January 31, 2014

For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. - Romans 12:4-5

To put this verse in context with the surrounding passages, Paul says "offer your bodies as a living sacrifice" and "do not think of yourself more highly than you ought" as part of his passages before saying we are to be a member of the body with our function and be a "member belonging to all the others."  He follows this by describing how each of us are to use our spiritual gifts whatever it is, to sincerely love, to be devoted to one another in love, and to honor one another above ourself.

In today's devotional by Tony Dungy, he discusses who the MVPs have been in all the Super Bowls and how there has never been an offensive lineman to get the MVP.  Yet, he points out how futile the effort of any team would be without a stellar offensive line. 

In my own coaching, defense started with defensive tackles.  If I can't plug the middle, I can't force a team to run around the ends.  I had to be able to make a team's plays more predictable.  No one usually notices those tackles, stuck in the middle of the line and very often under a huge pile of lineman on every play.  But they were crucial to the start of the defensive personnel alignment and game plan.

It seems so easy for people in Christian service to get burnt out.  They work and work and work and no one seems to notice or care, or at least they fall into this frame of thinking at times.  And soon, if left to this line of thinking, they slowly back away from service until they aren't serving at all.  Everyone needs encouragement, but even if we're a lineman and we block and block and get hit every play and someone else gets all the glory and never thanks us, we need to stay steady.  We must offer our bodies and not think to highly of ourself and belong to the others as Paul wrote in Romans 12.  Although I write that, I do so knowing how easy it is to feel and fall into that trap.  And when we see the "professional" Christians doing what appears to us to be lackluster jobs, it unfortunately fuels that fire and fall.

There comes a time in your Christian service when you meet that line of thinking head on.  At that time you have to decide and know why you are serving at all.  Is it for the glory?  Jesus warns about that.  Is it for the compliments of man?  Jesus warns about that.  Is it to make your status better in the eyes of God?  Jesus warns about that (it's also incorrect doctrine).  OR, is it because you recognize that the area of service is your gift and you are just contributing to the benefit of the others, even if some criticize you?  Is it because you feel a tug to do it and you don't think you could not do it even though it takes a lot of your time and effort?  You need to know in your heart.

It is also worth mentioning that not every local body of believers is the right body for you to be a part.  Sure, overall, every true believer is a member of the same body, I get that.  But, to use a football analogy, if you're a smash mouth run-up-the-middle type of guy and you're in a spread pass every play offense, you're not gonna be able to use your gifts as well in that offense.  It's important to be in a local body that your gifts fit together with the other parts well and you know confidently that you are a valuable and needed part.

Jan 30

Joshua 1:8

⁸ This Book of the Law shall not depart out of your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may observe and do according to all that is written in it. For then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall deal wisely and have good ^[a]success.  (AMP)

 

I really like Tony's insight today.  I like it all, but especially this summary: "...real success is about doing what God has called you to do as well as you can." 

Therefore as a spiritual leader of my household, my church, my Emmaus community, my role is to introduce those around me to God, teach them all I can about discerning God's call, and instilling a solid work ethic, not for their own success, but to ensure that they glorify God in their calling (Col 3:17, 23).  Part of this is to learn and practice this so that my life is a demonstration that success on earth is not gauged by my ego or by worldly standards, but by a Holy God who has called me to be like Him.  He came  in humility to serve God and others.  Once learned and modeled for others, I need to hold them accountable for finding God's call, answering it with their whole heart, and learning to measure success by how well we answer God's call each day. 

I'm convinced Tony's challenge to "score" ourselves is a skill I'm not sure I've mastered.  I'm not even sure how to start.  If I look how I do loving God with all my heart, mind, soul, and strength, I don't think I score well.  I love God, but with how much of me is debatable.  I'm not convinced that if God called me to make a radical change in my life (as he did to the rich young ruler) I could do it.  Sure, if guess if there was a burning bush such that the call came with much clarity and certainty perhaps. I think I do OK with those close to me - I've introduced my kids to the Lord, my wife loves the Lord, those closest to me do as well.  Am I doing all I can to point them to God's call, encourage and assist them?  I have to say no.  I guess most importantly, I still have not mastered loving my wife as Christ loves the church.  So often when I think I've reached spiritual maturity, I hear an "Oh really?" from God. 

January 30, 2014

Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it.  Then you will be prosperous and successful. - Joshua 1:8

Here in Joshua, the Lord is talking to Joshua just after Moses has died.  In the three verses (6-9) He tells Joshua to "be strong and courageous", to "not be afraid", to "not be discouraged" because He, the Lord, would be with him wherever he goes.  The Lord also instructs him twice to not turn away from the Law that Moses gave them and he would be prosperous.

Tony Dungy's devotional writing is about how our personal growth in our heart is what matters, not our professional worldly achievements.  He says, "Real success is about doing what God has called you to do as well as you can."  He goes on to say that we must be sure that we do not depend upon our professional achievements to be significant.  "We need to find our significance long before we step into any of those [professional] roles."

