Adding Value to Others (Part II)

We add value to others when we truly value them.

If you don’t value people, you can’t represent Christ. This goes right to the core of who we are and what we believe. If you don’t truly value them, you can never add value to them. You will use them, you will manipulate them, you’ll take advantage of them, you’ll use them to step on to go higher, and will even take them along with you as long as you think you can use them.

Remember, you manipulate people when you use them for your advantage; you motivate them when you move them for mutual advantage.

Lornie Santi said, “There are 3 reasons you are important to God:
     1.  Because of who you are.
     2.  Because of what you cost.
     3.  Because of what you can become.”

We must value people if we wish to be more like Jesus Christ. This morning, as I prayed to God, He did three things that we must emulate:

He listened to me. 

The Creator of the universe took the time to listen to my cry. He didn’t say that He was to busy at the moment and ask me to call again later; He listened right then and there. God knows all about me. He knows me better than I know me. He is interested in me. He listens to me. 

We need to learn to listen to others. This is a very hard concept. Remember the show Andy Griffith where they would sit on the front porch and talk? I think we need more of that in our lives. We have watched TV for so long now that we have let it train our brains to look for a change in scenery every 10 seconds and a change in topic every 10 minutes. I have learned that I have to consciously make my eyes focus. After 30 seconds they start looking around, looking for a change in scenery. We have to learn how to listen to others the way God listens to us: with caring and patience.

Why does God listen to me? Because this morning …

He loved me. 

I told God all the horrible thoughts I’ve had and the sins I’ve committed and He loved me – He forgave them on the spot. My friend, God loves you more than you can ever know. Here is a statement that you need to remember for the rest of your life. You might want to write it down. THERE IS NOTHING YOU HAVE EVER DONE OR WILL EVER DO THAT WILL CAUSE GOD TO LOVE YOU ANY LESS.

It is my hope to one day be able to love everyone so much that I’ll forgive them before they ever do a single thing. Sometimes I remind myself when I meet someone, “This person will probably do something to hurt you one day, forgive them now.” Why do I have to tell myself this? I have to because I have a tendency to put walls up all around me and keep people away at a distance. You see, like you, I’ve been hurt before. And unknowingly I unconsciously learned that if I don’t let people too close they won’t hurt me.

But this is not the example given to us by Christ. He opens Himself up to us. He wants us to know Him better. And He stands at the door and knocks at our hearts. We have to love others. And that means we have to open up our hearts to them and be willing to forgive.

He lifted me. 

Just by having a close prayer with God lifts my Spirit. My heart jumps for joy. Just being in His presence brings joy and peace and it makes me smile. It lifts my soul off this old world and puts it near Him. He confirms all that He is in a simple conversation and uplifts everything that I am.

Weary

Isaiah 40: He gives strength to the weary
    and increases the power of the weak.
³⁰ Even youths grow tired and weary,
    and young men stumble and fall;
³¹ but those who hope in the Lord
    will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
    they will run and not grow weary,
    they will walk and not be faint.

Is there anything worse than an ingrate?  Can we do more harm to God and His kingdom than to fail to appreciate all that He has done and continues to do for us, His children?  I'm sure the answer is yes, and I know you all will throw out numerous suggestions, but for me, at this moment, it seems there can be nothing worse.  I'm tired, worn down, and my joy has ebbed, but God has not gone anywhere.  He is still the same faithful and true God He has always been, but I am stressed about work, upcoming travel, and personnel situations.  I'm not sleeping and am simply not looking forward to much of anything, at least as far as work is concerned.  Yet as I rise to head that way, I pray for strength to meet this day with a song in my heart and a smile on my face that reflects all the God has done. 

Adding Value To Others (Part I)

I spent an hour this morning trying to coordinate electrical material corrections and shipping for Brett Bundy in Haiti. I hope we can get the materials to him in time. He didn't (or I missed it or forgot it) indicate a time schedule in this effort until Saturday. I wish I'd have known earlier. So, my devotion this AM is to review the SS lesson from Sunday. Enjoy.

“To be successful, is to be helpful, caring, and constructive. To make everything and everyone a little bit better.”

I’ve been in church for a while in my life and I’ve pondered to myself, “What is the most important thing anyone could say about a church?” This is an important question. However, the question applies to the people of a church because the church is the people contained within it.

I think the single most important thing people can say about FUMC is that we are making a difference in their lives. That they are growing closer to God each week. That they are learning more of the Bible, that they feel encouraged, and loved.

People will either lift us up or drag us down. We will either lift people up or pull them down.

The simple fact is we avoid people who bring us down. No one in their right mind has ever awoken and said, “I feel so on top of life that I sure I hope I meet someone who will bring me down a few notches today.” You will always move towards people who increase you and away from people who decrease you.

When you add value to others you lift them, you don’t draaaagggg. We all have people who drag us down in our lives. “Hit the ball and drag Charlie, hit the ball and drag Charlie … pretty soon, we just want to hit Charlie.”

So, do we want to make a dent or a difference?

A writer named John Maxwell calls this being a Lid Lifter and a great part of this writing is from his efforts. Partner with people and help them go a little higher than they could go on their own. Lift the lid on what they believe they can do, or what they believe they are worth, or how close they believe they can get to God, or how much they believe they can be loved.

The credibility of FUMC can only be defined by the people who have had their lid lifted. This is the only valued response.

How can I or you add value to others?

