing that kept him a nameless young rich man instead of a great spiritual leader whose name appears in the Book of Life.  

     Zacchaeus, that little scoundrel of a tax collector, climbed a tree to see Jesus, never calling out to Him or thinking he, condemned and outcast as a greedy traitor by his people, would draw the attention of the Savior.  However, when Jesus looked up into that sycamore tree, He saw a heart ready to respond to Salvation. Jesus didn't tell Zacchaeus to let go of the wealth that was his god, but Zacchaeus felt his spiritual poverty more keenly than the morally upright young ruler and knew exactly how he needed to respond to Jesus' Presence.  

"But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, 

'Look, Lord!  Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, 

and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.'" 

Matthew 19:8

     The rich young ruler thought he knew himself and came to Jesus looking for a specific answer to a specific question, but Zacchaeus let Jesus' character show him what he needed to do.  Are we more in the habit of coming to Jesus in our self-righteousness for specific answers to specific questions and needs, or do we find our answers by accepting His invitation to spend time with Him? 

"We have to get rid of the idea that we understand ourselves, 

it is the last conceit to go."  

Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest

     Lord, You changed people no one thought would change, but those who didn't think they needed to change stayed stuck in their same sins.  Today, we come to You to know You better and let Your Love, kindness, goodness, power, forgiveness, and peace direct us in what we need to do in Your Name today.  Open the ears of our hearts to hear You. Free our feet from shackles that keep us from following through.  Change the areas in us we've given up on changing.  Nothing is impossible for You.
In the Name of Jesus, Whose Presence causes a commotion of conviction

January 11, 2012 - Salt and Light, More Than Words

"You are the salt of the earth,

 but if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? 

 It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.

 You are the light of the world.  A city on a hill cannot be hidden.  

Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. 

Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.  

In the same way, let your light shine before men, 

that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."  

Matthew 5:13-16

     My parents lost a "salt and light" friend to cancer in November, 2010.  Pat was the kind of woman you can't quite believe is for real when you first meet her.  She was energetic, lively, animated, affectionate, fun-loving, compassionate, generous, encouraging,  thoughtful, courageous and supportive of anyone who needed a listening ear.  No room was dim if she was in it.  She and her husband Larry modeled a marriage built on mutual respect, faith and vow-keeping love.  Pat's solid faith shone through in everything she said and did.  Mom says she would walk away from any conversation that hinted of gossip to carry her light to another part of the room.  I imagine that's why she could and did always see the best in other people.  
     Imagine the joy of closeness with someone like Pat, yet, there must be costs for those who do, since she lived to such a high standard.  From what I understand, she was always "all of the above" and won every senior class superlative,  choosing to keep "Friendliest."  That kind of popularity is bound to cause some jealousy or friction.  She was most likely criticized as a "goody-two-shoes" or a "kill-joy" at some point when she wouldn't participate in questionable activities.  She may have been resented by believers who didn't walk the talk.  Her kindness would have suffered misunderstanding, cynicism and watchful eyes. Her light probably made as many people uncomfortable as it comforted and her salt may have healed some while it stung others. We can assume these things happened because they happened to Jesus.  So, if we could interview Ms. Pat in heaven now, do you think she would say she regretted "missing out" on something or that she wishes she had given into the majority's wishes so they wouldn't have felt judged? 
     Our choices to obey Christ will at times inconvenience, convict, or annoy other people.  This cost of discipleship doesn't seem such a high price until we people-pleasers are in the middle of "a situation," surrounded by peer pressure.  Even adult believers feel peer pressure in the form of "don't act holier than thou," "have a little fun," gossipy prayer requests, and cliques.  When the pressure's on, we're called to follow Christ, which means sometimes walking away from the crowd to regroup, hear His voice and get His will down-Pat.  

I have decided to follow Jesus

No turning back, no turning back.

His cross before me, the world behind me,

No turning back, no turning back.

Tho none go with me, still I will follow

No turning back, no turning back.  

Thank You, God, for people like Pat who show us what You can do through yielded believers.  We don't have to live tossed here-and-there lives other people determine for us.  You work miraculously through our submissiveness so we submit to Your Will, Lord, knowing we'll never regret it.  Strengthen us against peer pressure and wanting to please people more than You. Mold us into people like Pat.

In the Name of Jesus, Who taught us to be salt and light

January 11, 2012 - Salt and Light, More Than Words

"You are the salt of the earth,

 but if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? 

 It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.

 You are the light of the world.  A city on a hill cannot be hidden.  

Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. 

Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.  

In the same way, let your light shine before men, 

that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."  

Matthew 5:13-16

     My parents lost a "salt and light" friend to cancer in November, 2010.  Pat was the kind of woman you can't quite believe is for real when you first meet her.  She was energetic, lively, animated, affectionate, fun-loving, compassionate, generous, encouraging,  thoughtful, courageous and supportive of anyone who needed a listening ear.  No room was dim if she was in it.  She and her husband Larry modeled a marriage built on mutual respect, faith and vow-keeping love.  Pat's solid faith shone through in everything she said and did.  Mom says she would walk away from any conversation that hinted of gossip to carry her light to another part of the room.  I imagine that's why she could and did always see the best in other people.  
     Imagine the joy of closeness with someone like Pat, yet, there must be costs for those who do, since she lived to such a high standard.  From what I understand, she was always "all of the above" and won every senior class superlative,  choosing to keep "Friendliest."  That kind of popularity is bound to cause some jealousy or friction.  She was most likely criticized as a "goody-two-shoes" or a "kill-joy" at some point when she wouldn't participate in questionable activities.  She may have been resented by believers who didn't walk the talk.  Her kindness would have suffered misunderstanding, cynicism and watchful eyes. Her light probably made as many people uncomfortable as it comforted and her salt may have healed some while it stung others. We can assume these things happened because they happened to Jesus.  So, if we could interview Ms. Pat in heaven now, do you think she would say she regretted "missing out" on something or that she wishes she had given into the majority's wishes so they wouldn't have felt judged? 
     Our choices to obey Christ will at times inconvenience, convict, or annoy other people.  This cost of discipleship doesn't seem such a high price until we people-pleasers are in the middle of "a situation," surrounded by peer pressure.  Even adult believers feel peer pressure in the form of "don't act holier than thou," "have a little fun," gossipy prayer requests, and cliques.  When the pressure's on, we're called to follow Christ, which means sometimes walking away from the crowd to regroup, hear His voice and get His will down-Pat.  

