"What Is Your Soil?" - 11/06/17 - Mark 4-5

"He told them,

“You’ve been given insight into God’s Kingdom—you know how it works.

But to those who can’t see it yet, everything comes in stories, creating readiness, nudging them toward receptive insight. These are people—

Whose eyes are open but don’t see a thing,
Whose ears are open but don’t understand a word,
Who avoid making an about-face and getting forgiven.”

 

He continued, “Do you see how this story works? All my stories work this way.

 

 “The farmer plants The Word.

Some people are like the seed that falls on the hardened soil of the road.
No sooner do they hear The Word than Satan snatches away what has been planted in them.

 “And some are like the seed that lands in the gravel.
When they first hear The Word, they respond with great enthusiasm.
But there is such shallow soil of character that when the emotions wear off and some difficulty arrives, there is nothing to show for it.

“The seed cast in the weeds
represents the ones who hear The Kingdom News but are overwhelmed with worries about all the things they have to do and all the things they want to get.
The stress strangles what they heard, and nothing comes of it.

“But the seed planted in the good earth represents those who hear The Word,
embrace it,
and produce a harvest beyond their wildest dreams.”(4:11-20)

"All Are Invited" - 11/05/17 - Mark 1-3

                   

 

 

 

"Jesus said, "Come along with Me." He came."(2:14)


You know, that request wasn't just for Levi. or His other disciples. 

or all those we read about in His Word. 

All the others who are part of our lineage in Him. 

 

Those who came.


That request has been handed down from our ABBA since the beginning with Adam and Eve.


There in the garden all was as He meant it to be.  To walk with Him.  Live with Him face to face. 

 

Until they decided not to "come along". 

Instead, going their own way - thus bringing death into the world and the need for our Savior.

Today. 

He is still asking, "Come along with me." 


It is "you" He desires. 

Not the perfect "you",

the one who "will get it all together and then follow". 

It is "you". 

As "you" are. 

It is when "you" are His that The Transformation begins.

Just as He has with everyone. 

He so desires for all of "us" to "Come along with Him".

There is no greater request. 

How He so Loves us.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"We - The Desire of His Heart" - 11/04/17 - Matthew 27-28

"But he had Jesus whipped, and then handed over for crucifixion.
       

The soldiers assigned to the governor took Jesus into the governor's palace and got the entire brigade together for some fun.

They stripped Him and dressed Him in a red toga.                

They plaited a crown from branches of a thorn bush and set it on His head.

They put a stick in His right hand for a scepter.

Then they knelt before Him in mocking reverence: "Bravo, King of the Jews!" they said. "Bravo!"        

       

Then they spit on Him

and hit Him on the head with the stick.

 

When they had had their fun, they took off the toga and put His own clothes back on Him. Then they proceeded out to The Crucifixion.        

       

 

Along the way they came on a man from Cyrene named Simon and made him carry Jesus' cross.    

Arriving at Golgotha, the place they call "Skull Hill," they offered Him a mild painkiller (a mixture of wine and myrrh), but when He tasted it He wouldn't drink it.        

       

After they had finished nailing Him to the cross and were waiting for Him to die, they whiled away the time by throwing dice for His clothes.  Above His head they had posted the criminal charge against Him: THIS IS JESUS, THE KING OF THE JEWS.   Along with Him, they also crucified two criminals, one to His right, the other to His left.               

 

People passing along the road jeered, shaking their heads in mock lament:  "You bragged that You could tear down the Temple and then rebuild it in three days - so show us Your stuff! Save Yourself! If You're really God's Son, come down from That Cross!"                

 

The high priests, along with the religion scholars and leaders, were right there mixing it up with the rest of them, having a great time poking fun at Him:  "He saved others - He can't save Himself! King of Israel, is He? Then let Him get down from That Cross. We'll all become believers then!  He was so sure of God - well, let Him rescue His 'Son' now - if He wants Him! He did claim to be God's Son, didn't He?"         

 

Even the two criminals crucified next to Him joined in the mockery.                

 

From noon to three, the whole earth was dark.        

       

 

Around mid-afternoon Jesus groaned out of the depths, crying loudly, "Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?" which means, "My God, my God, why have You abandoned Me?"

               

Some bystanders who heard Him said, "He's calling for Elijah."        

       

One of them ran and got a sponge soaked in sour wine and lifted it on a stick so He could drink.         The others joked, "Don't be in such a hurry. Let's see if Elijah comes and saves Him."        

       

But Jesus, again crying out loudly, breathed His last.

       

At that moment, the Temple curtain was ripped in two, top to bottom."(27:26-51)

 

 

I pray as you read these words they hit home in your heart. 