Sabotage

1 Kings 19: ¹¹ The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.”
Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. ¹² After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. ¹³ When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.
For me, these days are full of earthquakes and powerful winds.  There is so much to do, so many that need my attention and action and SO MANY VOICES SCREAMING!  I feel overwhelmed and it has driven me to my knees.  My evening prayers have become shouts of desperation for character and integrity in spite of the load.  I awaken and great the Lord asking Him to do it, because it's simply too much.  Not that I'm good at prayer, I'm just desperate for assistance, guidance, and wisdom.  God has been faithful, turning several situations around quite miraculously.  I can see where He worked, yet I still can't pinpoint that moment when He spoke.  I don't recall recognizing that God was speaking and I needed to pull my cloak over my face and stand at the mouth of the cave.  Perhaps He didn't need to speak and simply gave me the wisdom and words for the moments. 
I suppose the important thing is that God has worked.  Apparently on at least a couple of occasions He worked in or around or in spite of me - praise Him!  Yet I wonder if my lack of discernment has caused me to miss out on other occasions of hearing His whisper. Perhaps I have a problem and simply can't sort out God's still small voice from the cacophony that engulfs me.  Or perhaps God is simply working and doesn't need to speak in advance.  I'm concerned that in all of the worlds noise I may miss God's direction - a plot by Satan to sabotage my pitiful efforts to stay centered in God's will in every situation of life.  I continue to wrestle with my listening skills. 

Haughty

Before a downfall the heart is haughty,
but humility comes before honor.  - Proverbs 18:12

There's our nemesis again, pride.  Before we fall, our heart is proud.  It rest in its own accomplishments, it thinks it has done a great thing, it believes it has made itself secure, it believes it is better than others because of what it is.  All of these things are described by Solomon in Ecclesiastes as vanity.  It is all traits of death.  

Only a fool doesn't recognize that at his birth he was given a breath of air.  Before that, a heartbeat.  These gifts were free and one day they'll be taken.  Every person was given the same thing. Everyone has a different path, some hard and some not, but everywhere is the same God.  Every gift is from above and those gifts are the thins that truly satisfy. A joyous heart, a soul that is full and doesn't have voids that can't be filled, love for yourself and then others, the desire to help others, and humility.

Unless we become low we won't be the best Jesus taught.  Be humble and be excited that God uses even you.  When you discover that God has used you, led you to wisdom to share, provided a glimpse into Himself, rejoice at the blessing!  We are then honored more then than from a thousand man-made trophies.

Let's be careful to look for and see pride in our life then move to absolve it lest we needlessly take a fall.

How do I know?

Psalm 119:125  I am your servant; give me discernment that I may understand your statutes.

 

Our church has been presented with what at least on the surface appears to be a tremendous opportunity to augment our income via and investment in a retirement home.  I don't have the details, but after considerable research, our finance committee was compelled to bring a motion to the administrative board to get permission to approach Charge Conference with an actual investment proposal.  The short pitch by Finance was enthusiastically received and the motion unanimously passed.  I admit, however, I was left with more questions than answers, so when the voice vote was called I neither voted for nor against it.  I simply silently abstained as I have no discernment on this issue.  I didn't want to vote against it as I didn't want others to take a negative vote as me being against this opportunity.  I didn't want to vote in favor as I couldn't discern if this opportunity is of God or man.  I just don't know.  

So now, I'm left with a bigger problem (at least to me).  I've prayed about this opportunity and discussed it with others.  Others have asked questions like "is this not abandonment of faith that God will equip us where He has called us?" or "is this a mission, if not, why are we involved?" and "this could be a problem for a non-profit to enter into to a business for the sake of profit."  My problem is that I pray and I get...nothing.  I have no discernment.  I talk to people who are giddy about the opportunity.  I already mentioned those who have prayed and have questions that deserve answers.  I have - nothing.  I find this deeply troubling because after all, John 8:47 Whoever belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.” 

I don't doubt my salvation, there is simply too much evidence of God in my life to give into that lie by Satan.  Yet, why can my mother, or other women pray and get very strong discernment almost immediately on issues and I cannot?  Am I simply not listening?

I've worked on this issue for many years, even taking and teaching a study directly speaking to this very issue called "Experiencing God - Knowing and Doing His Will"  I teach Sunday School trying to encourage the kids to listen for God to speak through Scripture, prayer, circumstances, and other Christians.  I pray and I don't get a clear answer.  I search scripture on this issue and find no guidance for or against a church making an investment (although I do find lots of references to rely on God).  The circumstances seem to point to perhaps God "opening a door." 

How do you discern God's will in a matter such as this?  It seems that we as a church need to be united as a body going forward and I don't want to be guilty of disunity.  How do I know?  How do I discern God's will in this matter?  Who will mentor me through this?

Be Not Timid or Tame

35 So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded.

36 You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. 37 For,

“In just a little while, He who is coming will come and will not delay.”

38 And,

“But the righteous one will live by faith.  And I take no pleasure in the one who shrinks back.”

39 But we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved. - Hebrews 10:35-39

In the verses preceding these, the description is that the Christians have persevered through public humiliation and persecution, maybe been in prison, and had their belongings confiscated.  Sounds a lot like what Christians in Iraq are going through today, over 2,000 years later, except their children are taken and the boys forced to be jihadists, the girls sold as sex slaves, and the parents beheaded or cut in half in front of the whole village or town where they live.  Just typing that last sentence hurts.  How can that truly be happening to people in our time? How can the average person not see Islam and Muslims as pure evil?

The message here is for us to keep the confidence of our faith in Jesus Christ as our Savior.  Continue to persevere and do not doubt knowing that God is faithful and He has not left us.  He will come again and He is with us even now.  

Further, the text calls out how much our Lord does not enjoy the one whose faith falters.  I am reminded of the verses in Revelation where Christ despises the luke-warm church.  He takes no pleasure in the luke-warm Christian, the one whose faith is kinda there and kinda not, the one who thinks he has faith but if it requires an action its not enough to respond, the one who has faith when alone but around others isn't strong enough to allow it to be shown when the circumstance demands it.

Finally, there is a word of encouragement saying we are not of those who fall back but of those who have confidence in our faith and know we are saved by a faithful living God.  This type of writing reminds me of Teddy Roosevelt's famous speech in Chicago talking about the man to be admired is the man in the fight, daring greatly, who if he fails fails greatly, but he is in the fight and not with the timid and tame souls who are too afraid to enter.  

