Radiant Faith

The news of your faith in God is out. We don’t even have to say anything anymore—you’re the message! 1 Thessalonians 1:7

Paul was bragging about the Thessalonians converts who had accepted the Word and stood firm in their faith. The world around them could see the change and news spread of their radiant faith.

Those words, “You’re the message,” caught my attention this morning. Their lives were so full of Christ that they became the gospel to their world. They were following the example that Paul, Timothy and Silas had taught them. These were Paul’s children (disciples) in Christ; therefore they exhibited that same joy that Paul had. They accepted the truth from his lips and his example before them.

 This is my desire for my life and my church, that others see Christ through us and will join with us in following Christ. As Blackaby expressed so well this morning,” we are not perfect or flawless,” but like Peter, I pray we are continually running toward Christ. Wherever we see Him at work, we want to run to be there with Him.

Jesus, help me to be a world changer. Help our church to be full of world changers. Oh, Father, we can’t change even one person – ourselves- but you can change us and use us to be an example that others want to follow as we follow YOU! To me, that’s so scary, but I know it’s not about me but what you are doing in me that attracts others to You!  I yield this day to You for Your purposes and Your glory. Work in my mind today and give me clear thinking. Thank You for loving and transforming me to reflect Your glory!

Worship or Duty

Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”

God who is the Spirit and author of truth must be worshipped in spirit and truth.

I am reminded that in the OT God warned his people about their worship practices. They would come every Sabbath with their sacrifices and offerings and go through the proper ritual of sacrifice to fulfill the law. It became a duty and a habit. It lost it’s true meaning and God said he detested their sacrifices. He desired a sacrifice of a humble and repentant heart. He did not care what they were doing in the flesh (on the outside) if their hearts did not match their actions.

God is a Spirit and we too are spirits. You do realize when we die and are called to the judgment, we will not have our fleshly bodies, we will be in our spirit bodies. Beyond my comprehension…  but this speaks to me about my worship not just on Sunday when we gather for cooperate worship, but daily when I worship, do I do so in spirit and truth or out of obligation and duty? 

You know when you have connected to His Spirit. The Spirit bears witness with my spirit……  How many times do I go through the motions and look holy on the outside but inside am distracted, anxious to get on with it, coming to Him to placate my mother’s voice constantly echoing in my head, “Do not leave the house until you have had your devotions.”   Sometimes my spirit connects immediately, but other times I find I must quiet my spirit to hear His.  Much to ponder again today, Jesus!

Lord, I want to worship You in spirit and in truth!  I want to hear Your whisper and be so sensitive to Your Spirit that we are in constant connection, consciously and subconsciously.  I want to see beyond the flesh and be able to discern how to best cooperate with what You are doing in my life and those You have entrusted to my care.  Holy Spirit be my counselor and guide. Be my radar and Sonscreen!  Be my SBI (Spirit Bureau of Investigation).  Please transform me into Your likeness. Amen!

The Aroma of Fresh Bread

“Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, just as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’”32 Then Jesus told them, “I tell you the solemn truth, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but my Father is giving you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is the one who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” 34 So they said to him, “Sir, give us this bread all the time!”35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. The one who comes to me will never go hungry”… John 6:31-35

Jesus had met the needs of the people for physical nourishment with the loaves and fish. Because their physical needs were met, they followed Him. But when he began talking about their spiritual needs they were not as thrilled. Earlier in John, Jesus says that those who worship Him must worship “in spirit and in truth.” He continues this theme here as He uses bread as His metaphor. They knew full well the importance of bread to physical life but failed to make the connection to their spiritual life.

We have been decaying since the day we were born. No matter how well we take care of this physical body, it continues to decay. Nothing can stop that process!  So, Jesus is offering them hope and a future, not in the physical but the eternal.  Eating His Bread and drinking in His Spirit is necessary if we want to live with Him forever in heaven. Obviously, this crowd was still concerned only with the physical and when He moved to the spiritual, they left Him to continue searching for another to meet their needs.

 We are so often centered on what Jesus can do for our bodies, our families, our finances, our earthly concerns that we overlook the most important need that He came to meet, our need for forgiveness and eternal life.  The need to love others and put their needs ahead of our own.  The need to put God first and see and act as His hands and feet in this hungry world. We need Him to meet our daily physical needs, yes, but only to point to the reality of our spiritual needs and prepare us for eternity.

Oh, Jesus, we have been taught to seek and serve You, but not for our physical and temporal health and success only, but to live in the spiritual reality that seeks to sacrifice so that others may come to this truth here and now and experience hope and nourishment as they, too, feed on the Bread of Life in community with all believers. May we drink of the Living Water and partake of the Bread of Life and share it with others both now and forever, we pray.

Calm and Quiet

 On the other side there was a garden, and he and his disciples went into it.2 Now Judas, who betrayed him, knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with his disciples. John 18:1-2

Judas knew exactly where to find Jesus because he had been there many times with Him.