I find that these two sayings "Doing what God called you to do" and "find our significance" sound good on paper but the how-to escapes most Christians, including myself. 

In our Scripture reference, a very strong leader had just died.  In fact, he was the only leader the Hebrews had known for over 40 years.  A whole generation had passed while he led.  Now it was Joshua's turn and God the Father has His hands on Joshua's shoulders and He is encouraging him, instructing him, and reassuring him that he can be the leader in Moses' absence.  God has prepared him for this time and God is calling him to be the leader.

This is so very different than my life that I find very little to relate to in the story, so much so that it is really just a story to me.  I can read the text and take away the obvious instruction to stay inside the written Word of God, obey it, obey it, obey it, and (if I'm Joshua) I'll be prosperous.  How this relates to doing what God called me to do and finding my significance completely escapes me.

How do I know what God called me to do?  I have never felt any, not the slightest time, when I felt like God was holding my hand or shoulders and specifically telling me to become a ... anything.  In high school, I read a chapter of the New Testament every night. Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, then start over.  We didn't go to church then, I just liked to read about Jesus.  But when I had to pick a career path, I chose electrical engineering because everyone said that engineering is where my academic strengths were and electrical had, at that time, the highest base starting salary (although that changed before I graduated, should've went into chemical).

And what about my significance?  My single significance was to make more money than my single parent school teacher Mom so that if I ever had kids one day they wouldn't have to buy 2nd hand shoes and shirts and walk around the school looking at all the other kids who had normal stuff and believe they weren't equal.  Exactly how is that God-led?  It isn't.  The only significance I've ever felt is reading God's Word over and over and over and over about how He values me, but even then it is very difficult to accept. 

Don't take this wrong, I'm not disputing God's Word or His promises to Joshua.  I'm simply saying this is one of those Bible lessons that doesn't line up with my experiences.  I would love to experience it, but I haven't.  I'd love for God to give me a new name and purpose and calling besides those that are mine because I have lived and chosen a family and career, but He hasn't.  He is here with me, through it all, and maybe that's what my calling is.

Jan 29

1 Corinthians 10:12-13

¹² Therefore let anyone who thinks he stands [who feels sure that he has a steadfast mind and is standing firm], take heed lest he fall [into sin].

¹³ For no temptation (no trial regarded as enticing to sin), [no matter how it comes or where it leads] has overtaken you and laid hold on you that is not common to man [that is, no temptation or trial has come to you that is beyond human resistance and that is not ^[a]adjusted and ^[b]adapted and belonging to human experience, and such as man can bear]. But God is faithful [to His Word and to His compassionate nature], and He [can be trusted] not to let you be tempted and tried and assayed beyond your ability and strength of resistance and power to endure, but with the temptation He will [always] also provide the way out (the means of escape to ^[c]a landing place), that you may be capable and strong and powerful to bear up under it patiently.  (AMP)

 

Many recent events have revealed just how easy it is to fall to temptation.  While I've warned teenagers for years of how insidious sin is, I don't think I fully appreciated the depth of Satan's grasp on us.  Moreover, I'm recently convicted of how satan convinces us to rationalize, ignore, and accept those very things which we uniquely fall victim.  Therefore it's easy to see other's sin while I'm blind to my own.  For so long I've found it baffling how some people can rationalize or accept that which is so obviously sin, but I'm becoming aware of sin in my own life which I've rationalized for years.  While not so obvious, it is none-the-less sin.  Proof that we are all the same - sinners in need of a savior.  To think that I might be different or somehow better than anyone else is to fall victim to pride - see above! 

 

My young neighbor, Reed, likes to joke about some sins being "bad sins."   While we like to laugh about it, I think I've been conditioned to truly believe this as fact.  Now we all know that earthly consequences of sin vary, but spiritual consequences are all the same - separation from God.  Homosexuality for instance is one of those "bad sins" and its easy to find obese conservative Christians like me bashing it.  Satan has provided so many ways to rationalize our sins - after all, we have to eat, don't we?  I find it easy to be blinded to the sin of gluttony (the health ramifications are much more obvious), the sin of pride (after all, I'm not like them), the sin of materialism, and so on all of which seem to be not so "bad" yet in my heart I know they all displease God. 

 

So, it is clear that failure to be constantly in touch with, in tune with, or in relationship with God, is to fight temptation without the only real effective tool we have in our arsenal - the power of God.  To think that I can get up, shower, dress, and execute my day without the direction of the One who really knows best is perhaps my weakest character flaw.  Therefore, I find comfort and yet conviction in these verses.  Comfort in the fact that all I need to resist temptation has already not just been given to me, but PLACED INSIDE ME.  My failure to allow God to successfully fight temptation is a simple result of choosing not to (outright disobedience), lack of faith, or a lack of discipline to be in constant contact with Him. 

 

Lack of discipline and outright disobedience are simple choices I'm confronted with every day and my failures bother me. A desire to continue sinning is an indication that I'm not willing to make Christ Lord of every aspect of my life and also says that I believe contentment can be found outside of Christ.  At worst, I suppose it could mean I actually don't belong to Christ (John 8:47), but there is some evidence, I guess, to the contrary. 