May we be the brave faithful, ready to enter into His call to action, ready to serve and ever confident in our faith in Him, no matter what may happen - and never to be a timid and tamed believer with a curious faith that is neither testable or believable. 

Consuming Fire

Deuteronomy 4: ²⁴ For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.

Deuteronomy 4 and Hebrews 12 address obedience and talks about God being faithful to correct those He loves.  Fire is unique in that as it forces an oxidation reduction reaction in the fuel, it forever changes the fundamental molecules involved.  Often the fuels involved, such as gasoline, are large, complex molecules that get broken down into simpler, non-reactive elements. 
God uses two cleansing elements in His creation: water and fire.  We remember the cleansing we receive in Christ's death, burial, and resurrection at our baptism upon accepting Him as savior.  I wonder though, as we journey from that point of justifying grace through the remainder of life experiencing God's sanctifying grace if at times God uses fire to break down barriers to a more pervasive control of the Holy Spirit in our lives.  Our hold on idols in our lives can be simply impossible for us to break on our own.  Fortunately, we are set free from the requirement to do this on our own as Christ has placed himself in us via the Holy Spirit to do what we cannot do on our own.  Breaking these walls must at times break down my complex character into simpler elements so that I can become more like Christ.  
Are you going through difficult trials, times, or circumstances?  Could God be allowing you to go through the crucible of a cleansing fire to change you into His likeness?  I pray that I welcome His correction such that become more like Him and am therefore useful in His service.    

Night Moves

Last night, I was awoken from a restful sleep by strong feelings leading me to recognize that I should stop teaching a Sunday School class.

Yes, I know, that's strange.  If you keep reading, it gets stranger.

After reflecting on this obvious impression upon me and wondering if it was God speaking to me or what or why I would have these feelings, I felt like God impressed even more upon me.  There will be a renewal, a vibrancy, a type of revival-like occurrence at the church, and I would have no leadership role in it.  Oddly though, it was as if He asked me if I was okay with that.  And so I answered that I was just thankful that such a thing would happen for the church, what did I matter?

Immediately in my mind I felt as though I was in water and at the bottom of a very deep place lying on my side.  Above me was dark and the only light was a glow from something bright to the side that I couldn't see.  From the glow I could see a single foot of a giant in the distance and I knew I was at the feet of God.  An oddly shaped 4-leaf clover looking handle appeared in front of me and I knew to grab it.  When I did I was pulled into a giant river of flowing lava looking substance.  Though it was flowing it wasn't going in any particular direction.  Once I entered it, I dissolved completed and did not exist.

I don't know how to describe the feeling of your existence being wiped away.  You as you know you are no longer.  I just don't know how to put into words exactly how that feels.  Everything you know, have known, did, didn't do, were, were't, or whatever is no longer.  You are gone.

Was I taken into a river of lava in the pit of hell and dissolved for being the wretch that I am?  At first, I certainly believed this.  But God said to me, can not the spirit of God be fiery and intense?  And I thought of the tongues of fire at Pentecost and the flowing light from another of my dreams and immediately saw that this was not the pit of hell, but something different.  And I no longer had a name that mattered as I was spread apart to wide to be myself and no longer was myself but dissolved into it.

I know what you're thinking.  Chris, please please quit taking drugs.  Maybe it was the boiled peanuts and chocolate milk I had before bed.  I really don't know, but I know it happened in my mind and the feelings are real.  Being awake and having a dream is a very strange experience.

I prayed this morning for revelation.  I asked God to provide me with interpretation.  The best I can gather is that I shall have no influence upon our church.  I should let it go and just be, as God so does His will with it.  There will be leaders and there will most definitely be movement.  Praise God for it.  It is their time and they are ready, I am not.

And I am praying for more interpretation.

Cottage Meetings

Judges 17:  ⁶ In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as they saw fit.

Pastor Dave Barkalow is having cottage meetings with church members in their neighborhoods.  What a great way for our new pastor to both meet members in their own setting, but also to get a pulse of the congregation.  By that I mean he's getting frank feedback in small group settings on strengths and opportunities for our church.  I found ours to be well attended, to include visitors invited by Frank and JoAnn Rankin, and full of frank and open discussion. 
One of Dave's questions was along the lines of "if you could wave a magic wand and fix one thing in the church, what would it be?"  The group started with ideas along the lines of church growth such as bringing in more young families which led to discussions about advertising, van ministry, and an elevator.  I confess a certain amount of frustration with these responses.  Not because they're not valid, they absolutely are on point, but I see them as self-limiting.  Perhaps its because of the way the question was phrased, but I was hoping for a discussion more along the lines of what is God calling this particular group of believers to do in our local community and the world?  In military parlance, I found the discussion tactically focused on small things that were clearly within our span of control and ability when the situation is one of strategic importance regarding how we can be of use to ensure that the Gospel message has permeated every nook and cranny of Fort Walton Beach and beyond that clearly requires God to work through us miraculously. 
My concern is that we've lost sight of the King of Kings - who He is and what He said He would do.  He said "go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matt 28:18-20).  How is our local church fulfilling this?  We can point to individual efforts unseen by most of our congregation, small group efforts, or one day of service in the year or even to our connectional ministries through the larger United Methodist Church, but how is God calling our whole church to be about this commission each and every day?  How do we discern His specific calling?
We've tried worldly ways:  committee meetings, brainstorming, focus groups, visioning conferences, etc.  The disciples tried his method as well and I believe missed what God was already doing.  In Acts chapter 1, Peter, referencing scripture, called for a replacement for Judas.  He established clear criteria, held a nominations meeting with the 120 or so members of the first church, prayed, then cast lots between Barsabbas and Mathias.  Out of that event, Mathias was chosen, then if I'm not mistaken, never heard of again.  Note the order of events.  I've always wondered if they hadn't used worldly logic to limit God's choices to 2 if they would have done things differently.  Perhaps if through prayer first, they would have waited upon the Lord because several chapters later, Jesus confronts Saul and appoints him the responsibility to take the gospel message to the Gentiles.  I've always thought the early church missed what God was doing.  Are we missing what God is calling us to do?  While we worry about a building without an elevator, are we missing a connectional ministry to the lost and hurting in FWB? 
I am worried that we're not skilled at seeing God at work and joining him in it.  Instead, we look for something we can do for the creator of the universe.  So, we put up ads, talk about how limited our vans are to carry the elderly or disbled, and worry about code violations of a two story building with no elevator.  While valid points, I find them tactical resonses to a strategic situation of a lost city.  Perhaps we're stuck in business practices we've learned on the job or through other service organizations.  I guess I find these methods worldly and "the easy way out."  God said "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. in Jeremiah 29:13.  I think discovering God's will may take hard work.  Not that He is difficult to find, but that our own stubborn pride, logic, and ideas get in the way.  It's like a shiny object and the whole school of fish is focused upon it.  I think seeking God, His will, and His ways, demands the hard work of putting aside my own selfish agenda and truly becoming open minded.  Am I really willing to do so?  Is First Church willing to do the hard work of setting aside our own personal agendas and seeking Him first?  I hope I receive some cogent responses. 


