Say What????

I am participating in an Online Bible Study through Proverbs 31 Ministries...studying Lysa TerKeurst's book What Happens When Women Say Yes to God. (GREAT BOOK!)

One of the things we are looking at this week is Radical Obedience.  You know what I mean. It is fairly easy to obey when God calls you to do "normal" things.. Like that prompting to not sleep in, but to get up and go to church... that sudden need to call a friend and encourage her... even something like taking a meal to someone. Those aren't so outside the box.. they don't stretch your faith.. so they are, for the most part, easy to say Yes to. But then there are those other callings...the ones where you want to look at God and say "Surely you are NOT talking to me!?"  Or as we are saying this week in our study "Say What!? God!"

I have had plenty of "Say What" Moments in my life.  Some have been huge... like when God called my husband to leave his job... his secure paycheck every month with benefits job... and go... well that was the big catch.. God told him to resign, but didn't say what was coming next. And do you know the man obeyed!  And when I wanted to explain to him why this was not a good idea, the Lord sent another "Say What" moment.. He told me to Be Quiet... to Submit to my husband's authority and to trust Him.  Can you imagine!?

The amazing thing is I did just that.  Although I definitely unloaded my feelings to the Lord about it!  And here is the wild thing... God did have it under control.  Within 2 days my husband had been offered another job.. out of the blue. Now this would seem a fairy tale ending if I could say it is the perfect job with twice the pay. But again.. God had a "Say What" moment for us. He sent a job, but the pay was less. "Say WHAT!?" And on top to that the man, again, obeyed the Lord and took the job. Once again, God had me be quiet.

And while it has not been easy at times financially, it has been one of the best decisions ever made for our family.. our marriage.. and for my husband.

Other "Say What" moments are not so huge, but can still be a stretch.  Many years ago I was in the grocery store. I was an at-home mom with 2 small children. My husband was self-employed. And money was tighter than tight.  (That is a reoccurring theme in our lives) I was in the grocery store and I saw a woman.  Cannot say why she caught my attention, but it was obvious that she was distressed. She had maybe 2 things in her cart and looked lost as she wandered the aisles. Then I over heard her talking with another lady.  It was quickly evident that the young woman was destitute.  I thought how sad and moved on. Got to the check out with my own little bit of shopping and heard clearly the Lord say "Go back and give her $10" "Say What!" $10 might not seem much, but at that time we really didn't have it to spare.  Plus I thought it would be so awkward.. embarrassing even. Nope, I knew I had misheard. So I proceeded to swipe my debit card and check out. It didn't go through.. tried again.. nope.. all the while I kept hearing "$10".. so the third time I hit cash back and got $10.  Debit card worked like a charm.  Once I was finished paying and bagging groceries, I went back and found the woman. Walked up to her and said "God told me to give this to you" as I handed her the money. She fell to pieces sobbing and grabbed hold of me right in the middle of Kroger. And guess what.. I didn't care what folks thought. I hugged her back and spoke blessings over her.  Now I have no idea if she bought food or something else with that money. What I do know is I had obeyed and I could feel it!

I encourage you to follow through even in the "Say What" moments.. no matter how large or small. With Obedience comes blessing (Deut. 28).. and a faith that is strengthened and nurtured... and a deeper walk with the Lord.

Romans 12:2

"Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, 

but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. 

Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is -- 

His good, perfect and pleasing will."  Romans 12:2 NIV84

NIV84: Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world

ESV Do not be conformed to this world

NLT Do not copy the behavior and customs of this world

MSG Don't become so well adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking

PH  Don't let the world around you squeeze you into its own mould

HCSB Do not be conformed to this age

NASB And do not be conformed to this world

AMP Do not be conformed to this world (this age), fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs

conform = conform to, fashion self according to

No matter what translation I choose, the bottom line is I am not to be like the World and it is MY choice to do so or not.  I fashion myself.. I choose the pattern I will follow.. the pattern I will copy.  Will it be the world's pattern or God's? God's = Jesus

I need only live to conform to the world.. it gladly displays its pattern in brilliant color full screen 24 /7 in your face. It is the easy way. It really requires nothing of me.  I will fit right in.. blend.