So I have much growing left to do.  Which brings me around to today's devotion by Tony.  The importance of teamwork in accountability and support.  Until I mature to the point where I truly desire His Lordship over these aspects of my life, I need help. 

January 29, 2014

If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall.  The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure. – 1 Corinthians 10:12-13

Tony Dungy comments today saying, “We all have things that pull at us, tempt us, and distract us – constantly. … We usually allow ourselves to be pulled, tempted, distracted … because we believe we can handle it.  …  But God doesn’t ask us to walk alone.  …  Individuals don’t have to walk alone on those [successful, high-performance] teams – others come alongside them and keep them focused and encouraged.”

Busy, busy, busy.  Oh how busyness has robbed the Christian family of being a successful, high-performance team.  Everyone cares and is genuinely concerned for one another, but no one has time to perform a single action of service to demonstrate their love and care for one another.  It is so bad that it becomes hard for a Christian to even pray for the needs of the others in their own time, not to mention going to that person and praying with them. 

How can there be a successful, high-performance team that doesn’t communicate with each other except to share problems.  If those not injured aren’t willing to take the time to help those injured, how will the injured ever heal?  And if they do heal, will they ever put themselves back into the battle and if they do will they ever get close to the front line of that battle knowing they will have to heal themselves if injured.  I’d say no, they won’t. 

If we are close to someone and feel the Holy Spirit leading us to provide care or encouragement to them, and we don’t, we could be contributing to someone’s fall.  We could be, through our actions or inaction, be providing false doctrine to someone.  It is vitally important for us to be sensitive to those around us and show through our actions the doctrine of Christ.  I fail in this area.  It is so much easier just to teach and study.  I must practice what I preach.

Cleaning with Hyssop

Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. - Psalm 51:7

I have read that the reference to hyssop in verse 7 most likely referred to a plant named ezov, but has been interpreted to be hyssop.  This is significant because of its symbology and the Eastern style of teaching is with such techniques.  Ezov is readily found in Israel and it is generally thought that it was also used by the Jews to put the unblemished lamb's blood on the door mantels in Egypt so God would spare their first born (the Passover).  The blood of the spotless lambs preventing the death of Jews is another way that God was preparing the Jews to understand that there would have to be a perfect life to be shed and His blood would prevent the eternal death of all.  Here the writer calls out for God to cleanse him with it from his sin and only then would he be clean.  He seems to be asking God to use the same power He used to keep the Hebrew children alive from the death angel to remove his sin.  This is a remarkable insight having been written before Jesus came.  He understands that God has to do the cleaning; God has to bear the burden of the sin; God has to wipe the sin clean.  

Now let me enlighten this text and concept for this highly advanced civilization that I am a part of: simply put, two muddy people in a mud hole can't clean themselves or one another.  Someone not in the mud hole has to clean them.  I heard a preacher exclaim, "You can go to God smelling like a pig!"  Truth is, we have to go to God smelling like a pig and covered in mud.  We can't wipe it off and neither can anyone else.  Only He can clean us.

Tyrannies

I hate to hijack this devotional blog for this quote, but since it was written by C.S. Lewis and since the State of the Union address is to be given tonight and since this seems like such an appropriately worded description of the current strategy of the current political landscape in today's America, I had to post it.

"Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It would be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience."
– C.S. Lewis

January 28, 2014

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.   - 2 Timothy 4:7

"I have fought the good fight."  I commend Paul on saying this about himself.  Indeed, from what I know about him, he could say this with confidence.  I'm not sure I will ever be able to say this about myself.  I just always think there is something more I could have been or done.  As a coach these last two years of tackle football teams, after every loss my mind never stops churning about what plays I should have called and when, or what plays should I have developed and practiced, and it doesn't stop for months.  My thoughts just stay in this constant evaluation and reevaluation and I never get to the point of feeling like I can say I fought the good fight because we lost.  Similarly, since life is full of failures, there is much the same regarding every failure in my life and the evaluation and reevaluation goes on for years and decades.  How can I get to a point of ever being able to say "I have fought the good fight" when I have lost so many times? 

Someone once told me confidently that our kids would be fine as they grow up.  I asked him, "How can you say that?"  He replied because we are good parents.  I asked how could he possibly know that.  And he replied, "because you are there with them at home and that gives them a big advantage."  He had no idea what kind of parent I was, but his point is there is an advantage for kids who grow up with their parents at home.

Perhaps moving to the end of the verse, "I have kept the faith", helps me to understand the beginning of the verse.  I can reasonably ask myself if I have kept the faith.  Do I have faith, today, right now?  YES.  So is Paul saying that by keeping the faith, you are running the race, and fighting the good fight?  I'm not sure really.  But like the guy who said just being at home with kids gives my kids a big advantage and lends them to be more successful, keeping the faith certainly lends me to being able to at least be in the race and fighting.  Keeping the faith means I am in the game.