   

He is faithful

Be glad, people of Zion, rejoice in the Lord your God, for He has given you the autumn rains because He is faithful. He sends you abundant showers, both autumn and spring rains, as before. - Joel 2:23

Trying to feel a little autumn or fall in the air these days after what has been to me one of the hottest Augusts in a while.  In fact, I don't remember an August this hot since Ivan hit. ... Just sayin'.

Here in Joel, there were locusts that swarmed and devoured the land leaving the people without crops and devastating complete regions.  God promises the people that the locusts won't destroy them and they will have grain and new wine.  And so, they are to "rejoice in the Lord your God" because He is delivering them "because He is faithful".

If we want to be like God, to have His characteristics, then we must be faithful.  If God is faithful to us, delivered us from the locusts that seek to destroy us each year with the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus the Savior, then our chief characteristic, the one we work the most on, might should be our faith in Him.  Do we truly trust Him in everything simply because He says it.  If not, then we need to work on our faith.  Do we wake up and think to ourselves, "If God isn't in today, then I'm not going to make it."  If not, then we need to work on our faith.  Our faith must be a belief in and complete dependence on our living Lord and nothing else.  

If we are defined by nothing else, we should at least always be defined by an obvious and deliberate faith in our God "because he is faithful".

Delegate

¹³ The next day Moses took his seat to serve as judge for the people, and they stood around him from morning till evening. ¹⁴ When his father-in-law saw all that Moses was doing for the people, he said, “What is this you are doing for the people? Why do you alone sit as judge, while all these people stand around you from morning till evening?”

¹⁵ Moses answered him, “Because the people come to me to seek God’s will. ¹⁶ Whenever they have a dispute, it is brought to me, an I decide between the parties and inform them of God’s decrees and instructions.”

¹⁷ Moses’ father-in-law replied, “What you are doing is not good. ¹⁸ You and these people who come to you will only wear yourselves out. The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone. ¹⁹ Listen now to me and I will give you some advice, and may God be with you. You must be the people’s representative before God and bring their disputes to him. ²⁰ Teach them his decrees and instructions, and show them the way they are to live and how they are to behave. ²¹ But select capable men from all the people—men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain—and appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. ²² Have them serve as judges for the people at all times, but have them bring every difficult case to you; the simple cases they can decide themselves. That will make your load lighter, because they will share it with you. ²³ If you do this and God so commands, you will be able to stand the strain, and all these people will go home satisfied.” - Exodus 18:13-23

Here, Moses learns to delegate.  I find this an amazing story because of Moses' background.  How had he not learned to delegate while a student in Egypt.  They had an obvious command structure.  I would assume that he would copy their system.  But he didn't.  And here he is, completely overwhelmed with trying to lead the people by himself.  He is their spiritual leader and their lawgiver as the chosen one of God to lead the people.

"Sometimes the better part of valor is learning we need to ask for assistance." says Tony Dungy.  Sometimes, this is the hardest thing to do.  I know how I want it done and I know I can do it, if I only had enough time.  "What you are doing is not good" says Moses' father-in-law.  And if we try to do everything ourselves and are not willing to involve others in every aspect of our busy lives, what we are doing is not good.  We can't be the expert at everything.  I often consider that I can't even be good at everything and sometimes anything. 

It is important to be willing to involve others to be better at some things and to be able to have influence in the lives of others.  "I realized in my own process of delegating that I was adding value to the lives of my friends - of people I respected and admired and, perhaps more important, people I had a responsibility to help to become all they could be."  We are here to add value to the lives of others.  The best way to add value to someone is to introduce them to Jesus Christ who came here for their sins and can thereby establish a value upon them that is more than they will ever be aware of apart from Him.  The next way is to allow them to be a part of our own initiatives and to get the reward for accomplishing work.  In this way they can see, or we can see, the character of God in each other and two or more can spread that much faster than one.

We must be willing to give up some control and delegate to others.  It pours our life in others and it allows them to pour their life into others.

Loving Correctly

Proverbs 13:24

Whoever spares the rod hates their children, but the one who loves their children is careful to discipline them.

With the news regarding Adrian Peterson's discipline tactics dominating the news, I think it essential for Christians to be armed with scripture to address the issue of discipline.  First, I think it essential that everyone understands there are life-and-death consequences of sin.  Romans 6:²³ For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in^[a] Christ Jesus our Lord.  I heard the resident shrink, Dr. Ablow, on Fox News yesterday equate spanking with a psychological problem with parents, reasoning that any parent who truly loved their child couldn't possible inflict bodily harm via spanking.  Taking this logic to its full extent then one would have to reason that a loving God could never see anyone in His creation burn in hell.  This is clearly counter to scripture, yet is a pervasive view in today's world.  Scripture warns us that we should actually fear God!  In fact, scripture warns us that prosperity and life on this earth stem from a fear of the Lord:  Deuteronomy 6:24 The Lord commanded us to obey all these decrees and to fear the Lord our God, so that we might always prosper and be kept alive, as is the case today.  Wisdom and knowledge also stem from a fear of God: Proverbs 1:7  The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction. What is it we are to fear?  The consequences of disobedience.  So for me, teaching my kids from a very early age that there are dire consequences associated with sin (disobedience) that cannot be avoided. 