 

Our Savior was put upon The Cross as the ultimate sacrifice for all of our sins.  His purpose was to remove the Temple Curtain, which separated us from our ABBA, so we may have an intimate relationship with Him.  The Creator of all.  ABBA. 

 

His greatest desire is for us to be with Him. 

 

 "He was so sure of God - well, let Him rescue His 'Son' now - if He wants Him!"(43)

 

I can only imagine the restraint our ABBA had to not reach down and remove His precious, pure and Holy Son from this death.  From the torture of being separated from each other. 

 

His restraint because of His great Love for you.  for me.  for all. 

 

This isn't a story.  It isn't a myth.  This happened.  Recorded in His Word and numerous other accounts, by persons who were eye witnesses. 

 

Jesus.  No greater LOVE. 

 

"We - His Friend" - 11/03/17 - Matthew 25-26

"Immediately Judas went to Jesus and said, “Hail, Rabbi!” and kissed Him.  And Jesus said to him, “Friend, do what you have come for.”(26:49)

He offered His cheek to be kissed.  Knowing.



I have always been amazed at this verse.  Jesus knew, He knew Judas was full of satan, yet called him, "friend".  He allowed him to kiss Him. 

All the while - He knew.

Each time upon reading verses pertaining to Judas, I would put him into a box all by himself. 

 

Until His Word taught me,

 

A sin is a sin.  Any and all sin separates us from God.

 

Yet Jesus willingly went in the act of Love to The Cross.  Forever bridging the gap sin causes between us and God. 

 

I never felt I was the same as Judas.  Yes, in my life I have sinned.  Many a time - and will continue - I am human.  The battle to serve God or self will not end until my last breath. 

 

But - I never felt I sinned on the level as Judas. 

And I have. 
And I will.

There are no levels of sin.

Again, I stand amazed at our Christ.  Knowing what he did - and still - He loved Judas.  He always reached out to Judas in love, grace, and mercy.  Judas rejected - not our Christ.  And Judas was the one who sinned.  Not our Christ. 

Then He puts into my heart and mind, "Deby, who are you not to extend love, grace, and mercy - to everyone.  Who has betrayed you in such a way that Judas betrayed Me?  When did you go to The Cross?"

I fall to His feet - humbled.  I pray for those when looking at me to see only Him - not me.  I pray for Him to remove any sin from my heart.  I pray I may be Christlike to all - and yet........

There are times when I hang on to the pride, bitterness and anger.  Knowing all the while it hurts my Daddy and delights satan.  A quote I heard awhile back keeps running through my mind, "Are you entertaining yourself with the sins that put Jesus on The Cross". 

 

Through the prompting of The Spirit, I am listening, Trusting, and heeding His urging more often than before.  I am finding sins I once submitted to are now distasteful as I am focusing on Him.  I am having faith and trust  He will take care of those who wish to cause me harm and no longer feel the need to defend myself.  I am seeing more of life through His eyes - the spiritual battle - and not taking things so personal, therefore making it all about me. 

 

It was while listening to a four part sermon series on Trust by Larry Smith and he spoke about Trusting God through all our steps and I realized it is when we fall back upon our sin filled way of doing things, those are the times we are not Trusting in our ABBA.  Those are the times we are walking "our" talk.  It is only when we learn to totally Trust Him, only then are we able to Love as He Loves.  Without any hesitation.  fear.  doubt.  defensiveness.  We are able to Love unconditionally.  We are able to walk His Talk.  We are able to Love without expectations. 

How He grows us through the freedom of Trust to "let go and let God". 

I pray for all to accept our Savior and walk on His bridge to our ABBA.
I pray all may know He too is calling them "friend".

As He has and is calling His own, "friend". 

 

No matter the sin.  Trust in Him.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"His Promise" - 11/02/17 - Matthew 23-24

 

 "Staying with it - that's what God requires. Stay with it to the end. You won't be sorry, and you'll be saved."(29:13)

 

His Words of encouragement.  His Promise.  Our hope in Him.

 

 "Following those hard times.

Sun will fade out,

moon cloud over.

Stars fall out of the sky,

cosmic powers tremble.   

 

Then, The Arrival of The Son of Man!

 

It will fill the skies - no one will miss it.

Unready people all over the world,

outsiders to the splendor and power,

will raise a huge lament as they watch

 

The Son of Man blazing out of Heaven.   

     

At that same moment, He'll dispatch His angels with a trumpet-blast summons, pulling in God's chosen from the four winds, from pole to pole.(Matthew 29-31)

 

What Hope we have knowing. 

We are one day closer to Heaven. 