BUT God's pattern is a bit different. I have to put forth some effort.  I have to surrender me to Him.. be in the Word to see the pattern and then walk it out in this foreign place where I won't blend in but instead will stick out. It won't be comfortable but it will be beneficial to me and those who see me.  And this pattern, unlike the pattern of the World, is eternal!

Weary?

It is so easy to  become tired and weary in life. I'm not just talking about physical weariness, but emotional weariness.. the weariness from standing firm.. doing the right thing.. walking the walk when it really would (it seems) be easier to just go with the flow.. afterall, what you are or are not doing isn't really making a difference is it?

The thing is God never says "Stand Firm".... "Be set apart"... "Turn the other cheek".. "Love your enemies"... "Stay Married"... "Give Thanks in all circumstances"... "Count it all joy".. BUT only if you can see that doing this makes a difference in the world. If not, forget it and do what you want. Nope.. that last bit if found no where in Scripture. We are to obey and leave the results up to Him.  And often the difference can't be seen by us and may not be in the world around us. This obedience is one of the main ways God molds us into the imagine of His perfect son.

So here is the promise....

Let us not become weary in doing good for at the proper time 

we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.  Gal. 6:9

There WILL be a harvest.. but it is conditional.. IF we do not give up.

And when you feel like giving up.. and you will.. Remember what Christ endured for you.

Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinful men, 

so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. Heb. 12:3

Abide Today....

Recently Amazon offered a devotional by Cynthia Heald called Becoming a Woman Who Walks with God as a freebie for Kindle!  It is a 30 day devotional on Abiding and so I decided to get it to use at some point.  Well today is that some point.. I decided to use it in April.

The focus today was on John 15:4... I love the ESV because it uses the Word Abide.. just love that word!  Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.

I decided to do a bit of word study, so pulled up Strong's App and looked at Abide.. I know what the word means but saw two things today I really don't think I ever saw before..

"To stay in a given place, state, relation, or expectancy"... expectancy!  God keeps putting that word before my eyes.  It also means to "Be Present."

So I am to abide with expectancy... or in expectancy.. expectancy of what.. of God and His promises... expecting Him to bring to completion that which He has begun in me (Phil 1:6)... to work things out for good (Rom 8:28)... expecting Him to never leave me or forsake me (Heb 13:5) and soo much more!  Isn't that the coolest thing!  I mean we know that.. know that His promises are true and will be fulfilled, but I love that He included it in that abiding.

And then Be Present.. that one really hit me.  NIV says Remain in Me and I will remain in you. So be present in Christ and Christ will be present in you.  Not yesterday.. not tomorrow.. today.. present.. now!  This, for me, is all about that daily surrender. Today I choose to be present in Christ.. to die to self .. take up the cross He has for me.. and expect Him to be Who He says He is and do what He says He will do!

Romans 12:12

NIV -- Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer

ESV -- Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer

HCSB -- Rejoice in hope; be patient in affliction; be persistent in prayer

NET -- Rejoice in hope, endure in suffering, persist in prayer

NASB -- Rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer

AMP -- Rejoice and exult in hope; be steadfast and patient in suffering and tribulation; be constant in prayer

MSG -- Cheerfully expectant. Don't quit in hard times, pray all the harder.

KJV -- Rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing instant prayer

Let's look at these 3 exhortations..

First.. Be joyful in hope

Rejoice .. being joyful.. cheerfully.. expectant in HOPE

The Greek word used here means rejoice, joy, joyfully, be glad, hail

Hope -- faith, hope BUT from a root word that mean to anticipate (usually with pleasure).. expectation, confidence

So I am to be full of joyful anticipation and confidence in my faith and hope which is Jesus Christ!

Next... Be patient in affliction

Patient in.. enduring... persevering... steadfast .. in affliction, suffering , tribulation

hupomeno (Greek) -- to stay under, remain, bear, have fortitude, endure, abide, take patiently.