Discipline, when administered in any fashion whether in revoking privileges or spanking, must be followed by loving instruction.  Failure to balance the two is to fail to be Christ-like.  Refer back to Romans 6:23 wherein God didn't even complete His sentence regarding the wages of sin without reminding us that it was He who provided the means to avoid hell.  God dooms those who choose not be accept His free gift of grace, but has provided a way for everyone who chooses to believe in Christ.  So when it comes to discipline, I've always believed that the punishment should be swift and painful, but should be followed (after the significant emotional event is over!) immediately by loving instruction.  Ephesians 6:4 Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.

I don't know the specifics of the Adrian Peterson case.  I applaud a father who is trying to discipline his child.  If that discipline transcended reasonable application of "the rod," then he should be held accountable for abuse.  I fear, however, that people like Dr. Ablow from Fox News will use this case to continue the assault on spanking as a form of parenting.  For me, failure to properly discipline a child to include proper spanking when warranted is to truly NOT love my child.  I'm thankful that my earthly father truly modeled a Christ-like discipline technique.  When I needed to be reminded of the dire consequences of disobedience, he always marched me to the bathroom, made me bend over the toilet and used a shower brush quite forcefully on my backside.  As it turns out, that LOOOONG march to the bathroom was actually a cool-down period for him to ensure that this was a metered spanking and not a parent abusing a child in a moment of uncontrolled rage.  Bending over the toilet presented (a large in my case) target to ensure the punishment wasn't inflicted in an uncontrolled manner.  Finally, the shower brush with it's flat plastic head, provided plenty of pain without the risk of breaking skin.  Trust me, I learned to fear my earthly father's wrath and I think it kept me from much sin.  In fact, even in my worst "prodigal experiences" my far country wasn't very far at all.  Truly my own experience bears out Proverbs 1:7. 

I've tried to apply these lessons from my own experiences to my own children.  It was always my goal to ensure that my children knew that I loved them unconditionally and that part of that love meant that they needed to fear my wrath.  They needed to know from the outset that there are dire consequences for sin.  I believe I accomplished that to some degree and perhaps it was part of the reason they have believed on and are following Christ today. 

I support corporal punishment as I believe it to be central in scripture.  Where do you stand?

Psalms 51 (Part III)

¹³ Then I will teach transgressors your ways, so that sinners will turn back to you.

Once I can live in the joy of my salvation from my sin and it is greater than the depravity of the sin, then I will teach other sinners that salvation is a gift from God so they will turn from their sins to You, my Lord.

¹⁴ Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God, you who are God my Savior,
    and my tongue will sing of your righteousness.

Lord, make a way for there not to have to be more pain and suffering to even more people, so the pain is not spread and I would know it is because of my sin.  I will worship Your ways and tell of Your righteousness in how You make right paths where there is no path and how You bless Your people.

¹⁵ Open my lips, Lord, and my mouth will declare your praise.

When I speak it shall honor You and tell of Your great mercy and Your gift of salvation.

¹⁶ You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.
¹⁷ My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise.

I have nothing to offer.  I am nothing.  There is nothing to bring that will please you God, except an open heart that hates the sin that You hate, that wants to be clean before You, to be cleaned with Your own hand, that despairs to be blessed by You.  Destroy me if I can't be cleaned so Your righteousness stays true.  Lord, You alone love the unlovable, rebuild the unbuildable, and want the unwanted.  Remake me.  Accept myself, kneeling before You, offering only myself.

¹⁸ May it please you to prosper Zion, to build up the walls of Jerusalem.
¹⁹ Then you will delight in the sacrifices of the righteous, in burnt offerings offered whole; then bulls will be offered on your altar.

I pray that You will delight in blessing me and that it will be a service to Your children and Your church. And I pray that You will enjoy the broken spirits of those who will come to You.

Psalms 51 (Part II)

⁷ Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
⁸ Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice.

Only if you clean me Lord, will I be clean.  When you wash me I will be completely spotless; I will have no fault, not the slightest blur in my soul.  Deliver me from the haunting of my sin, may I know joy in my heart once again.  May my crushed spirit rejoice in the touch of Your hands! 

⁹ Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity.

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

O God!  Please do not look upon my sins but wipe them from Your eyes!  Remove it so You can no longer gaze upon it.  Make me something new; I don't want to be what I am.  Create in me a clean and pure heart.  Renew my spirit with true purpose; I want to live again. 

¹¹ Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.
¹² Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

Keep me before You!  Don't consider me worthless and cast me aside.  I'm holding onto You, please do not leave me!  I beg for Your Spirit to stay within me!  Grant me joy again from the life in Your gift of salvation, may I rejoice at Your power at work for me.  Allow me, through Your Spirit, to stand in the face of my sin and be sustained to live in the joy of Your salvation.

Psalm 51 (Part I)

While many people would consider rewriting Scripture to be sac-religious or wrong in that man isn't capable of putting God's Words into his own, I consider rewriting to be a method of understanding and clarification.  If I can't rewrite it in my own words as it applies to me first, then how can I share it?  How will it be personal?  I have felt no internal condemnation in doing so, but am aware that many people, much more educated and spiritual minded than myself might be offended.  But since this is a mostly private blog ... so be it.

¹ Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love;

according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions.
² Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.

O God, do not give to me what I deserve for my sins, keep your wrath and judgment from me, and may the resistance to my destruction be because of Your love that will not fail.  My very existence depends completely upon Your love.  Lord, please forgive me my sins, wipe them from the book of my life so they will no longer be read by You.  My God, only You can cleanse this sin from me.