 

"We - His Invited!" - 11/01/17 - Matthew 21-22

"Come to the wedding."(Matthew 22:4)


 It is such a privilege and honor to be on the invitation list for a wedding and share in a day of celebration. 

Time, money, sacrifice.  Much goes into the planning and throwing of a wedding.

And our ABBA.  Our ABBA is throwing a wedding not for someone else, but for us.

We - who are His Bride. 

We - who have been invited to the wedding of life.  Eternal life.

One which we don't want to miss.

 

"Give It All You've Got" - 10/31/17 - Matthew 18-20

“If you want to give it all you’ve got,” Jesus replied, “go sell your possessions; give everything to the poor. All your wealth will then be in Heaven. Then come follow Me.”   

That was the last thing the young man expected to hear. And so, crestfallen, he walked away. He was holding on tight to a lot of things, and he couldn’t bear to let go. 

As He watched him go, Jesus told His disciples, “Do you have any idea how difficult it is for the rich to enter God’s Kingdom? Let Me tell you, it’s easier to gallop a camel through a needle’s eye than for the rich to enter God’s Kingdom.” 

The disciples were staggered. “Then who has any chance at all?”
Jesus looked hard at them and said, “No chance at all if you think you can pull it off yourself.

Every chance in the world, if you trust God to do it.” (Matthew 19:21-26)


Following me into the office to get white paper, stapler and tape to make a book, Charles exclaimed, "Wow!  That's a lot of receipts g'ma", as he tiptoed over the sorted piles on the floor.  I smiled and said I was trying to get a head start on them for taxes. 

I also smiled because the receipts were still laying there, work not completed,  because I had taken time off to "play" with he and Ella. 


As I have gotten older, I strive to have our home and business in order.  Particularly when we are going to be away for awhile; for I do not want to leave a mess for our family.  I desire for their time to be spent comforting and being with each other - not wading through a bunch of disorganized "stuff". 

But more often than not, everything isn't in order and I sometimes think about the "unfinished" which would be left behind if I were suddenly called "Home".  I am guilty of sometimes mismanaging my time, and am striving to do better.  I am sometimes guilty of hanging onto "stuff" for sentimental reasons, for reasons of self worth.  Actually, for all the wrong reasons. 

Thankfully, instead of beating myself up, ABBA is showing me improvement and encourages me to continue on the "better stewardship track" of my journey.  There are even moments I am able to laugh about things I have held onto and let them go.

More importantly though, He has me focused on "whom" I would be leaving behind and that it really is okay to stop and "play" with those He has blessed me with. 

I am looking forward to going "Home" but honestly, just not right now.  I strive to live as though I am dying.  But wonder.  Is it sin to want to still be here?  To be with those I love?  Does that mean I am loving them more than Him?  Not things, but persons I am clinging to?  He knows when my days are finished, He knows my weakness, He knows my heart so much better than I do, He knows I love Him more than those I "hold on to tightly".  What kind of steward am I in my time, our home, my heart.  Have I emptied myself of "self" to be totally filled with Him?  How I love His Word, but am I living it? 

He tells me the time will come when He calls me Home. 
Until then, my stewardship will continue.

To not overly focus on how I am doing with letting go, but whom I am bringing along, making Disciples.  For He has blessed me in knowing, without a doubt, those I am saddened to leave, will one day also be called Home.  Home together, "in" eternity with Him.  As long as I haven't allowed another to become my god, it's okay to be torn about leaving - for they are my "Taste of Heaven" here on this earth.

  He is impressing upon me, "Don't take your "Taste of Heaven" for granted".  "Don't limit your "Taste of Heaven" to a selected few".  He has opened my eyes to the fact - Life really isn't about "the stuff". 

What freedom comes "as you live, as you go, making Disciples for Him - ever growing your "family".  It isn't about the "stuff".  It is knowing one day, we will celebrate being together - HOME.

"We -In Him - Never Forgotten" - 10/30/17 - Matthew 15-17

"Later His disciples came and told Him, "Did you know how upset the Pharisees were when they heard what You said?"  Jesus shrugged it off. "Every tree that wasn't planted by My Father in Heaven will be pulled up by its roots.  Forget them. They are blind men leading blind men."(15:12-14)


"Forget them."


My heart hurts just reading these words.


"Forget them".


Not spoken by Jesus because He isn't of Love, but because He knew their hearts.  He knows what is within us.  He tells us what is in our heart come forth in our words and actions. 


My heart hurts when I am as the Pharisees. 


My heart is overwhelmed by His forgiveness, His grace, His mercy which have cleansed me of those moments.  Only because of Him am I able to confess, repent, and continue striving to be more like Him. 