I have decided to follow Jesus

No turning back, no turning back.

His cross before me, the world behind me,

No turning back, no turning back.

Tho none go with me, still I will follow

No turning back, no turning back.  

Thank You, God, for people like Pat who show us what You can do through yielded believers.  We don't have to live tossed here-and-there lives other people determine for us.  You work miraculously through our submissiveness so we submit to Your Will, Lord, knowing we'll never regret it.  Strengthen us against peer pressure and wanting to please people more than You. Mold us into people like Pat.

In the Name of Jesus, Who taught us to be salt and light

Tuesday, January 10, 2012 - 3D Worship

"In reply Jesus declared,

'I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.'"

John 3:3

     For the life of me, I still don't understand the differences between blu-ray, HD, plasma, LCD, LED, KFC, digital recordings, dolby sound, tweeters and woofers, red tag, and blue light specials but even I know when I'm watching a film in 3-D. The picture's blurry without the goofy glasses and it's "interactive" with the goofy glasses.  I would like to speak on behalf of those of us who can enjoy a movie without all the bells and whistles.  As long as I can hear the dialogue and see expressions, I can enjoy a good movie or television show because characters and plot are the two most important parts of any story in my opinion, but there are those in my acquaintance who can't sit quietly, get to know the characters or follow the plot, unless all the effects are up and running.  While I admit my viewing pleasure rises with the tweaks, I don't like to interrupt a movie in the thick of the plot to improve anything.  If I'm watching it, I'm enjoying it "as is." 

     Believers who want to worship God can worship Him in Africa without sound systems or screens.  They can enjoy His Presence alone in a crowd of unbelievers or in a room filled with worship songs in another language, culture, or style.  They don't have to have candles, stained glass, or a guitar.  They worship because the Main Character is Present and He commands attention. How can we best prepare to worship God with anyone, anywhere, anytime, and under any circumstances?  We stop every morning and worship Him when we're frazzled, short on time, short on patience, and think we'd do better just to skip it.  Closing our eyes to His kingdom leads to seeing people in fuzzy groups instead of as individuals, blurring our purpose into what's urgent, dropping God's goals for us and storming over them in our hurry to get out the door to do lesser things. What a testimony to Christian unity if we all put on our kingdom-vision glasses, focus on Him, and let Him clear things up for us and put us back on track.

Father, forgive us for tweaking all the meaning right out of worship and for making it about anything other than You.  So much concern about progress and professionalism, personal tastes, pet peeves, and the "cutting edge" all do their part to erode our focus on You. Teach us to truly worship You at home alone and with our families so that when we come together we've already been fed and what we bring is to share.  May Your children rise up and see Your kingdom for what it is - a place where You rule and souls matter most.

In the Name of Jesus Who taught and preached the Kingdom of God at hand 

     

Monday, January 9, 2012 - Beware the Music Room

     Enter our music room (converted dining room) at your own risk.  We're living dangerously in there.  
     The previous owners of our home drove a large screw securely into the wall which will leave a huge hole if we remove it.  The screw is too high to hang a picture at "regulation height," but if we remove it we have to fill it, sand it and decide what color to paint that area of the house. Since painting comes further down our list of things to do to the house, we live on the edge every day with a horizontal plate holder balancing from the middle on this large and secure screw.  All stays steady as long as I place or remove the two end plates at the same time, but there are marks on the wall for every time I forget and that painting job moves up the list.  
     On what inconvenient pegs have you tried to balance your life?  
         *high expectations
         *an unsteady market
         *irrational people
         *inexperience
         *tight spaces
         *wide open criticism
         *low support
         *past mistakes
         *quirks and hard to break habits
       Satan wants us to believe these problems are firmly embedded and either impossible to remove and repair or too much trouble to change when we've lived this long balancing on our peg of choice.  We would "upset the apple cart" and "rock the boat," but God delights in this kind of remodeling and reminds us that any peg that's not Him will come down, along with everything we've hung on it.

"'In that day,' declares the LORD Almighty, 

'the peg' driven into the firm place will give way; 

it will be sheared off and will fall, 

and the load hanging on it will be cut down." 

The LORD has spoken." 

Isaiah 22:25

    God's calling us to drop our fear or laziness and accept the challenge.

"For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, 

but you received the Spirit of sonship."  

Romans 8:15

As God's children, we're born into
      *Power that moves mountains, 
      *Truth that never changes
      *and Love that changes us.

"For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, 

but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God." 

1 Peter 1:23

   Painting the music room will be a lot of trouble, but it's the ultimate answer to making the room what we want it to be. And, as inconvenient as a "peg" shift seems now, it's the ultimate answer to a safely balanced life of peace and security. 
     Father, open our eyes to see where we've misplaced our trust, allowed our lives to flow with the current or simply refused to remodel our lives to fit Your calling.  Fill us with Your Spirit of Power, Truth and Love so we can't be content until we've hung everything on You alone because You alone are eternally sound and secure.  
In the Name of Jesus, Our Solid Rock