Do I believe that I'll ever be able to say I have fought the good fight?  No.  I do think that I might be able to shrug my shoulders and say I tried.  I know in my heart that if I would have remained completely committed and "sold out" to God from childhood that He could have done so very much more with my talents.  I just don't know how to reconcile that.  With the pitiful amount of spiritual courage I had, with the sparse amount of confidence I allowed myself, I tried - but I have never lost faith, so far I have kept it.  Hopefully that's enough.

Jan 28

2 Tim 4: ⁷ I have fought the good (worthy, honorable, and noble) fight, I have finished the race, I have kept (firmly held) the faith.

⁸ [As to what remains] henceforth there is laid up for me the [victor’s] crown of righteousness [for being right with God and doing right], which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me and recompense me on that [great] day—and not to me only, but also to all those who have loved and yearned for and welcomed His appearing (His return).

 

Relentless!  The pace of life lately has just been relentless.  Sunday evening I made a fire and asked Reja to join me outside just to sit together.  We had so looked forward to the Holidays to enjoy time like that - time just to sit and revel in all of God's tremendous blessings.  Yet the Holiday Season (Thanksgiving to New Years) came and went without an opportunity to just sit and savor the Savior and all He has done.   Some of that is my own doing with last minute trips to Buffalo, deer hunting, and the like, but much of it is work, church, and other obligations coming at a relentless pace. 

When asked by my boss the other day how things were going, I told him that I am just overwhelmed right now.  Work, church, Emmaus, hunting, all pulling me in so many directions.  Fortunately, I'm not burned out, but it could quite easily happen in several areas. 

 

I pray that God will equip me to sort through the endless "opportunities" to discern His good and perfect will, say "no" when appropriate, and remain faithful.  Not that I might win a prize, but that by faithful discharge of my calling, his kingdom may be furthered in and around me. 

Jan 27

John 8: So Jesus said to those Jews who had believed in Him, If you abide in My word [hold fast to My teachings and live in accordance with them], you are truly My disciples. And you will know the Truth, and the Truth will set you free. (John 8:31, 32 AMP)

Truth is a person. We are commanded to abide (live in) His word.  Again John reminds us that the Word is a person ( John 1:1). This is all about a relationship. Scripture defines who we are in relationship with - the God of the Bible who does not change (Mal 3:6) 

I'm mindful of John 14:6 - Jesus said to him, I am the Way and the Truth and the Life; no one comes to the Father except by (through) Me. (John 14:6 AMP)

And John 14:15 - If you [really] love Me, you will keep (obey) My commands. (John 14:15 AMP)

In the end we are to pursue a relationship with the One who can save us from ourselves (sin) and who puts himself in us giving us the ability to obey Him. All we must do is yield to his Lordship. By yielding we are set free from obeying the law on our own.  God knew we were incapable of fully and completely obeying the law (saving ourselves) and therefore sent us a savior to die in our place. He who died and then conquered death by rising has set his seal upon us and given us Himself  (His HolySpirit) who gives us the ability to obey. So we love Him by obeying Him.  He gives us the ability to obey by the power of His Spirit who is in us.  This is true freedom. He stands ready to do it all for us. All we have to do is yield to His control. We must die to our selfish desires and motivations. 

Freedom.  It sounds so easy...

Johnny Lingo's Eight-Cow Wife

This is a very good story and devotion:   Johnny Lingo's Eight-Cow Wife.

Dobson writes, "Someone said, 'We are not what we think we are. We are not even what others think we are. We are what we think others think we are.'"  Very insightful.  We should, of course, have our value set by our Saviour.  We should be what we think He says we are.  But, our spouse should also set such a value on us that we are constantly built up and never in doubt about what we think they think we are.

January 27, 2014

So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” - Matthew 8:31-32

My understanding of this verse was always based on the preceding and following verses.  Prior to this verse Jesus is struggling to get the people around Him to understand that He was sent from God the Father and everything He says is from God the Father.  Just six verses earlier the people asks, "Who are you?"  Jesus is saying to them over and over, I am the Messiah but they just aren't getting it.  And so He says to them that once they rest in His Words (I am the Messiah and sent from God) they will (finally) know the truth of who He is and why He came (to die for their sins) and that truth would set them free (from the bonds of this world).  Immediately following this verse He tells how everyone is a slave to sin but if they are set free from that sin they are free indeed.

This conversation is like an extended version of John 3:16.  Dungy explains this similarly saying, "He's talking about the ultimate, eternal truth - the truth that He is the Savior and that by accepting Him as Savior, we will be set free from our bondage to sin and no longer separated from Him." 

The problem is that we look at this with our human eyes, just like the disciples were doing in this conversation with Jesus and we don't always understand or accept what we "see or hear".  We have to accept it on faith and believe it on faith.  And our faith has to be as simple as, "Because You, Jesus, say it - then it's real."  No matter what the concept, be it Jesus as the Son of God, Jesus living a perfect life, Jesus dying for our sins, Jesus forgiving our sins, or any other teaching of God, if we don't believe in this simple way, we need to examine our faith.  