There is much to chew on in this chapter, but as I read this morning I was struck once again with Jesus’ desire to be alone with His disciples. We know He can speak in any place or situation but very often we find Jessus and his disciples in the mountains, by the seashore, in the olive groves, places of quiet beauty. These places that display His awesome creative beauty seem to draw you into a meditative mindset. It speaks loudly of Jesus desire to spend quality time with His disciples in a setting that soothes and calms the spirit and is free from the distractions of the daily grind. This passage makes me want to paint a beautiful outdoor scene on my wall, play some ocean sounds, turn on the sunlamp and sit on a blanket on the floor to have my devotions each day. 😊  (I would not be able to get back up.)

Seriously, I love to sit out on my deck in the warmer weather and even though there are city sounds around me, it is easy to focus on the blue sky, listen to the birds, watch a squirrel scurry across the lawn, and know that my God created and controls it all. Somehow belief, trust, and assurance come more easily to my heart in that setting. I feel a closer connection when I am out with a clear view of the heavens, even on a cloudy day!

Lord Jesus, thank You for the reminder that the things you created lead me back to You. You want to spend time with me in a quiet place away from distractions, and although You can speak at any time or place, in any situation, quiet times are a must. Thank You, Jesus for meeting me in my quiet place today. Thank You for Your Sonshine that warms me no matter the time, place or situation. I love You.

But, When God…

13 For you have heard of my previous way of life in Judaism, how intensely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it. 14 I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers. 15 But when God, who set me apart from my mother’s womb and called me by his grace,  Galatians 1:13-15 NIV

Paul reminds his readers what kind of a Jew he was, devout and passionate to the extreme. He was jealous for the Jewish law and traditions. But when God….. When God revealed Himself to Paul, Paul became a meek and mild, laid back follower of Jesus Christ. NOT!!!  Most of the books in the New Testament tell us about Paul’s intensity for Jesus and the Gentiles. When Jesus redeemed Paul, he changed his heart and the very core of who Paul was, but he did not change Paul’s quirks, intelligence, curiosity or passion for a cause. He created Paul with those characteristics and they were the very things that made Paul, Paul. He did change Paul’s perspective; He redeemed Paul’s distinguishing characteristics. He took the old Paul, enveloped Him in love and then set him free to be himself with love for Jesus as his newest distinguishing characteristic.

When I accepted Jesus as my Savior, it was so easy for me to think that I needed to be like Mary, Sarah, or Ruth, or other great women of the Bible. I thought I needed to act just like the best, brightest and most popular Christian woman in my life at the time (often, my pastor’s wife). It took a long time for me to realize that God made me exactly the way He wanted me to be, with all the quirks and idiosyncrasies that made me, me! But He certainly intended that His love would shine through those traits, and that I would grow in my love for Him and the expression of that love to others.

Thank You, Jesus, for my “But when God” moment. I praise You that I am fearfully and wonderfully made, with all my uniqueness and peculiarities. Purify my heart and personality to reflect Your love and holiness, I pray.

Jesus Is Enough

5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:5

I am currently teaching a series by Kyle Idleman on “Every Thought Captive”. It sounds easy until you try to turn your negative thoughts into positive ones on your own. You know how it goes- your have anxious thoughts pounding away in your mind. What if? Will I be able? How will I survive this? What if no one likes my ideas? What if my plan falls through? What if my child refuses to repent? What if my finances aren’t enough? What if__________? You fill in the blank.

You go to prayer and beg God to help you. You plead and promise to be faithful and give Him the glory. Great, these things are not wrong, but when you say “Amen,” are you still wringing your hands hoping He will answer the way you want. You might just be playing the Jesus plus game. Jesus plus the new car I need. Jesus plus that perfect job. Jesus plus the perfect ministry. Jesus plus the perfect mate. Jesus plus the answer I want. We all want to deny this kind of thinking but Jesus knows our hearts and thoughts. Hide it from your mate, friends or even the church, but God knows.

I recently heard a sermon that answered all my questions about capturing my thoughts and making them obedient to Christ.. It’s so simple and yet so deep. I now face each day with anticipation, looking for Jesus throughout my day. No more Jesus plus this or that to seal my faith. Now I capture my thoughts with a single phrase said in total confidence; “Jesus Is Enough!”

Jesus is enough for my anxiety. Jesus is enough for my pain. Jesus is enough to supply my daily needs. Jesus is enough to heal my broken heart. Jesus is enough to give me peace in the valley and blessing on the mountain top. Jesus is enough to keep me from yielding to temptation. Jesus Is Enough!

Have faith, give it to Him, leave it with Him and rejoice that JESUS IS ENOUGH!!

My Shepherd

The Lord is.my Shepherd, I shall not want for anything I need to complete His will, because JESUS IS ENOUGH!

He will lead me to rest in pleasant places and provide living water to restore and refresh my soul, mind and body, for JESUS IS ENOUGH!

He will guide me in decisions for my future for His Name’s sake and glory. The future of my life in His Hands not mine. (The enemy tries to convince me, it’s all on me!), but JESUS IS ENOUGH!

Even though it seems I’m walking beneath heavy clouds of exhaustion, discouragement, and pain, I will remember the Son is always shining and the devil is a liar, because JESUS IS ENOUGH!