Him - whom I am deeply, madly, head-over-heels in love with.


How thankful I am knowing, without doubt, we "in" Him will never, ever, ever hear these words spoken to us from our ABBA.


 For "in" Christ - we are His.  He is ours.  Forever. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"How He So Blesses!!!" - 10/29/17 - Matthew 13-14

"But you have God-blessed eyes - eyes that see! And God-blessed ears - ears that hear!"(13:16)

I love seeing our ABBA everywhere I look. 

 

Knowing He is here, within, outside, omnipresent. 

 

I love seeing people, this world, through His eyes.  Seeing the blessings in every single portion of life. 
I love feasting my vision on His everlasting banquet.


I love hearing His Voice.  Knowing without doubt it is our ABBA.  I love hearing Him speak to me through His Word, through His Spirit, through His people. 

 

I love how He is all knowing, in total control, God.

I love how He is "I AM". 
I love how He designed us to share intimacy in Him and isn't a god who stands afar. 

 

I so love how He is our ABBA.  Our Daddy. 

 

 

"Unforced Rhythms of Grace" - 10/28/17 - Matthew 10-12

“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion?

Come to Me. Get away with Me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with Me and work with Me—watch how I do it.

Learn the unforced rhythms of Grace.

I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with Me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” (11:28-30)



Close your eyes and imagine yourself walking through this world. 

Are you bent over, carrying the burden of shame, guilt, mantles of sin?  Or are you upright, dressed in His Armor, gliding across the path in His Sonshine, as a dancer on the stage?

"I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you."

His Armor - perfectly fitting.  Unlike the Armor of old which could weigh up to 150 pounds, His armor is light and perfectly tailored.  Perfectly tailored to meet your needs.  For anything and all things you will come up against.  An Armor which is given to you by Him.  Our Christ.  Our Savior, who has gone before us, conquering sin.  Our ABBA.  Our Leader, who goes before us, directing our steps. The Holy Spirit living within and about us.  The same Power that raised our Savior from the grave. His Word equipping us with The Truth.  His Family.  Surrounding us and walking in unity.

"Keep company with Me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly."

Keep company with Him.  Not just sometimes, but all times.  In all ways.  In all places.  Keep company with Him. 

Close your eyes and picture where it is you live. 

Is it in the darkness of sin?  Or is it in His Light?  His all powerful Light which cast out all darkness. 

"Come to Him. Get away with Him and you’ll recover your life.

He will show you how to take a real rest.

Walk with Him and work with Him—watch how He does it.

 

Learn the unforced rhythms of Grace."

 

"He Came Down" - 10/27/17 - Matthew 8-9

"Jesus came down the mountain with the cheers of the crowd still ringing in His ears."(8:1)



He could have been, you know, the kind of King who is big-headed. 

Too good for the lowly, those who are beneath Him. 

He could have mingled only with the affluent, living on the mountaintop. 

He has the world at His fingertips.

He has every reason to be.  He is The Son of God.

Instead -           
"Then a leper appeared and went to his knees before Jesus, praying, "Master, if You want to, You can heal my body."  Jesus reached out and touched him, saying, "I want to. Be clean." Then and there, all signs of the leprosy were gone.(Matt 8:2-3)    

He bent down low

and touched the unlovely.  the unwanted.  the outcast.  the untouchable.

His Love for those lost,

surpassed love for the superficial. 

His Love for His Father,

surpassed love for Himself. 

"Jesus said, "Don't talk about this all over town. Just quietly present your healed body to the priest, along with the appropriate expressions of thanks to God. Your cleansed and grateful life, not your words, will bear witness to what I have done."(Matt 8:4)

Holy Love.  It is all He is about. 

Gut wrenching, crucifying, death defying, Holy Love. 

For each and every one of us.

"The wretched of the earth have God's salvation hospitality extended to them."(Luke 7:22)

This is exactly where we are outside of Him.  Our Savior. We are wretched and of the earth. 

And through His Blood He has given us words to live by.

"Impressive, isn't it? I am forgiven many, many sins, and so I am very, very grateful."(Luke 7:47)

and  to all who are His.

"He spoke to her: "I forgive your sins."(Luke 7:48)
"and said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you. Go in peace."(Luke 7:50)

He bent down low to touch each and every one of us. 

 

 

 

"Be His Climbing Companion" - 10/26/17 - Matthew 5-7

^"When Jesus saw His ministry drawing huge crowds, He climbed a hillside.

Those who were apprenticed to Him, the committed, climbed with Him.

Arriving at a quiet place, He sat down and taught His climbing companions.