January 26, 2014

Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. – Romans 12:2

In today’s devotion in Uncommon, Tony Dungy is commenting on how important it is to not let the world determine who you are supposed to be, but be the person God created you to be.  He comments, “God puts certain things in your heart, passions and dreams that others don’t have.  .. God’s fingerprints in your life are unique to you, and they shouldn’t remain hidden.  They shouldn’t have to conform to other people’s expectations or be quenched because someone has another plan for your life.  If your dreams develop in the process of seeking God’s will and fit within His overall purposes, follow them.”

That last sentence is a doozy.  If you know what your dreams are, and if you are seeking God’s will, and if you know His purposes, then follow your dreams.  Wow.  That’s a lot to know for most people. 

I can think of no other more satisfying thing than to know the exact purpose God created you.  Sure there are plenty of Bible passages that let us know what we are to be doing that apply to everyone, but to know the exact reason you were created the way you are with the unique characteristics, tendencies, and thought patterns.  What a filling thing to know!  How confirming that would be!

May I pray and desire to be close to God today to know His purpose for me.  And may I be willing to follow it no matter what it is and what it might cost me.

January 24, 2014

When Jesus heard this, he told them, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor – sick people do.  I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.” – Mark 2:17

I think this is very convicting.  The church in general has always looked down at you if you hung around people of questionable character.  I think there are some good reasons for it, but it has probably gone too far in the past and is making a comeback in this area. 

There are some real dangers here.  How much influence can a person who doesn’t know Christ have on you?  It is a lot easier for someone to pull you down than for you to pick them up.  It is important to do what Jesus did and concentrate on their spiritual condition. 

This verse says “those who know they are sinners”.  First, we must let others know they are sinners.  If they do not agree or accept this we cannot go any further with that person.  But if they do recognize this and accept it, then we can introduce them to Jesus for this is who He came to call.

Most of the time, but not always, this type of person is a person who is difficult to like, much less love.  1 John 4:11-12 says, “Since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.  No one has seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us, and His love is made complete in us.”   So, we give our concern and love for them by showing them how we are all sinners and then how Christ saves us.  And in doing so, God’s love is made complete in us. 

Do we fear the rejection of man more than we desire the work of completion of God’s love in us?  

January 23, 2014

And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. - Philippians 4:7

It's been a really rushed morning, we've all had them.  Even now I'm rushing to get out and into the truck to make a meeting.  However, if I'm late for the meeting, so be it, I have to stop and do this lest I say by action that the world is more important than my meeting with God today.

Dungy comments, "Our feelings of self-worth are shaped by the opinions and attitudes of others."  I think this has been my number one downfall most of my life.  I also always envy those people who just live with no regard for what others think.  I think I have missed some moments in life that could have been the most fun being concerned at what others might think. 

We simply should not rely on anything to shape our sense of worth outside of God.  Dungy says, "God's can be the only outside opinion that we truly rely on to shape our sense of worth. ... Regardless of how people have treated you or tried to define your worth, God stands ready to walk with you for the rest of your life."  It is impossible for anyone or even myself to define my worth in proper perspective.  I must trust God concerning it and have faith in the value He assigns.

God does not consider what I have or haven't done, what I will or won't do.  He bases my worth on who He is as Creator, as Father, as Savior and there is no value that can equal that.

January, 22, 2014

Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil. - Matthew 5:37

The Uncommon devotional uses this verse and then it discusses honesty.  But this verse is really referring to making oaths.  I think these verses are better:

Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who act faithfully are His delight. - Proverbs 12:22

Better is a poor person who walks in his integrity than one who is crooked in speech and is a fool. - Proverbs 19:1

Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices. - Colossians 3:9

There are six things that the Lord hates, ... a lying tongue ... - Proverbs 6:16

An abomination to the Lord ... the Lord hates ... Yikes!  Lying is definitely on the not-to-do list. 

I have lied too much in my life.  Mostly because I felt inadequate by comparison, but sometimes because I'm a scoundrel.  I always wanted to be the best and to be successful.  Trouble is, there is always someone better and more successful.  I have found it is better to be a slow talking Mississippi boy.  If there is anybody that doesn't want that, you don't need them.  And if I want anything beyond the closeness of Christ and the blessings He has put in my life, something evil is lying to me.  I just wished I'd have learned that a long time ago.

Fortunately, I've learned that God forgives me.  And I've also learned that people are actually capable of forgiveness too.  This is something I really didn't know before.  And for that, I am so very grateful.  Aside from my having children showing me how God loves His children, nothing has shown me more about God than someone showing me undeserved forgiveness.

January 21, 2014

We live by believing and not by seeing. - 2 Corinthians 5:7

The devotion today in Uncommon is on faith and Tony compares how a team plays together with a faith in one another playing their position and not running to the ball as their instincts tell them to do.  He says, "We need to forsake our natural instincts and play our position, no matter how things look, and trust that the plan will work.  That's what it means to live by faith, not by sight."  He continues and charges to action us by saying, "Play your God-given position as well as you can, realizing that your assignment fits into a bigger picture.  Do your best, forget the rest, and trust that God really is in control."

