04-06-13 Beginning of Wisdom

Proverbs 1:7 "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction."

Wisdom (according to Merriam-Webster.com)

1   a : accumulated philosophic or scientific learning : knowledge

     b : ability to discern inner qualities and relationships : insight

     c : good sense : judgment

     d : generally accepted belief <challenges what has become accepted

          wisdom among many historians — Robert Darnton>

2   : a wise attitude, belief, or course of action

3   : the teachings of the ancient wise men 

Well, according to this dictionary, wisdom is knowledge, insight, good sense and judgment, and the one I personally like is the last one... teachings of the ancient wise men.  To me, that is the Bible.  The teachings of Jesus who is the wisest of the wisest men who ever lived all put together.  He is all wisdom and all knowledge.  

The disciples come next with their wisdom (which came first from the Lord Jesus) - Acts 7:38.  The Word of God is the Breath of God - giving us life and freedom.  It's living - if we listen real close we can hear the heartbeat of God in every page (Hebrews 4:12).

What's the 'fear of the Lord' have to do with all this?  Plenty!  This fear is not 'trembling, I'm afraid because of punishment type of God', but an Awesome, Holy Reverence for the Father of all and the God of Creation.  It's thinking of all the great deeds He has done and has yet to do because of Who He is.  He is Perfect Love.  We bow our knees to Him and Him alone, because He is God.  Being God, He could snuff me out the next time I screw up, or any of the other times I screwed up.  He didn't.  I stand in awe of Him for picking me back up - brushing me off and setting my feet on the right path in the right direction... and leading me onward.

Think on Him today.  Not just for what He's done, but for Who He is... and let's give Him the reverence due His Name.

Revelation Song - Kari Jobe

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rGgX_oqdib4

04-05-13 Foolishness or Wisdom

Proverbs 28:26 "Those who trust in themselves are fools, but those who walk in wisdom are kept safe."

Short, sweet, and to the point.

When I think of trusting in myself, I think of taking a few steps and falling flat on my face - getting back up and taking a few steps and falling flat on my face - getting back up and taking another couple steps and falling flat on my face.  I think there's a pattern here (and my nose is probably a bit flatter....).

There was a time, not so long ago that I thought I knew myself better than anyone else.  I was broken and needed fixed. I knew what needed and what I didn't need.  I knew how to help myself emotionally, mentally, spiritually, physically.  I knew what to do and when it needed done. I knew who was going to help me and who, no matter what they said, wasn't going to help.  All because I knew myself and I knew what it would take to 'fix' me.  

Well, I 'fixed' myself pretty well.  But when I looked in the mirror, I saw my eyes where my ears were, my left arm was where my right ear was, my ears were where my feet should be (of course, they were - that's why I wasn't hearing the Lord telling me to stop trying to walk on my own).  

I came to realize that I really stink at trying to fix myself.  'Let Go and Let God' is not just a cute little bumper sticker we see on cars.  It's how Father means for us to live.  My life is not my own, it's hidden with Christ in God - Colossians 3:3.  I don't know myself - what I need - what I don't need when it comes to 'fixing' myself.  Father does - I mean, c'mon - He's the one who created us.... who formed us in our mother's wombs.  He is the one who can fix us, they way HE wants to, when HE wants to, and who he wants to use to do that (which, by the way) may be the person you least expect or really don't want to listen to.  

God's wisdom is in our being teachable, not hard-headed know-it-alls.  God's wisdom is in our willingness to humble ourselves before God and who puts in authority over us to help us, not in our pride and self-reliance.

God's wisdom is in walking the footsteps of Jesus and listening for His voice, before we use ours.

Healing Hand of God - Jeremy Camp

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hzfs9B01Qq8

04-04-13 Think You Are Wise?

1 Corinthians 3:18-23 "Do not deceive yourselves. If any of you think you are wise by the standards of this age, you should become “fools” so that you may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness”; and again, “The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.” So then, no more boasting about human leaders! All things are yours, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all are yours, and you are of Christ, and Christ is of God.

Let's slowly turn the ship around.  Our Lord is still talking about His wisdom and our foolishness.  In the eyes of the world, what we believe is simply foolishness.  C'mon... abstaining from alcohol (or at least being moderate), drugs, basically just not allowing ourselves to do certain things that to us are sinful. That could be just about anything, whatever the Lord has spoken to our hearts as sinful, besides the Bible blatantly says.

And, what's this about 'relationship with God' - I mean REALLY?  They think we're just a bunch of religious nuts.  We may try to correct them by saying, 'No, I have a relationship with God/Jesus - just as I would a very close friend and Father.'  Sometimes, this even gets them to think a little about it.  It's a seed planted anyway.