Tribulation -- from root which means pressure, affliction, anguish, burdened, persecution, tribulation, trouble

So I am to be patient.. endure.. stay under.. bear.. remain in.. have fortitude in.. abide while I an in tribulation, trouble, affliction, anguish, burdened or pressured.

Abide.. I don't think we are to abide IN the suffering or tribulation but to abide while going through it.

John 15 is all about abiding.. remaining.. in HIM.. Only way we bear fruit is to abide in Him and we are called to bear fruit no matter the circumstances.

So our hope is in Him.. our abiding in Him...

and lastly... Be faithful in prayer

Continuing instant.. be faithful.. constant.. persistent.. devoted in prayer

"continue instant" is a phrase foreign to me.. even though I was reared with the King James Version of the Bible.  It means to be earnest towards, to persevere, be constantly diligent, to adhere closely, attend continually, wait on.

So I am to be earnest toward, persevere in, be constantly diligent, adhere closely to, attend continually to, wait in prayer... and again,  we find Jesus.. for our prayers are to be asked in His name!

These verses go hand in hand with 1 Thess 5:16-18 Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

I love that the underlying current which allows me to do these things.. to rejoice.. be patient.. be faithful.. is JESUS.. my hope in Him.. sharing in His affliction.. staying connected to Him with prayer. It is all about Jesus and our relationship with Him!

Romans 12:11

Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. (NIV)

Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically. (NLT)

Not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord. (NAS)

Do not lag in zeal, be enthusiastic in spirit, serve the Lord. (NET)

Do not be slothful in seal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. (ESV)

Don't burn out keep yourselves fueled and aflame. Be alert servants of the Master, 

cheerfully expectant. (MSG)

Never lag in zeal and in earnest endeavor be aglow and burning with the Spirit, 

serving the Lord. (AMP)

Do not lack diligence be fervent in spirit serve the Lord. (HCS)

Not slothful in business; fervent in Spirit; serving the Lord. (KJV)

According to Webster's 1828 Dictionary, slothful means inactive, lazy, idle, sluggish, indolent.. indolent means averse to activity, effort or movement.. habitually lazy.

Business (as used in KJV) is earnest care or carefulness, diligence, forwardness, haste

Fervent.. again from Webster's 1828.. is hot, boiling, animated, glowing, vehement, earnest, excited.. Current dictionary defines fervent as exhibiting or marked by great intensity of feeling -- zealous.. impassioned.

I often pair this verse with Gal. 6:9 which tells us to now grow weary, but I see it is very different. Weariness comes from doing so much and often not seeing results.. feeling ineffective. This verse is about the doing.. we are to be.. I am to be.. ACTIVE.. purposely active in my faith. Living it out.. loving sincerely.. hating evil.. clinging to good.. honoring others.. etc. NOT lazy, but easrnest.. diligent.. with a boiling hot (not lukewarm, lest Christ Spit you out) passion for the Lord and the church.. serving Him.

A few years ago our youth pastor taught our youth on the word Pisteuo.. which is translated Faith in the New Testament. He told how it meant more than just believing in God.. it is an active word.. a word that requires action.. Pisteuo is Faith IN Action.. that is what Romans 12:11 is telling us. We are not to be passive.. we are to be active in serving the Lord!  

And like so much else we are to do or not do, we cannot do is in and of ourselves. Here's where Phil 4:3 and 2 Peter 1:3 come in to play.. we have to let God work through us.. giving us ALL we need for life and godliness!  So today I pray for the Lord to infuse me.. infuse you.. with His passion.. His zeal.. and to give me and you the energy.. focus.. opportunities.. to serve Him in all we do.

2013 Word of the Year Take 2

I am about to start teaching the Spring Bible study for ladies at my church. We are going to step back and do an older Beth Moore Study.. Believing God. I did this one years ago and it still impacts my life. One of the best studies I have ever done.

Last night I piled up and watched the first video....preview and getting ready for when we start next week.  She talks in the video and the work book about the verse that started her on this journey to Believe God.. take Him at His Word.  It is Isa. 43:10...

     You are my witnesses, declares the Lord, and my servant whom I have chosen, 

     so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am He.