Life is only about faith.  Everything I see, everything I hear, everything I know in this physical world will either add to my faith or take away from my faith.  Often, it depends upon what I want and am looking to see or hear.  There have also been times when God put the whole world around me in a fog and blurred every concern I had, whether they were positive or negative; He held me on a knife blade of faith so that the world was of no consequence and so there was no clear better alternative for me, forcing me to choose solely and simply on my belief in Him and His Word.

Would you choose God if heaven wasn't certain?  Would you choose God and His Ways if there were absolutely no benefit to you in any way?  Would you choose God simply because you know Him and trust Him?

Jan 20

PATTERN YOURSELVES after me [follow my example], as I imitate and follow Christ (the Messiah). (1 Corinthians 11:1 AMP)

What a blessing to sit a shooting house watching the woods come alive around me. 

Yesterday Ryan and I had a long talk about the lack of passion in our church, especially since the death of Chris Antil. Some try, but much of their focus is on performance and the approval  of others rather than glorifying God.  I couldn't help but think, however, that when we have discussions like this, we may be hearing God call US to action.   I know God is interested in us worshipping in spirit and in truth and for many of us this is profoundly and deeply personal and private. While the outward expression may lack zeal, there is a true response in our spirit. I confess to being one of these self-conscious types that can be profoundly moved yet not show outward emotion (unless Kerianne catches me wiping my eyes which she has made a hobby of observing). 

Waiting for others to show it, however, may in fact, be an abdication of my own leadership call and responsibility. For all the great community leaders in our church, when it comes to worship, we're a congregation of lemmings waiting for someone, anyone to take us somewhere, anywhere. Perhaps rather than sitting back and waiting on someone else to become passionate, perhaps I'm being called to show it. After all, failure to lead is at least a failure in my spiritual leadership responsibilities to my own family.   

I think it's time to quit whining about problems in the church and ensure I'm answering Gods call for my part.  After all, if I'm complaining, I just made myself part of the problem. 

Jan 19

 LET EVERY person be loyally subject to the governing (civil) authorities. For there is no authority except from God [by His permission, His sanction], and those that exist do so by God's appointment. [Prov. 8:15.] Therefore he who resists and sets himself up against the authorities resists what God has appointed and arranged [in divine order]. And those who resist will bring down judgment upon themselves [receiving the penalty due them]. For civil authorities are not a terror to [people of] good conduct, but to [those of] bad behavior. Would you have no dread of him who is in authority? Then do what is right and you will receive his approval and commendation. (Romans 13:1-3 AMP)

I really like Tony's comments regarding cowardly attacks.  I see a lot of that on social media where people "like" another's opinion and it posts almost as their own. Perhaps that's less cowardice and more just plain laziness. All too often I see a lot of uninformed opinions that fail to quote authoritative sources most importantly scripture and demonstrates that the person really doesn't comprehend the core issue(s) or consequences.  Moreover, many have resorted to simple minded name-calling or labeling in an attempt to marginalize the opinions of those with whom they disagree rather than simply entering into a cogent debate.  This is especially common when the facts simply don't support opinion.  I'm especially disappointed in many Christians who adopt views clearly counter to scripture. I've personally found these people very difficult to debate as they quickly realize they can't support their views and label the debate an attack thus ending any chance of any real dialogue.  

Lord I pray for the guidance of the Holy Spirit when it comes to issues of the day.  May I stand firm in support of you, your will, and your ways in a manner which truly meets your criteria to love others.  Help me to see and repent of my own sin before holding others accountable. 

January 20, 2014

Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ. – 1 Corinthians 11:1

Tony Dungy has great example in his devotion today.  “It would be nice to reach the point someday where someone would say, ‘Tony, I’ve just accepted Jesus.  What should I do now to grow?’  And for me to respond, ‘Imitate me, just as I imitate Christ.’  I doubt I’ll ever be confident enough to actually say that, but that is the kind of lifestyle we all should be moving toward.”

That is a very humbling thought with regards to reminding me of where I am in regards to the ideal.  As Andy Stanley points out in his Future Family series, it is just as important for me to make sure that I keep Jesus as the ideal, my example for me to imitate, and not relax my standard to make me feel better about myself.  Regardless of what I am doing, if I can't do it for the glory of God then I shouldn't be doing it.

As a follow-up to the 1/19/2014 devotional, 2 Peter 2:11-21 says: 11 Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul.12 Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.

13 Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority,14 or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. 15 For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. 16 Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves. 17 Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor.

18 Slaves, in reverent fear of God submit yourselves to your masters, not only to those who are good and considerate,but also to those who are harsh. 19 For it is commendable if someone bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because they are conscious of God. 20 But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. 21 To this you were called,because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.