³ For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me.
⁴ Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight;
so you are right in your verdict and justified when you judge.
⁵ Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.
⁶ Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb; you taught me wisdom in that secret place.

My sin is always on my mind and I cannot escape it! It is with me when I wake up and it is there when I fall to sleep and it is in the eyes of everyone I see. It haunts me, but no matter its torture of me, I am distressed because I have violated Your Word, Your Path, and have failed to listen to Your Voice. Only You know good from evil, only You can determine righteousness. My sin offends You first and You alone. Only You have the right to judge me and Your sentence is righteous.

I was conceived and born with this sin in my bones. But that is no excuse because You are a perfect God and through You all things are possible, even my perfection. You have desired faithfulness in You from my conception and You taught me this wisdom of faith in my soul.

(In addition to the sin being against God's Word, Path, and Voice, it is also against another child of God whom He loves.  And this is yet another way our sin is against God and God alone.)

The Urgency of Discipleship

Luke 9: ⁵⁹ He said to another man, “Follow me.” But he replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” ⁶⁰ Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” ⁶¹ Still another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say goodbye to my family.” ⁶² Jesus replied, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”

What an incredibly cruel and heartless response to these two who are willing to serve, but have some legitimate things to finish!  Or is it?  Clearly Jesus knew of their respective situations, issued a call to service and made an example out of them when they offered excuses rather than obedience.  Verse 62 is quite a harsh rebuke for this lack of immediate obedience.  I've heard many opine that these were young men and the first meant to finish helping his perfectly healthy father run the family business until such time that his father grew old, died, he could liquidate the assets and support his life of discipleship.  There is no faith in such a worldly approach.  The other is even worse.  After all, they didn't have iPhones back in the day with which they could call or message the fam with a "hey I'm gonna backpack across the promised land with this Rabbi named Jesus."  It seems perfectly reasonable to run to the house, spread the good news of being invited to be a disciple of a rabbi, pack a change of underwear and a toothbrush, and hit the road, right?  
As Christians we spend most of our time doing everything EXCEPT serve.  We work, we recreate, we sleep, and if there is time we might drop by church.  Sometimes we're not even loyal fans of Christ.  Clearly a call to action demands an immediate response, yet there are so many very real responsibilities in today's world.  We've got families, jobs,  homes, cars, numerous accounts, etc, all requiring attention.  Isn't a reasonable response to Christ, "let me get myself in order and I'll be ready to serve?"   
Apparently not to Jesus.  He knows not only our history and current status, he uniquely knows our future.  These two were not willing to trust their future to His care.  Am I?  Have I been called to service and missed it because my house isn't in order?  

Psalms 4 (Part IV)

⁶ There are many who say,
“Who will show us any good?”
Lord, lift up the light of Your countenance upon us.

This is the people in David's day saying, "What have you done for me lately?"  And somehow we think man is smarter and more advanced than man of thousands of years past.  The people are almost saying, what side should I be with?  "Who will bring us prosperity?" the NIV says.  I am confounded by the uneducation in the actions of God for a people whose only education is in God and His actions to them, the Israelites. 

I hate to keep comparing them to America today, but isn't this the same constant question to the political parties?  Isn't this what motivates most people's vote?  I'd love to say that we were a Christian nation and voted on the values and character of the candidate, but for the average voter it's really upon the perception of what the candidate can do for them.  Here David is, obviously having had the hand of God upon his life having done great and miraculous things, having restored Israel, and yet the people are asking, "What have you done for me lately?"  "Who should we trust to bring us prosperity?"  The short-sidedness of only seeing physical things is the greatest veil for fooling people, and we are all suspect to it in one way or another.

David responds spiritually to the physically minded people.  "Lord, lift up the light of Your countenance upon us."  Just the impact of the Lord's look upon them will change them and they will know Who it is that has their best interest.  A simple gaze towards them from the Lord will penetrate all and force righteousness in character, peace of mind, and depth of heart to know God is the only living true God and they have no need for anything else.  May the living Lord also let the light of His face shine upon us today!

⁷ You have put gladness in my heart,

More than in the season that their grain and wine increased.
⁸ I will both lie down in peace, and sleep;
For You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.

The only true joy that feeds and satisfies the soul is from God and it is God Himself.  No material thing will ever sufficiently fill our "need" box.  May we rest peacefully in the midst of trials knowing that we are satisfied in the fulfillment of our Lord.  That He is truly all we need.  In no other way can we rest soundly, at peace, and in security.  It is important for us to stay focused on the reality of God.

Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep.

     If I should die before I wake, I pray the Lord my soul to take.

Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep.

     May angels watch me through the night, and wake me with the morning light.

I wonder if this traditional childhood prayer has its roots in the thoughts of David.  Where his peaceful sleep here in Psalms 4 and back in chapter 3 represent confidence, trust, and faith in his Lord.  Say the prayer while thinking of being in the middle of a civil war and family feud where the people are losing their grasp on all that God has done for them.  ...  How's your faith?  How well do you let God have your problems?

Psalms 4 (Part III)

⁴ Be angry, and do not sin.
Meditate within your heart on your bed, and be still. Selah
⁵ Offer the sacrifices of righteousness,
And put your trust in the Lord.

The indication by all accounts of my brief study is this portion of "Be angry, yet not sin" is discussing the verbal reaction to the anger.  Note that this does not say "do not be angry", but only to "not sin".  Oh how wrong our culture teaches this today!  Too often anger is given equivalence to sin, so much that many a school teacher associates the two as the same.  And in so doing, they condemn boys most often who are trying to learn what to do with the emotion, when they should be teaching them how to handle the emotion.

I can't decide here if David is talking to himself or not.  I can see here where he could be writing his own thoughts down.  He is saying to himself to be careful with his anger over people loving worthlessness and seeking falsehoods but don't sin in his desire to verbally lash out and condemn.  Settle down to a quiet room and be still.  Focus on the spirit, the soul, and the heart inside that hears God the clearest and dwells closely with Him.  Notice that he still has not said to not be angry.  He is still very angry over their desire for things that are not of God.