This is what He said:
“You’re blessed when you’re at the end of your rope.
With less of you there is more of God and His rule.

“You’re blessed when you feel you’ve lost what is most dear to you.
Only then can you be embraced by The One most dear to you.

 “You’re blessed when you’re content with just who you are—no more, no less.
That’s the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can’t be bought.

“You’re blessed when you’ve worked up a good appetite for God.
He’s food and drink in the best meal you’ll ever eat.

“You’re blessed when you care.
At the moment of being ‘care-full,’ you find yourselves cared for.

“You’re blessed when you get your inside world—your mind and heart—put right.
Then you can see God in the outside world.

“You’re blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight.
That’s when you discover who you really are, and your place in God’s family.

“You’re blessed when your commitment to God provokes persecution.
The persecution drives you even deeper into God’s Kingdom.

 “Not only that—count yourselves blessed every time people put you down or throw you out or speak lies about you to discredit Me.

What it means is that The Truth is too close for comfort and they are uncomfortable.

You can be glad when that happens—give a cheer, even!—for though they don’t like it, I do!

And all Heaven applauds. And know that you are in good company.
My prophets and witnesses have always gotten into this kind of trouble.

Let Me tell you why you are here.

You’re here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth.
If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness? Y
ou’ve lost your usefulness and will end up in the garbage.

 “Here’s another way to put it:
You’re here to be Light,
bringing out the God-colors in the world.
God is not a secret to be kept.

We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill.
If I make you Light-Bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you?

I’m putting you on a Light Stand.

Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a Light Stand—SHINE!

Keep open house; be generous with your lives.
By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this Generous Father in Heaven.(5:1-16)

 

"His Word - Such A Weapon" - 10/25/17 - Matthew 1-4

"Next Jesus was taken into the wild by The Spirit for The Test.
The Devil was ready to give it.
Jesus prepared for The Test by fasting forty days and forty nights. That left Him, of course, in a state of extreme hunger, which the devil took advantage of in the first test: 'Since You are God’s Son, speak the word that will turn these stones into loaves of bread.'
Jesus answered by quoting Deuteronomy: “It takes more than bread to stay alive. It takes a steady stream of Words from God’s Mouth.”(4:1-3)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I feel this is probably the strongest example of how essential it is to utilize God's Word in all of The Bible. 

 

Christ didn't bring out a sword, or order His army of angels to win over satan.
He simply used God's Word. 

 

Just as Christ was in the desert, so are we. 

 

As we proceed in our journey through this wasteland called "the world", continually marching onward to our home in Heaven, we too are often in a state of extreme hunger and exhaustion.  We are made in His image.  He created us to have one on one communication and life with Him. 

 

I don't know if I would have done exactly what Eve did (probably),  the fact remains the result of her free choice caused His perfect plan to change.  Death and separation came into the world.  And also a void. 

 

A void in which only He can fill. 

 

Without Him as the center of our life, we are going through the motions of living while in extreme hunger.  It causes me great sorrow the times I still choose "self" be my god. 

 

Those times when I decide my words are smarter and end up causing more pain. 
When I feel life isn't fair - which often it is not - and take up my words in revenge.

 

Three different times in The Scriptures today satan tempted Christ. 

And each time He quoted God's Word. 

 

Each time. 

 

Not a sermon - just a verse. 
Just a fact. 
Just The Truth. 

It was all about God. 

 

Nothing about Himself, His own glory. 

All about His Father - our Father. 

 

I am finally learning the many times God doesn't make sense to not wonder "why", but to just "do it" His way. 
When we are at our weakest - He is "our" strongest. 

Rely on Him, not self. 

Again, all that Jesus used to fight back with was God's Word. 

 

How well do we "know" it?  How much of it is tucked into our hearts - at the ready?  How often do we fight back with it?  How often do we feel we don't know enough of His Word?  satan/self like to fool us into believing that when we are at our weakest - we are the most vulnerable and God isn't enough.  At these moments, satan is there, like a lion on the prowl, watching, waiting, knowing we will become weak from hunger of not being fed by God's Word.

 

he will and does attack.  

Because when you belong to our ABBA, satan never

 

Never.  Ever.

 

has you out of his sites. "You" are a  major threat.

 

 But, neither does our ABBA. 
The One who is in complete control.

 

All knowing, all powerful. 
Already won. 

That's our ABBA.  Our Daddy. 

The One who sent a personal Love Letter to each one of us called The Bible. 

The Love Letter with the "secret code" to fight battles while in the desert.

The One who sent us The Helper.  The Holy Spirit. 

To ensure we will come out on the winning side. 