KNOW and BELIEVE

Last year my word of the year was a pair of words.. Less.. More.. I think I will amend my 2013 word of the year to be a pair also.. Know.. Believe.

Know there is the Hebrew word Yada ... that intimate knowing that I talked about in my original post.  Believe is the Hebrew word Aman which means to trust, believe, have assurance in, have faith in, put trust in.. and when I look at it, I can't help but see Amen.  So I did a bit of research on the word Amen and found that while it does show up in Greek and Aramaic, its roots are in the Hebrew Aman.

As I grow to know God better.. deeper.. I'll be able to Aman what I knew.. to trust the one who is the Amen (Rev. 3:14)

No matter how many promises God has made, they are "yes" in Christ. And so through Him the "Amen" is spoken by us to the glory of God. 2 Cor. 1:20

Psalm 15

Who may worship in Your sanctuary, Lord? Who may enter Your presence on Your holy hill?

Those who lead blameless lives

          May I be blameless in keeping your decrees (Ps. 119:80)

Those who do what is right

         Lead me, O Lord, in Your righteousness (Ps. 5:8)

Those who speak truth from sincere hearts

          for I speak the truth and detest every kind of deception (Prov. 8:7)

Those who refuse to gossip

          Do not spread slanderous gossip among your people (Lev. 19:16)

or harm their neighbors

         Love your neighbors as yourself (Lev. 19:19, Matt. 22:39)

or speak evil of their friends

          Keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies (Ps. 34:13)

Those who despise flagrant sinners

          Bad company corrupts good character (1 Cor. 15:33)
          Oh the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked or stand around with sinners or     
            join in with mockers. (Ps. 1:1)

and honor the faithful followers of the Lord

          Love one another (John 13:34)

and keep their promises even when it hurts

          It is better to say nothing than to make a promise and not keep it (Eccl. 5:5)
          Simply let your yes be yes and your no be no (Matt. 5:37)

Those who lend money without charging interest

          Remember do not charge interest on money you lend (Lev. 25:37)
          Be generous and lend them whatever they need (Deut. 15:8)

and who cannot be bribed to lie about the innocent

          Take no bribes, for a bribe makes you ignore something that you clearly see (Ex. 23:8)
          Fear the Lord and judge with integrity, for the Lord our God does not tolerate perverted justice 
             or partiality or the taking of bribes (2 Chr. 19:7)

Such people will stand firm forever!

          The wicked die and disappear, but the family of the godly stands firm (Prov. 12:73
          Be on guard -- Stand firm in the faith - Be courageous - Be strong (1 Cor 16:13)
          It is God who enable us to stand firm (2 Cor. 1:21)
          Put on all of God's armor so that you will be able to stand firm against the strategies of the devil 
             (Eph. 6:11)

Parenting....

Today one of my children (who are 20 & 24 so not really children) asked my advice on something. The answer I gave was not what the child wanted to hear. I believe the child knew this would be the answer, but hoped for something different.  I hated disappointing the child, but had to speak the truth in love.  My kids know that and expect it from me.

As I have pondered a bit on this, I have thought about my relationship with my Heavenly parent.. my Father.. I wonder if I ever ask Him something... state my case.. try to sell Him on it.. knowing full well what He is going to say but hoping that maybe, just maybe, this time He will answer differently.  (I the Lord do not change.. Malachi 3:6).

And when He answers with no or wait or yes, you have to do that... and it isn't what I want to hear.. then I am disappointed.. hurt.. miffed.. even though I know He would never steer me wrong.. that whatever He says is best for me.

The difference, however, is God KNOWS His answer is right. I can only hope mine is and trust God with the outcome. He sees the future.. I don't... but just as my child trusts me to speak the truth and love unconditionally, I trust my Father to do the same for me.. and for my children.

All's Quiet... or is it?

This past weekend was Easter.  I remember reading lots of Facebook Statuses and Tweets on Twitter on Good Friday about the Crucifixion.. and many saying Sunday's Coming!  All true and all good.