January 19, 2014

Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.  Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.  … Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. – Romans 13:1-3

In today’s writing, Dungy discusses how he believes it is important to stand for what is right to enact a change, but in so doing not to hide form the civil authorities but to accept the consequences.  Here on the eve of Martin Luther King, Jr day, he uses the movement of courageous people standing in the face of wrongs and having to endure the consequence of their civil disobedience as an example.  Having watched the movie The Help last night has these same racial wrongs fresh on my mind.

I have always felt uneasy with these verses with the knowledge that a government could force you to do things that violate the Word of God directly.  In that situation, how would these verses apply?  Certainly God would not favor the word of a government over His Word.  Therefore, you would have to stand on His Word and be disobedient.

How do we weigh these Words with the actions of the founders of this country?  They obviously rebelled against authority.  But the end result, at least as far as I can weigh history, has been a profoundly benefit to Christians and the spread of God’s Word everywhere (at least up until now).  And certainly these men were convicted Christians.  This is very evident in the principles that they wrote our country’s founding documents and in how they wrote in their journals and wrote to one another.

So, how are we, as Christians, supposed to handle our current corrupt government?  J. Vernon McGee explains the conflict like this. “Christianity never became a movement to improve government, help society, or clean up the town.  The gospel was the power of God unto salvation of the individual.  …  It is very difficult to say we are to obey a corrupt government.  …  I feel resentful when I hear of certain government officials and certain wealthy men in positions of power who pay no taxes at all when I am under a heavy tax burden. …  What is a Christian to do?  My business is to get out the Word of God, and my business is to obey the law.  …  Christianity is to preach the gospel which will bring into existence individuals like the men who signed the Declaration of Independence.”

Jan 18

For the thing which I greatly fear comes upon me, and that of which I am afraid befalls me. (Job 3:25 AMP)

I strongly believe that what we believe about ourselves says a lot about our beliefs of and about God.  If we believe he is omniscient, omnipotent, and ever present, that He made us in His image, and that he doesn't call the equipped, but equips the called, then we must believe we are capable of anything he asks of us, not of our own, but the Holy Spirit working through us.  My senses say however that no human can do that!  Or, God wouldn't ask me to do that. 

Jan 17

For if you forgive people their trespasses [their reckless and willful sins, leaving them, letting them go, and giving up resentment], your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their trespasses [their reckless and willful sins, leaving them, letting them go, and giving up resentment], neither will your Father forgive you your trespasses. (Matthew 6:14, 15 AMP)

I've always been intrigued that Jesus interrupted his lesson in how to pray with this important admonition to forgive.  This must really be important. So many lessons on this revolve around the importance of forgiving ourselves. I know it's critical to do so and inability to do so is in effect denial of God's sovereignty over sin and a dimishment of his grace and mercy. Yet so much of today's preaching is self-centered and I need to learn to be other-centered.  I need to forgive those who insulted my wife and family and are unrepentant. I need to forgive those who insist I need another mother. I need to forgive those who have insulted me for being weak brained because I have faith in an unseen God.  

I note, however, that forgiveness doesn't instantly re-earn my trust. Maybe it should and if so, I have a lot of growing to do.  Currently, once my trust has been violated, I withdraw and interact with these people only when forced to do so.  So how do I tell if I've truly forgiven these people?  Must our relationship return to its original status?  

My real fear, however, is that I'm lazy about my own sin.  I'm not sure that I really do a good job of taking an honest inventory each day and seek His forgiveness or even recognize my own sinfulness.  This seems like an area in which I need to be more sensitive. 

Jan 16

When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; now that I have become a man, I am done with childish ways and have put them aside. For now we are looking in a mirror that gives only a dim (blurred) reflection [of reality as in a riddle or enigma], but then [when perfection comes] we shall see in reality and face to face! Now I know in part (imperfectly), but then I shall know and understand fully and clearly, even in the same manner as I have been fully and clearly known and understood [by God]. (1 Corinthians 13:11, 12 AMP)

In spite of the popularity of this chapter ( it is used in many weddings including my own) these verses don't seem to belong with the others.   Paul talks about the permanence of love and how all the other Spiritual Gifts he just discussed in chapter 12 will one day vanish, but faith, hope, and Love remain.  So why does God inspire this apparent tangent?  I don't fully understand, but I do know that where I fail to understand what God is doing or why I suffer or more likely why others do, God is knitting together to suit His strategic plan.  So for all those things I don't understand, I can rest in the knowledge that my responsibility is to have faith and hope in him and demonstrate my love for God through obedience to him (John 14:15)and by loving others.  

Jan 15

But I tell you, on the day of judgment men will have to give account for every idle (inoperative, nonworking) word they speak. For by your words you will be justified and acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned and sentenced. (Matthew 12:36, 37 AMP)

I don't think of myself as a gossip, but upon reflection, I can get caught up in discussion of others quite easily. I guess though, being a victim of gossipmgine awry, I'm more senitive to this now and guard my words better.  Usually my words seem fair to me, but often my thoughts are quite harsh and critical.  I'm mindful of Jesus admonition regarding adultery that even lust in our hearts is sin, and I think the same theology applies here. 

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be holy and acceptable to you Father!