 

"Following His Lead" - 10/24/17 - Romans 14-16

"If the way you live isn’t consistent with what you believe, then it’s wrong."(14:23)

 If asked do I believe, I will reply from the depths of my heart,  "Yes, I believe in The Father, The Son, The Holy Spirit, and His Word".   

 

Yet, do I 100% of the time "walk His talk"?

Unfortunately, "No". 

Constantly, I am reminded how much I need our Savior.
Continually I strive to be more like our Christ. 

For those times when I am focusing on my leading, rather than His. 

For those times when I get in the way or step on His toes. 

In those steps where I falter or slip, I am so thankful for His grace, mercy, and forgiveness. 

For those same elements from His family. 

 Each and every day I pray for Him to use me. 

And each and every day He does. 

 

Even when I trip - He uses all for His glory. 

 

Our dance isn't about my wanting to be lifted up for all to see. 

Through His changing of me from the inside out,  I am wanting more and more for my life to be for His glory - not mine.  I find I do not want any moments of  not dancing with Him, because of how "in" love with Him I have become. I want Him to be in the spotlight.

Each and every day I pray He will convict me when I am not "dancing His talk". 

When I feel the need to seek revenge, stand up in defensiveness and self-righteousness when wronged, to feel sorry for myself and attend the "mepityparty".  During the times I am acting on the feelings of dancing my way.  Regardless of whose feet I trample upon. 

Even when they are the feet of our ABBA.

It is during those times when we are dancing to the beat of our own drum.   

 

There is much slipping, falling, stumbling, sliding around.  It is totally uncontrolled - no matter how tightly we hang onto "self".  No matter how hard "self" tries. There is never a graceful rhythm about our steps.  There is only destruction.  Much like a new snowfall with the marks of an animal fight - their steps and blood have destroyed its' purity, its' beauty.



It is only when we "dance His talk" the new snowfall of life holds the pattern of His graceful dance.

It is only then the untouched snow surrounding our steps reflect His light - sparkling as diamonds in the sun. 

His Son.

 

 

 

 

"Continually Striving To LOVE Like Him" - 10/23/17 - Romans 11-13

"So here's what I want you to do,

God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life - your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life - and place it before God as an offering.

Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for Him.

 

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

Instead, fix your attention on God.

You'll be changed from the inside out.

 

Readily recognize what He wants from you, and quickly respond to it.

 

Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.                

 

I'm speaking to you out of deep gratitude for all that God has given me, and especially as I have responsibilities in relation to you.

 

Living then, as every one of you does, in pure grace, it's important that you not misinterpret yourselves as people who are bringing this goodness to God.

No, God brings it all to you.

The only accurate way to understand ourselves is by what God is and by what  He does for us, not by what we are and what we do for Him.   

     

In this way we are like the various parts of a human body. Each part gets its meaning from the body as a whole, not the other way around. 

       

The body we're talking about is Christ's body of chosen people.

Each of us finds our meaning and function as a part of His body.

 

But as a chopped-off finger or cut-off toe we wouldn't amount to much, would we?

 

So since we find ourselves fashioned into all these excellently formed and marvelously functioning parts in Christ's body, let's just go ahead and be what we were made to be, without enviously or pridefully comparing ourselves with each other, or trying to be something we aren't.

 

If you preach, just preach God's Message, nothing else;        

if you help, just help, don't take over; if you teach, stick to your teaching;

if you give encouraging guidance, be careful that you don't get bossy;

if you're put in charge, don't manipulate;

if you're called to give aid to people in distress, keep your eyes open and be quick to respond;

if you work with the disadvantaged, don't let yourself get irritated with them or depressed by them.

 

Keep a smile on your face.

 

Love from the center of who you are; don't fake it.

Run for dear life from evil; hold on for dear life to good.

       

Be good friends who love deeply; practice playing second fiddle.

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

cheerfully expectant.

Don't quit in hard times; pray all the harder.        

Help needy Christians; be inventive in hospitality.        

Bless your enemies; no cursing under your breath.

Laugh with your happy friends when they're happy; share tears when they're down.

Get along with each other; don't be stuck-up. Make friends with nobodies; don't be the great somebody.        

 

Don't hit back; discover beauty in everyone.

If you've got it in you, get along with everybody.         

Don't insist on getting even; that's not for you to do. "I'll do the judging," says God. "I'll take care of it."  

Our Scriptures tell us that if you see your enemy hungry, go buy that person lunch, or if he's thirsty, get him a drink. Your generosity will surprise him with goodness.        

 

Don't let evil get the best of you; get the best of evil by doing good."(Chapter 12) 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"How Glorious Is Life In Him" - 10/22/17 - Romans 8-10

^"So don’t you see that we don’t owe this old do-it-yourself life one red cent. There’s nothing in it for us, nothing at all. The best thing to do is give it a decent burial and get on with your new life. 