And I knew on Easter Sunday I would be reading lots and lots of comments on His Resurrection and being alive. Again.. all true and all good!  But what about the day in-between?

There really isn't anything said about that Saturday in the Bible. We know it was a Sabbath day, so we can assume the Jews were observing the Sabbath.  We know Jesus' followers were hiding.. scared.. no doubt confused and troubled.

But again, the Word is quiet about that time and so it would be easy to assume everything was quiet.. God was not working.. Jesus was in the tomb.. all work had ceased.  But of course, that is not true. God never sleeps nor slumbers. (Ps. 121:4)  He is always at work. And He was that day.

We know a lot happened while Jesus was in the grave. We know He overcame the power of sin, death and hell. How.. we don't know the details.. and we don't need to know.  Bottom line... things were happening.. things on the Spiritual realm that we could not see.

And how I praise God they were happening!

And still happen!

We all have "good Friday" moments in our life.. when someone "bad" happens.. something that overwhelms us.. something outside our human capacity to cope.. and when we are in those situations, we are looking for answers.. a way out.. results. And for whatever reason, we often have times after the "good Friday" event where it seems God is quiet... nothing is happening.. we are just coasting in our anguish.  But guess what? OUR GOD does not sleep!  He is at work.. always!  And He has not forgotten us.  There is a Resurrection Sunday coming for us and our situation... it may not be this side of heaven.. it may not look the way we thing it should look.. but it is coming.. God has made a way... He is at work. We need only wait and trust that even when it is "Saturday" and we are scared and troubled and it seems we are alone, we are not. Our God is working in ways we cannot comprehend.. doing what is best for us and for His kingdom.

Delight in the Word

"If Your law had not been my delight, then I would have perished in my affliction."  Ps. 119:92

No doubt this verse shows that God's word upholds us.. protects us.. etc. during difficult times, but I also see a daily application.  if I delight in something, I will make time for it.  So if I delight in His Word, I'll be in it .. daily.. reading, studying, meditating, memorizing.

Doing this daily, even when life is going good, builds that foundation.. that fortification.. for when the tough stuff happens (and it will happen!) and it is easier to delight and dig in when life is going smooth.

Trails, testings, etc are to build and strengthen our faith.

I believe "smooth" sailings are to build our faith's foundation.. our footing as it were.. to sharpen our swords... to condition  ourselves.. to make ready for what is to come.

That "smooth" sailing is our study time and those trials our exams. We can't really cram because we rarely see the exam coming.. they are more like pop quizzes! And I, for one, want to pass... so I need to be in the Word daily!

I am praying for a heart that delights in the Word... praying that Jeremiah 15:16 would be true in my life...

Your Words were found and I ate them. 

They were a joy to me and the delight of my heart 

for I am called by Your Name, O Lord.

A One.. Two Punch

Catching up on my reading in the Daily Walk Bible today. This verse really grabbed me... 2 Kings. 17:41 "Even while these people were worshipping the Lord, they were serving their idols.  To this day their children and grandchildren do as their fathers did."  


WHOA!  Who or what am I serving today?  Work, money, media, computer, me (selfishness), food, laziness... the list in endless! 


And a reminder that what I do today affects the generations to come. What kind of legacy am I leaving?


Then I opened up the book Mighty Prevailing Prayer by Wesley L. Duewel and read this....


"Whatever gets you too busy for prayer time, whatever distracts you from holy prevailing, whatever robs you of hunger for God, for souls, and for time for prayer warfare is a hindrance to God and His kingdom. You cannot afford it." 


Again WHOA!  Obviously the Lord is telling me something here. Time for some soul searching... by the Holy Spirit! 

Search me, O God, and know my heart;

test me and know my anxious thoughts. 

See if there is any offensive way in me,   

 and lead me in the way everlasting.  Ps. 139:23-24

Promises

Lately God has pointed out 2 verses about His Promises to me.. the first was a couple of weeks ago. I was preparing for the Bible study I lead on Sunday night and 2 Peter 1:3 came to mind.. I wanted to make sure I wrote it down right, so I looked it up... it is one of my favorite people's favorite verses :-)


"His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness."