I will not be afraid of the future because I know the rod of Your Word and the staff of Your grace and mercy will comfort and guide me, because JESUS IS ENOUGH!

You prepare a table for me, overflowing with joy and peace. amid this sinful world, because JESUS IS ENOUGH!

Your goodness and mercy will help me finish the race until I am at home with You forever. 

PRAISE GOD! JESUS IS ENOUGH!

But Jesus

They [who have escaped and remain] raise their voices, they shout for joy; They rejoice from the [Mediterranean] Sea in the majesty of the Lord. Isaiah 24: 14(Amplified)

The ultimate destruction of the earth is the topic of this chapter and all seems hopeless. Yet, there they are again – the remnant- who will rejoice in this day. As difficult and depressing as these prophecies of doom have been, there has been a silver thread of hope woven throughout each one.  As hard as this has been to read, I realize today that when we ask to know the truth, we must accept the whole truth, the bad with the good. How can we hope for a new heaven and a new earth unless the old is destroyed?  How can we understand the depth of Jesus’ pain on the cross unless we understand all that Jesus is saving us from – the horror, destruction, and wickedness of this world. I find I have sometimes been focused on destruction rather than the glorious hope promised to the remnant! 

Is it any different today?  As you listen to Pastor’s sermons, you hear how bad things are, how self-centered and selfish, greedy and thoughtless people are and then comes the BUT JESUS!!!!!  But Jesus can wash away your sin, but Jesus can cleanse your greediness and replace it with generosity!  But Jesus can give you the ability to put aside your selfish desires and to help those in need! But Jesus can take away your bitterness and replace it with forgiveness and joy! BUT JESUS!!! MAKES ME WANT TO SHOUT, PRAISE THE KING!  HALLELUJAH TO THE RISEN LAMB!!!  THANK YOU, JESUS!

Oh, Father, thank you for fulfilling your promises and making a path for the righteous to see Your salvation and the sure hope of a new heaven and a new earth where we can walk and talk and have unbroken fellowship with You once again. Please, Jesus, do not let me get away with anything that would keep me from enjoying that awesome pleasure of living with You forever! 

Law or Justice

17 I will make justice the measuring line and righteousness the plumb line;
hail will sweep away your refuge, the lie, and water will overflow your hiding place.           Isaiah 28:17

God will remove the blinders from the eyes of His people so they can see the lies they have believed and return to justice and righteousness as their resting place and refuge.

There is so much here it would take pages and hours to plumb its depth.  His laws were meant to show His people truth and justice, to give them hope and assurance, rest and refuge. His people had misused and abused those principles and guidelines until they were mere rule upon rule, do this and do that with no heart for truth and justice.  When you take the heart and redemptive truth out of justice, you simply have rules and punishment without the hope of rest and refuge. You can become drunk on your own power and self-righteousness. You begin to believe the lie that you can legislate righteousness.  Your truth becomes more important than God’s truth.  Your man-made rules with their dos and don’ts become law, and justice becomes revengeful rather than redemptive. That is where some of the church has been over the last 100 years.  God has allowed her own rules to become her stumbling block. But, Praise Jesus, many in the church world seem to once again be turning to the gospel truth and justice. Back to the basics of God’s love, Jesus redemptive work on the cross and the power of the Holy Spirit to bring rest and repose to the hearts of believers who take Him at His Word.

Jesus has turned my world around in the last decade and helped me be able to relax and enjoy His love and I am gradually learning how to love like He loves in redemptive mercy with justice for the sole purpose of bringing people to the truth that His way will bring true happiness and rest to our lives.

Thank You, Father, for your unrelenting faithfulness and patience with Your people. Thank You unveiling lies that I thought would bring me closer to You but were, in reality, pushing me away. Some of the truths have been exciting and received with a joyful and thankful heart, while others have been more difficult and taken time and more than a gentle rebuke. Thank You for exposing lies and revealing Your glorious truth!!

Thorns and Thistles

I’m not angry. I care. Even if it gives me thistles and thornbushes,
I’ll just pull them out and burn them up.
Let that vine cling to me for safety, let it find a good and whole life with me,
let it hold on for a good and whole life.” Isaiah 27:4-5

God has created in Israel a beautiful vine that will produce fruit all over the world. Even if that vine is not perfect and produces some thorns and thistles, He will get rid of those as the vine clings to Him for safety and life.

In my life, God will pull out and burn up that which is not producing fruit, that which is not like Him, if I will but cling to Him for safety and life. I will not take my faults and failures to heaven if I trust Him and stay connected to the vine.  I love the words, “I’m not angry. I care!”  I hear, work hard and stay close to Me and I will weed out the thistles and thornbushes in Your life. I have found Him to be a faithful gardener, pulling the weeds in my life and not just throwing them aside to take root again but burning them up.

Jesus, thank You for knowing that weeds will try to grow and drain life from the fruit of the spirit in my life, but You, O God, are the Master Gardener who cares and keeps my garden clean and fertilized with Your Holy Spirit of truth.  That analogy is good only as long as I invite You to prune and weed as needed. Jesus, work in my life as You see the weeds, thorns or thistles and bring life as I trust in You.