God’s Spirit beckons. There are things to do and places to go!

This resurrection life you received from God is not a timid, grave-tending life.

It’s adventurously expectant, greeting God with a childlike “What’s next, Papa?”

God’s Spirit touches our spirits and confirms who we really are.
We know who He is, and we know who we are: Father and children.
And we know we are going to get what’s coming to us—an unbelievable inheritance!

We go through exactly what Christ goes through.
If we go through the hard times with Him, then we’re certainly going to go through the good times with Him! (8:12-17)



Everywhere you looked, there was only water.  No land was visible as far as the eye could see.  I thought I was alone in the small, handmade, wooden craft.  The power to push it through the waters came from the oars held within my hands or the motor mounted on the back.  The ways of the waters determined which power source was used. 

This adventure I set out upon, began from the moment of my birth.  It took me a number of years to recognize He was with me..... 

He has always been with me during the dark nights.  When the waves towered above the craft, as I huddled in the corner, shivering from the cold.  The days when my soul lay parched, dried up,  yearning for the fresh, cool water - anything other than the bitter, brackish drops that fell between my lips from the spray of the sea.  The days when all I desired was shelter from the penetrating,  all consuming rays of the sun, as it beat down upon my weary body.  Yearning for someone else to steer the craft, knowing I was only going about in circles, slowly winding my way downward to the bottom of the sea.   Sitting, with my fist upraised, clenched in anger, as yet another storm came.  Not content to lay back and let the rains trickle over my face, drinking in the pure sweet water, not only with my mouth, but the pores of my entire being. 

And finally.

At my lowest point when I had given up control, laid down in the bottom of the boat, just waiting for death.  My face turned upward.  Salty tears coursed slowly down the sides of my face, into my hair, mixing in the with waters of the sea.  My eyes were searching into the vast, ink dark sky, looking beyond the farthest star.....

I found Him. 

I found Him beyond the farthest point.  I found Him in the roughest seas.  I found Him there in the boat with me.  Knowing somehow, He had always been there.  There and everywhere, in the sea of life. 

I found Him when I died to self. 

And now.  He is the one who controls the rudder of our craft.  At times I become selfish.  And He in His grace steps aside.  He allows me to take our craft - where it again goes in circles.  Yet, He is always there to take over the relinquished control I willingly give Him. 

No longer is this an adventure of vultures circling around, waiting for death.  It is rebirth.  It is an adventure filled with trust and faith and hope.  Today, when the waters are as they used to be and would bring about fear, I am now able to do all He commands.  Even if it means, getting out to walk upon the waters.  No longer do I sit huddled in fear during the storms.  I sit beside Him, facing forward, delighting as the waves take us on a heart thrilling ride.  No longer does the darkness of night bring me fear, His never ending presence is my night light - my security - my thankfulness.  No longer does the sun beat down upon me, His Son shields me in His protective light.  No longer do I sit with an upraised clinched fist, I now raise open hands in praise, in an embrace, in a welcome.

No longer are my days drifting on and on - for now I see the land - the land of Home. 

And each day? 

Each day  "It’s adventurously expectant, greeting God with a childlike “What’s next, Papa."

"We - In Him - Are Free" - 10/21/17 - Romans 4-7

"Fortunate those whose crimes are carted off, whose sins are wiped clean from the slate.         Fortunate the person against whom The Lord does not keep score."(4:7-8)

 

 

As a Christian, we strive to be Christlike to all.  We strive to Love as He loves.  We strive. 

 

It is only with our ABBA's help are we able to. 

 

There are times when we will inflict pain upon each other,  knowingly or unknowingly, and we must choose to forgive.  To Love.  To pray.  Or we can choose to not forgive and harbor anger, bitterness, thoughts of revenge against one another.  Elements that will eat into our heart and come in between our relationship with Christ.  And one another. 

 

Thankfully, ABBA has and is helping us in this area.  The moments of anger, defensiveness, taking things personal will become less than the moments of feeling sorrowful and lifting others up in prayer.  Not only for their hearts to change, but our own as well. 

 

I pray for The Holy Spirit to knead into our hearts - Him. 

 

While listening once to a sermon on the gifts of Grace and Mercy, I recognized there is one whom I don't extend the gift of forgiveness to.  One whom I beat up continually, look for flaws, berate for the sins of the past, see as continually falling short in their walk.  One whom I see through my eyes  more often than seeing them through His eyes.  One whom I look and see ugliness rather than being of His beauty. Believing lies instead of His Truths.