And then I read on to verse 4...


"Through these He has given us His very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires."


His very great and precious promises!  I just love that.  NASB calls them magnificent and great... Amplified says precious and exceedingly great... 


I have pondered that verse and the wonder of it... that God would give us.. freely.. His exceedingly great, magnificent, precious promises... so that we might participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption found in the world!  


And then I read Joshua 21:45 in my Daily Bible reading a week later..


"Not one of all the LORD’s good promises to the house of Israel failed; every one was fulfilled."



And we know this is true.. just read all He promised in the Torah and then read what all happens to them.. good and bad.. it is all there! And even into the prophets.. He promised a Messiah and He has sent one!


I realized that I can personalize that verse...


Not one of all the Lord's good promises to Barbara failed... every one was fulfilled.


Every promise He has given, is giving and will give to me will come about.. never fail!  


So where do I find the promises... in His writings to me.. His Holy Word.. there is promise after promise found in Scriptures from having our needs supplied, being given strength, never being alone, salvation, protection, love and on and on... 


I am going to be sharing some of these promises on this blog in the days ahead.. So be watching for them. And in the meantime, open the Word and find some for yourself!  They are there.. not hidden at all.. just ask the Holy Spirit to open your eyes to see the Wonderful Promise He has for you today!

Cease Striving.. Be Still

"Be still and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations."  Ps. 46:10

This is a verse most folks who attend church have heard ... are familiar with... I learned it from the NIV.  Recently in my Bible study, I heard it in the NASB and it was like a whole knew verse to me...

"Cease striving and know that I am God."  

Cease Striving... seems so much more than Be Still to me. When I am not still, it could be due to busyness.. the normal ebb and flow of the day... and, for me, does not indicate much about my state of mind or emotions. I could be rushing here and there frazzled.. or just going about my daily routine.

Cease Striving, however, sets a different tone for me. If I am striving, I am determined to do something or to make something happen no matter what!

When I hear Be Still I think of resting in Him.. just stopping what I am doing and resting in Him. But with Cease Striving I picture a fussy child... probably a toddler.. Mom or Dad has picked her up and that child is thrashing about and squirming... striving to get loose from that parent's grip... so the parent holds tighter and often says something like "Be still... settle down..."

That child is wanting her way... she may be scared of what is to come next (shot at the doctor, discipline etc...) or she just doesn't want what comes next (nap, bath, bed time etc...) or maybe she is upset over something (didn't get her way, got hurt playing or is mad etc...) and Mom or Dad is trying to make it better but the child is fighting against them.

I wonder... am I like that with God? Are you? Do I buck and balk and strive to get my own way.. fighting against Him when I know I have sinned and discipline is at hand? Or I know He is calling me to obey and I don't really want to. Or maybe I am hurt, frustrated, angry, scared etc. and I'm having a bit of a fit.. a pity party.. and don't want to give that up just yet.

Any of those and much more can cause me to strive .. to not be still... and in the process I miss out on what God is doing and on getting to know Him deeper and in a new way.

Lord, Teach me to be still.. to cease striving.. to stop and let You be who You are... to see what You are doing in my life and around me... to acknowledge that You are God and I am not!  May I exalt You among the nations.

Are you running about today.. striving to get things done.. providing God with a moving target? STOP... Cease... Be Still... and rest in Him.

"So Long...."

Ex 32:1 "when the people saw that Moses was so long in coming down from the mountain...."

Moses took longer than the people wanted... they grew impatient.. began to "suppose"... to let their minds wander here and there right into a golden calf and idolatry.

Don't I do the same? God takes "so long"... too long for me... I want Him to act, but nothing (actually He very likely is acting, but not in the manner I expect or want.. so I see it as inactivity).  My mind then starts to have a hey day of what ifs and I decide to help move things along.. I usually am able to even convince myself that this is what God wanted all along.. my help.

I may not create a golden calf as the Israelites did, but I create my own idol... the idol of self.. I set myself, my thoughts, my ideas, my abilities etc. up as "god".. I idolize me!