The Jewish would say that the danger to verbal vomit is in opening one's mouth to Satan.  A person shouldn't curse himself or others, because as is said, the "lips are subject to a covenant".  That is, the lips can make promises and binding actions.  So, if one makes such a curse, they might, in fact, foretell what will take place.  If a person's words can bear fruit then they can bear a curse as well.  Certainly, no one wants an angel of Satan to hear the curse and take it to Satan so they can work for it to happen.

The NIV says "Tremble and do not sin".  The picture is of being so angry over unrighteousness that you can barely contain yourself and it is coming out physically through trembling.  "Yet, do not sin."  How?  By finding a quiet place to be still and "search your heart" for God.  Where He is there will be rest and peace and justice.  "Offer the sacrifices", pray for your own forgiveness from sins, and "trust in the Lord".  Know that He will forgive you and hear you and vengeance will be His in His perfect timing and manner.  And it may even be that once we get still and settle with the Spirit of God in our hearts that vengeance no longer is necessary, only righteousness for His sake.  Above all, trust in the Lord in your circumstance that He has the best interest of the situation at heart which will provide the best opportunity for the worst among all to choose Him, but when that time has passed His justice will be swift.

Where Does Chris Rank in your Priorities?

Ephesians 6:4

Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.

Most of you have heard me say that I believe that of all the responsibilities of a father, by far the most important is to point their children to Christ and ensure they are maturing in Christ.  Everything else pales in importance.  Yet what I observe is that the things of God are relegated to "filler" times, those times after school, homework, sports, band, work, and other extracurricular activities.  If there is time, we'll go to youth, church, or do our devotions, pray, or seek God.  To me, we've bought into a lie by Satan that we can get around to spiritual growth later, but we've got to take care of school, and be excellent in our extracurricular activities first.  What we're modeling for our children when we parent like this is an attitude that we see our relationship with Christ as life assurance, but not Lordship.  We want salvation, but we refuse to make Christ Lord of our lives and refuse to yield control of everything to him.  This is a pervasive theme in the church and I give you football season and summer vacation time as evidence of that assertion.  Attendance in church is down when regional schools have home games late on Saturday night or on those first really pretty beach days of Spring.

Where does Christ rank in your priorities?  Have you accepted him as Savior?  Great!  Is He truly Lord of all?  What do your activities say about His rank in your priorities?  Are you presenting clear evidence to your children or those around you that Christ is clearly number one, or would they say that your work, or SEC football or hunting or fishing or excellence in school is number one?

How would you say that I am doing?  Looking forward to your comments!

 

Who is like God?

"Who is like You, O Lord, among the gods?  Who is like You, majestic in holiness, awesome in glorious deeds, doing wonders?" - Exodus 15:11

Moses who had seen the burning bush, heard God speak, witnessed the plagues of Egypt first hand, saw his people be freed with the hand of the only Living God over the hand of a man-god in Pharaoh, looked up and saw the column of fire and wind around the Israelite camps, been used by God to part the Red Sea and then see it crush Pharaoh's army - yes, that Moses - proclaims here in worship to the Living God He is and that He alone is God.

Yet, in my nothingness, by comparison to Moses, I too have felt as he felt at this moment - proclaiming God's greatness and awed by how or why He chooses to care for me.  Even more, at why He chooses to more than care, but to bless. 

As my eyes blinked open this morning I just lay thankful that I was at home, then that Julie would even be near me, then that she would even talk to me or touch me.  I was thankful the kids were sleeping peacefully.  I looked up and was thankful that I had a roof over my head and more, one that doesn't leak.  I heard the A/C running and was thankful to lay in conditioned air and on a soft bed.  It was otherwise very quiet and I was thankful for the stillness of the morning.  ...  Simple, by comparison to Moses, but I still find that I want to exclaim as he did, "Who is like You, O Lord, among the gods?  Who is like You, majestic in holiness, awesome in glorious deeds, doing wonders?"

Work

2 Thessalonians 3:10  For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: “The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat.”

Work.  It's a four letter word that I thank you for not using in my presence! 
I know that we're to work hard and with a great deal of integrity: Colossians 3:23  Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.  But that's not today's issue.
I've been blessed to have the best job the Air Force has to offer.  I've also been in some terrible situations in spite of what sounded on the surface like a fantastic job.  I've discovered that the difference is the people involved.  While the opportunities that the job offers are compelling, its the people that make the job enjoyable or painstaking work.  The attitude, aptitude, and effort of coworkers can turn a incredible job into awful work, or turn the worst job into a blessing. 
I'm reminded that I can help set the tone at work.  Whether I'm facing great trials or fantastic opportunities, I'm compelled to do so with a positive attitude.  1 Thes 5 puts it this way:
¹² Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you. ¹³ Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. ¹⁴ And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone. ¹⁵ Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else. ¹⁶ Rejoice always, ¹⁷ pray continually, ¹⁸ give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. ¹⁹ Do not quench the Spirit. ²⁰ Do not treat prophecies with contempt ²¹ but test them all; hold on to what is good, ²² reject every kind of evil.
My question is always "how?"  Nehemia 8:10 reminds us that the source of our joy is the Lord! 
Hi ho, hi ho, it's off to work I go.  With a song on my lips and joy in my heart because I know that my God who is faithful, knows I've been brought to it and will see me through it! 

Psalms 4 (Part II)

² How long, O you sons of men,
Will you turn my glory to shame?
How long will you love worthlessness
And seek falsehood? Selah
³ But know that the Lord has set apart for Himself him who is godly;
The Lord will hear when I call to Him.

David is asking his own fellow people, how long will you seek to ruin me?  Why do you look to run me down and destroy all the good that was done and make it shameful.