Jan 14

And the Lord said, "If you had faith like a mustard seed, you would say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and be planted in the sea'; and it would obey you. (Luke 17:6 NASB)

I've always thought my faith would be measured by two things

1.  The degree to which every decision and conscious action is made and executed with a desire to please God and remain centered in His will. 

2.  The degree to which every reaction to external (or internal I guess) stimuli 

is a testimony to and about Him.  

In other words, My life should be lived in total context of my relationship with God; a life characterized by boldness, courage, and confidence in knowing that He is ultimately in control and will work everything in accordance with his perfect plan.  A person of great faith is contagious and encourages others to have faith.    I don't think this describes me. 

 I find so often that God is merely one of our many priorities and like all priorities, we only get to him on occasion.  I'm amazed for instance at the number of people who push their kids to excel in school, sports and life, but don't bother to ever wonder if their kids are centered in God's will.  Some seemingly are very successful in a worldly way, but so many flounder in marriage, work, parenting, etc needlessly.  I've always felt that if I could just anchor my kids in the bedrock of a deep and abiding faith, God would take care of the rest. It remains to be seen how I've done.  I worry that we've not instilled  practical skills (homemaking, banking, work ethic, in-demand college degree)  into my daughter and she isn't well positioned for the workforce or life on her own as a self-sufficient Adult.  My son has been encouraged to develop his faith not his athleticism or scholarship and this will handicap him his whole life here on earth.  They are unlikely to be successful in worldly measures.  I pray, however, that they would lead a life totally devoted to him and in so doing make a real difference in an eternal sense.  I'm sure to be gone before the measure of this parenting decision is fully revealed.  

As Casting Crowns put it "Let my Life song sing to Him." 

Jan 13

Proverbs 16:3 Commit your works to the Lord And your plans will be established. (Proverbs 16:3 NASB)

To me, today's and perhaps everydays most important question is "am I committed to a plan or to Him?"

Indeed!

Jan 12

James 1:23-24 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. (James 1:23, 24 NASB)

Dungy talks about the difference between perception and reality. I guess my immediate concern is not what others perceive of me, but my own self perception vs how God really sees me and most importantly how he needs me to be. Am I really a man of God or am I deluding myself?  Am I really yielding to His Lordship or am I a "sounding gong" content to be speaking the word, but not really a doer of it?  

Yesterday was about being pulled in so many directions that actins get diluted and sometimes meaningless or inadequate. I'm concerned that busyness is a tactic of the deceiver to keep us out of the real, meaningful activities - those of eternal significance.  It seems obvious at times, but prioritization is so difficult.  Work has so many urgent and seemingly important tasks.  Then there is church, Emmaus, etc.  Are my actions wholly and completely inspired by and yielded to God?  

Jan 11

Mark 1: 35-37 In the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went away to a secluded place, and was praying there. Simon and his companions searched for Him; they found Him, and said to Him, "Everyone is looking for You." (Mark 1:35-37 NASB)

This describes my life completely right now. Everyone wants a piece of me and no one gets enough to be satisfied. At times I do feel like God has "multiplied" my time wherein I'm surprised by how much I can get done in such little time. Yet, the pace is relentless!  This is exactly why I needed this discipline to withdraw even if only for 20-30 minutes of quiet reflection and prayer. If nothing else, I know I'm being intentional about being available to hear His voice.  

Lord I pray that in the relentless pace of each day, your will would be such a clear and heavy burden upon me that I cannot miss a single nuance of your direction.  Once known, I pray for the courage and integrity to follow through in action. 

January 18, 2014

What I feared has come upon me; what I dreaded has happened to me. – Job 3:25

Dungy says today, “Your perspective today has a lot to do with what happens tomorrow.  What you believe and what you expect have a tendency to come about.  This is why it’s so important to be careful how you speak to yourself, think of yourself, conduct yourself, and develop yourself.  The landscape of the future is in large part determined by what you think it will be and by how you see yourself in it. … For better or worse, what you envision often begins to take shape.  Be intentional and choose to envision a life of significance, possibility, and impact.” 

I would be a fool to not believe that our way of thinking doesn’t have an effect on our success.  I am reminded of what we constantly tell our children, “Whether you think you can or can’t, you’re right!” It makes a big difference in whether we believe we can do what we dream about, set goals to accomplish, or change our situation.  There are simply too many real life stories and examples to believe that this isn’t true.  The book, The Power of Positive Thinking, is based on this effect of our thinking.

Philippians 4:8 says, “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”  The Bible is telling us to be intentional and to choose what we think about.  Don’t focus on our fears or on negatives, concentrate on what God can do with us and on those characteristics of God we can have and grow and share to the benefit of all around us.

This doesn’t mean we’re gonna have a perfect life with ease and comfort.  But even in hard circumstances we can choose to have an attitude that enhances life.  There are many stories of prisoners of war who not only survived, but enhanced everyone’s life around them with their positive attitude.  Consider that you, Christian, are in prison here in a world where Satan roams freely seeking whom he can devour.  One day you’ll be free.  What kind of prisoner are you going to be?