And in doing this I find that I am like Peter... my eyes were on Jesus, but then I got distracted by the water and waves (life) and now I am sinking in the water even if I don't realize it.  I must FIX my eyes on Jesus.. FIX, not glance His way.

I looked Fix up in the dictionary and found these definitions... to make firm, stable or stationary... affix... attach.. to hold or direct steadily... to capture the attention of.. establish.. to make an accurate determination of... to get ready.. focus.. decide.. settle.. fasten

I want to do all of that!  To make my focus Jesus... to have a firm grasp on Him.. to be stable and stationary in where I place my trust... to affix myself, attach me to Him.. to hold steadily to His Word.. to capture His attention.. to make an accurate determination by seeing HIM (Imperishable Truth) and not my circumstances (which are fleeting).. to get ready for whatever comes my way by fastening my eyes on Jesus!

Lord, may You be my vision today... the focus on my eyes and my life!

Flee!

In reading through Genesis, I recently looked at the story of the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah.  When the angel tells Lot what is about to happen, he tells him to Flee for your lives!  Don't look back and don't stop anywhere in the plain!  Flee for the mountains or you will be swept away. (Gen. 19:17)

In the New Testament we are also told to Flee... what do we flee from? Evil. (see 1 Tim. 1:11 & 2 Tim 2:22) and in Phil. 3:13 Paul says "Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead..." Similar to the angel telling Lot not to look back but move forward.

Paul is pressing on toward the goal.  The angel urges Lot to do the same. "Do not stop --- flee to the mountains."

But Lot does stop -- he settles for less than what God wants to give him -- less than a full relationship with God -- less than the abundant life He offers. Instead, Lot decides it is too much work .. it requires too much of himself.. so he asks to settle in the town of Zoar not going all the way to the mountains.

I wonder.. do I do this? Do I settle for a small town when God wants me to press on towards the mountain?  Do I not want to work at my spiritual journey -- not give of myself?  and if so, what will be the result?

The angel told Lot "Flee to the mountains or you will be swept away" .. certainly Lot survived that day, but in the end he had grandchildren from incest who became 2 of the most corrupt nations ever -- enemies of God's chosen people who were ultimately destroyed by God (Amos 2:1-3, Eze. 25:1-11).

Consequences -- Legacy -- what we do or don't do today effects others now and in the future. We must Flee the temptations of the world and head for the mountains .. for God.. we want to develop that intimate relationship with Him that He wants with us.. to stand firm on the Promises in His Word.. to be salt and light in this dark world.. and yes, it will require something of us.. more and more as time goes on, I believe. And we may grow tired and weary... or just be lazy... or just be willing to settle for a little God (like being a Sunday morning Christian warming the pew).  We might do ok just getting by, but we will miss out on the blessings God has in store for us and our actions will effect others. So forget what lies behind... flee the trappings of the world... and press on towards the prize!

Lord, May I obey fully and seek Your face -- pursue an intimate relationship with you and the abundant life you have for me.  Help me not to grow weary or lazy -- not to stop short or settle for less -- put to press on toward the prize for which "You have called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."

Desires....

I have several devotional books I am reading in this year... I am not legalistic, in that I don't read every book every day.  One is Daily Light on the Daily Path.  There are morning and evening readings taken straight from Scripture... wonderful book!  I have this on my Kindle and it uses a different Bible version than ones I normally read.  It uses God's Word Version. I have never read this version and confess I am watching carefully for any red flags.  I love reading different translations / transliterations, but seek to discern those that take the truth and twist it. So far, this one has been sound.


I was recently intrigued by the wording used for a specific passage of Scripture... Phil 2:12-13.  


The NIV says:  "Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to His good purpose."


In the Devotional, God's Word Version, it says : "My dear friends, you have always obeyed, not only when I was with you but even more now that I’m absent. In the same way continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling. It is God who produces in you the desires and actions that please Him."


The part that stopped me was the last line.. "It is God who produces in you the desires and actions that please Him."