It is important to remember Israel and David's path.  Israel had wanted a king even though God had wanted Israel to make God their king.  But, being a giving God, he allowed them to choose one and they chose a handsome, tall, king in Saul.  The problem was that Saul wasn't kingly, but cowardly.  God saw Israel's desire and need for a good king so He picked David.  David was courageous and knew how to trust God to do a miracle when faced with death if you have to rely upon yourself.  Saul turned evil, then finally was slain in battle, and David became the rightful king.  God then used David and restored all of Israel against its enemies and prospered.

But then, in a moment of boredom and wandering or slack hands, David sinned against God.  Nathan showed his sin to him and David repented and was restored.  Except there was division in his family with his children.  His son mistreated his daughter.  And now, finally , we are where this Psalm is purported to be written around.  David's own son is gathering an ever increasing number against David and David has had to flee until the time he is directed and will have to strike his own son down.

And so, he calls to Israel who follows an insolent son who has not been made right or restored to God for his own sins against his sister, "Why do you seek to turn all the glory of God through David to shame?  Why do you love things of no worth and look for lies?  Don't you know that God will set apart for Himself who is His, but moreso, I know my God and He will hear me."  I find David's ability to separate his love for his son from his love for the righteousness of God absolutely incredible.

Unfortunately, I find this to be a direct match to our times and our culture.  The amount of good and unbelievable things a leader has done for this country or others becomes of very little value against the one bad thing they probably have done.  I'm not sure how the weighting scale of culture's grading goes, but it seems it becomes a political agenda immediately.  And our culture certainly doesn't practice forgiveness except in the character of an ungodly person.  It is exactly opposite of the ways of God.  An ungodly person is forgiven and given many chances for success.  But a Godly person is unforgiven.  I can only surmise the reasoning is that if you believe in a standard such as God's and can't keep it you are characteristically flawed, but if you believe in nothing and don't achieve it, it is okay.

I am also reminded of our country today as it seems we have a leader who lies and lies and seems directly opposed to what is best for our nation yet all is overlooked.  "How long will you love worthlessness and seek falsehood?"   David asked the people and that question could be asked of our country today.  Will we turn God's glory and blessings to shame?  Most definitely, if we don't find a way to change the direction of the people's will to look to God.

Psalms 4 (Part I)

¹ Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness!
You have relieved me in my distress;
Have mercy on me, and hear my prayer.

 (v1) Again, the way David calls upon the Lord is uncomfortable to me, yet I see it as something I need to work through within myself.  At the end of chapter 3 David declared "Arise Lord! Deliver me, my God!"  And now he cries "Hear me when I call" and "hear my prayer".  I am reminded of Jacob who wouldn't let go of God until He blessed him.  I get the same perception of David here.  I will cry out to the Lord and I won't let go of Him until He hears my call and my prayer. 

How can we be so bold with a God who all knowing and all seeing?  I so often feel that I am just fortunate to be here, to be capable of a conversation.  I can't imagine saying things so declarative to the Lord.  How can I make such request of God and remain humble?  Suppose I did and God honored it, would I start to think I had an "in" with God and have an unreasonable value upon myself?  I have often wondered why I can't go to someone who is sick and pray over them and they get up being healed.  Where did that kind of faith go?  When was it removed from the earth?  Jesus said in John 14:12 that "he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do".  I believe the Holy Spirit is just as powerful now as it was then, so the issue has to be the faith of man and his ability to handle God's purpose.

I find when I read this that David was able to handle it well as he maintained a proper balance of his worth and place under the Lord.  David had experienced God's deliverance in the face of a lion and a bear.  He had chased down both to retrieve stolen sheep and when they turned on him he had killed them.  Standing in the face of either even with a gun would be terrifying.  I can't imagine doing so with only a sword or spear.  David had also experienced God's favor when he stood in the face of Goliath.  Yet he didn't just stand wondering if he would be destroyed, he stood with a passion for God to destroy this giant who taunted the Lord.  He was adamant that the battle was the Lord's and everyone would know that there is a God.

Maybe, just maybe, that's a part of our faith that's missing.  What do we live for?  What is our purpose?  Why would we want someone to be healed?  Why would we want God to deliver us?  Why would we want God to hear our prayer?  It must be that we know that the battle is His and so the world may know that there is a God who delivers us, who heals, who answers our prayers. 

"Lord, heal (insert name) so the world may know there is a God in heaven with the power to heal."

"Lord, reward their recovery, so the world may know there is forgiveness and love that is greater than man."

"Lord, deliver Your people when the evil come to take their homes and take all they have so the evil know that their God delivered them."

"Lord, make their faith so strong and Your presence so thick, that when the evil come to kill them, rape their women and take their children, they know the presence of a Holy God.   May they seek Your face."

Thorn in the flesh

2 Cor 12:  Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. ⁸ Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. ⁹ But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. ¹⁰ That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.


I don't know about you, but when I've got a "thorn in the flesh," I'm a lousy patient.  I tweaked my back yesterday (I wish I could tell you I saved a puppy from 8 lanes of high speed traffic, as the dropped soap in the shower seems so wimpy...) and was hurting so that I left work at noon.  I rarely miss work due to illness or aches and pains, so to do so is a big deal.  I really don't endure these things well at all. 
Learning to submit to the love and assistance of others is difficult for me.  I'm grumpy, irritable, and generally not fit to be around even when people want to help.  I'm not that person that needs help, I'm the help-giver.  Needing help makes me angry.  People offering assistance out of love and concern makes me angry.  Yeah, I'm that warped.  Chris calls it insanity and I believe he's pegged it. 
I believe God expects us to endure these "thorns of the flesh" to learn how to accept love in its many forms.  A sore back isn't life threatening and I know in just a few short days, I'll feel better.  I have hope!  Others I know are suffering from life-threatening illnesses.  Intellectually I know they should have hope, but I wonder how I would respond if in their situation.  Would I have the hope I expect them to have?  My current response to a sore back would indicate I'm incapable of dealing with any real "thorn in the flesh."
May I learn to stand on His promise of sufficiency and learn to endure these "thorns" with grace and joy.  May those close to me forgive me of my attitude.