 

That person is me.  myself.  and I.

 

In hearing how others speak of themselves, I know I am not alone in the way of my thinking.  Why is that?  Why is it we are able to extend all the gifts of Love, Forgiveness, Grace, Mercy to others, yet not as readily to ourselves? 

 

"We" who are made in His Image.  "We" whom He loved so much He gave His only Begotten Son.  "We" whom He desires to be with as our Bestest Friend.  Our Lord.  

 

David said it so right: 

"Fortunate those whose crimes are carted off, whose sins are wiped clean from the slate.        

Fortunate the person against whom The Lord does not keep score".

 

When "in" ABBA - He doesn't keep score.  Our sins are wiped clean from the slate.

 

So.  Whyever are we not letting Him be God and accept His Forgiveness.  His Mercy.  His Grace.  Why do we continually say His Sacrifice wasn't enough to cover our sins? 

 

What. a. fool. 

 

Each moment given to us is the time to start living life as a "fortunate" one of His. 

Standing in Faith and living - knowing without doubt -  His Words are also meant for each one of us.

 Living "in" this state of freedom will draw others to Him. 

Others who will see and desire to live a life living "in" The Freedom of Him.

"Because of Love" - 10/20/17 - Romans 1-3

10/20/17 - Romans 1-3

"Because Of Love"

"Since we've compiled this long and sorry record as sinners (both us and them) and proved that we are utterly incapable of living the glorious lives God wills for us,
         

God did it for us.

 

Out of sheer generosity He put us in right standing with Himself.

 

A pure gift.

 

He got us out of the mess we're in and restored us to where He always wanted us to be.

 

And He did it by means of Jesus Christ.

 

       

God sacrificed Jesus on the altar of the world to clear that world of sin.

 

Having faith in Him sets us in the clear.

 

God decided on this course of action in full view of the public - to set the world in the clear with Himself through the sacrifice of Jesus, finally taking care of the sins He had so patiently endured.

This is not only clear, but it's now - this is current history!

 

God sets things right.

 

He also makes it possible for us to live in His rightness."(3:23-26)

 

 

 

 

 

"We - Stronger In Him" - 10/19/17 - 2 Corinthians 10-13

"I was given the gift of a handicap to keep me in constant touch with my limitations.

Satan’s angel did his best to get me down;
what he in fact did was push me to my knees.

No danger then of walking around high and mighty!

At first I didn’t think of it as a gift, and begged God to remove it.

Three times I did that, and then He told me,

"My grace is enough; it’s all you need.
My strength comes into its own in your weakness."

 

 

Once I heard that, I was glad to let it happen.

I quit focusing on the handicap and began appreciating the gift.

 

It was a case of Christ’s strength moving in on my weakness.

 

Now I take limitations in stride,

and with good cheer,

these limitations that cut me down to size—abuse, accidents, opposition, bad breaks.

 

I just let Christ take over!

And so the weaker I get, the stronger I become."(12:7-10)

 

"Our Tastes of Heaven" - 10/18/17 - 2 Corinthians 5-9

"The Spirit of God whets our appetite by giving us a taste of what’s ahead. He puts a little of Heaven in our hearts so that we’ll never settle for less." (5:5)


I smile as I think about my life.  Even though amongst the great there is some bad. 
But all in all -   my cup runneth over. 

It frequently occurs to me how His Glory prevails over all of the bad.  Throughout all the memories of yesterdays, journeying through trials and tribulations, stumbling about, heartbreaks, illness, the unknown.  Always.  In all Ways.  His Glory has and will continue to prevail over all. 

He has shown me through the act of giving up in my heart the anger and bitterness, forgiving as He has, we are then able to focus and be whom He has created us to be.  Only then are we able to see all those He puts into our path through His eyes.  To see the endless opportunities to be His Vessel, where He has each one of us planted.   

To be thankful and content in all things.
It is then His love is able to bubble out of us. 
We become unable to hold it back.
Striving to take each moment living this life Loving as He Loves.

Each day, prevailing over the things of this world, He gives us the gift of filling our lives with the making of  new cherished moments becoming treasured memories of talking, laughing, receiving hugs, kisses, being loved and encouraged. - being safe "in" Him.  I marvel at knowing, before time began, He knew whom it would be that we would be spending our moments with as His Divine Appointments.

Whom He needed us to be with - for Him.  For them.  For us.
Whom it would be to give us "a little of Heaven in our hearts".

 Reflecting on the days behind, seeing how He was there and His Glory prevailed.  I love how our ABBA encourages each of us, in each of our moments, with more than  a "little of Heaven". 
Looking forward to His "tastes" ahead.