There is something about the thought of God producing the desires and actions in me that makes me stop and think. Certainly that is only when I am fully yielded to Him, because I know there are desires and actions in me at times which in no way please Him and are not from Him.  They are my sinful flesh's produce -- rotten fruit as it were -- where as the Lord wants to produce good fruit in me through His Holy Spirit.


Lord, help me to be fully and completely yielded to You today.  I choose that -- less of me, more of You!  May I produce good fruit that pleases You -- benefits me -- blesses others -- brings You and You alone glory.  Amen!

More & More - part 2

Verse 2:

To know You as my Healer... "... by His wounds we are healed" (Isa. 53:5 & 1 Peter 2:24)

To know You as my Love.... "How great is the love the Father has lavished on us" (1 John 3:1)... "For God so loved the world.." (John 3:16)... "This is how we know what love is: Jesus laid down His life for us." (1 John 3:16).... "God is Love"  (1 John 4:16)

To know You as my Advocate to Heaven's Throne above... "He is able to save completely those who come to God through Him, because He always lives to interceded for them." (Heb. 7:25).... "... Jesus has entered on our behalf." (Heb. 6:20).... "Christ... is at the right hand of God and is interceding for us." (Rom. 8:34).... "Jesus.. endured the cross, scorning its shame and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."  (Heb. 12:2)

To know You as my Savior .... "we have put out hope in the living God who is the Savior of all men." (1 Tim. 4:10)... "You are my Father, my God, my Rock, my Savior" (Ps. 89:26)

To know You as my Lord .... "Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is one" (Deut. 4:6)... "How awesome is the Lord Most High." (Ps. 47:2)... "Delight yourself in the Lord."  (Ps. 37:4)

To know You as the coming King who reigns forevermore.... "If I go.. I will come back." (john 14:3)... "This same Jesus, who has been taken away,... will come back." (Acts. 1:11).... "Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!" (Rev. 4:8)... "Behold, I am coming soon.) (Rev. 22:7 & 12).... "The Lord reigns forever!" (Ps. 9:7)

"O, I want to know You. Deeper than before. And O, I want to know You more and more... more and more... more and more...."

More & More Part 3 (Final)

To know You as Forgiver.... "When you were dead in your sings... God made you alive in Christ and forgave us all our sins."  Col. 2:13  ... "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and forgives our sins and cleanses us from all unrighteousness."  1 John 1:9

To know You as my Friend.... "Greater love has no one than this, that He lay down his life for his friends.  You are my friends i you do what I command.  I no longer call you servants.... I have called you friends."  John 15:13-15

To know You as my Comforter when all is crashing in.... "... the Lord comforts His people...." Isa. 49:13... "I, even I am He who comforts you."  Isa. 51:12... "... the God of all comfort who comforts us in all our troubles."  2 Cor. 1:4... "God comforts the downcast" 2 Cor. 7:6... "And I will pray the Father and He shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever" John 14:16 KJV... "But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost..." John 14:26 KJV

"O, I want to know You... Deeper than before.. and O, I want to know You, More and More.. More and More.. More and More.. More and More..."

More & More part 1...

There is a wonderful song we sing in church called More and More.  In my personal; worship time with God recently, this song came to mind and I started looking at the words and pull out Scripture that came to mind as I sang.

Here is verse 1... and the verses it brought to mind...

To know You as my Father....... "Our Father which art in Heaven..." (Matt. 6:9)

To know You as my King ..... "God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords." (1 Tim. 6:15)

To know You in Your resurrection power and suffering.... "I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in His sufferings."  (Phil. 3:10)

To know You as my Teacher .... "You call me Teacher and Lord, and rightly so, for that is what I am."  (John 13:13)

To know You as my Light .... "I am the Light of the World. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."  (John 8:12)

To know You as a Lamp unto my feet through all the night.... "Your Word is a Lamp unto my feet and a Light for my path." (Ps. 119:105)

Chorus:  O, I want to know You, Deeper than before, and O, I want to know You more and more.. more and more.. more and more...

May that be the prayer for My heart.. and of yours!