A sect of the occult atmosphere believes that knowledge/enlightenment/light itself (small 'l') is everything, and that attain it certain 'steps' should be followed.  Read 1 Corinthians 8:1 - it's talking about eating food, but knowledge puffs up in pride... 'Hey, look what I know...'  The Lord just shakes His head with wonderment of how we could even think we really know everything about anything.   

The wisdom of this world is foolishness to God - oh, a God Who - by the way - is all-powerful, everywhere at all times, and all-knowing. To me, that means He has all-knowledge and everything at all times.  My head hurts just thinking about that.  We sing 'this little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine', when we should be singing this great big Light of mine, it can't help but shine!  Lucifer (the former light-bearer of heaven) is the one with the little, itty-bitty black light, that he tries to wiggle into our hearts and minds.  

Great Big God.... itty-bitty devil.  Anyone who follows the ways of the world, and thinks they are wise - because believing in a God that can't see is foolish to them... and prudish... and absolutely no fun what-so-ever (how little do they know!!!  They are the ones we pray for.  They are the ones that Jesus intercedes for - that's their eyes would be open, their ears would be hearing, and their hearts would be understanding.  They are the ones the Lord calls foolish for thinking they are wise.  

Our wisdom is in our humility.

The Perfect Wisdom of God - Stuart Townend

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-22E3dWPUk

04-03-13 David the Dancer

2 Samuel 5:12-15 "Now King David was told, “The Lord has blessed the household of Obed-Edom and everything he has, because of the ark of God.” So David went to bring up the ark of God from the house of Obed-Edom to the City of David with rejoicing. When those who were carrying the ark of the Lord had taken six steps, he sacrificed a bull and a fattened calf. Wearing a linen ephod, David was dancing before the Lord with all his might, while he and all Israel were bringing up the ark of the Lord with shouts and the sound of trumpets.

A little background on this passage of Scripture.  Now, it seems that thought the Arc was about to topple so took His hand to steady it - that would not have  if they only touched the Arc.  His death could have been , except he also swore - presumably against the alter or God - which happened to be sin. a thin, w= he sore through the .  He was struck down by God. This was a holy object and only those anointed and appointed could even get close to the Arc, let along touch.  1 Chronicles 16:22 says, "Do not touch my anointed ones; do my prophets no harm.”  Says it again in Psalm 105.  Anything holy was not be e touch my ordinary, run of the mill people.  No... only those whom God has chosen.
David became afraid of the power that resided upon and in the Arc - it was the very power of God.  He held it in awe, but he also may have been a little afraid something else might happen and someone else die. So, instead of taking the Arc to the City of David in Jerusalem, he dropped it off at the house of Obed-Edom.
After he found out how good God was blessing Obed-Edom and the joy that surrounded his household, it was time for the Arc to go back. 

David did NOT dance naked.  He wore a linen ephod. Now a linen ephod was like a kilt or loincloth or apron. David DANCED with ALL his might before the Lord, and the Arc wasn't even there yet!  He was dancing for joy because the Arc of the Lord, His Presence was coming to live with Him.

Not to step on anyone's toes (HAHA), when I go to church, I go to worship the Lord.  Socializing can be done afterwards, but my main focus is to be there for Him.  Now there are times when I'm feeling angry or depressed and don't 'feel' like going up from and dancing before the Lord, but it only takes 1-2 songs to get me up there, because I realize that I'm there for HIM. I go to the front instead of the back - not so people can see me and see 'whatever' they think I am, but so that they can see freedom in worship in action.  I want them to see joy and freedom and maybe, just maybe they will come out of their shells and dance before the Lord in worship - in joy - in adoration.

Lord of the Dance - Steven Curtis Chapman
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_MnQxAd16k

04-02-13 Foolishness Pleasing

1 Corinthians 21-25 "For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength."

Yep, you should recognize these verses from yesterday, if you were here yesterday.  I'm double-dipping, because there's more truth we can glean in these verses.

The world, in ALL its wisdom - with all its 'greatness' did not even know when the Messiah was among it or them, since the world, means humanity.  Couldn't really mean all of creation, since Jesus when He came into Jerusalem told the Pharisees that if the people kept silent - the rocks would cry out in praise (Luke 19:40).  Or how about the mountains and the hills bursting into song and the trees of the fields clapping their 'hands' (Isaiah 55:12). Or the trees singing for joy (Psalm 96:12).  Literally?  I don't know.  Maybe.... Anything is possible for those who believe...

Father knew that the teaching of the Cross would seem as foolishness to people.  It's too easy... as in, believe in the Lord Jesus - call out to Him to be our Saviour and our Lord - and be saved.  Wait a second.  I think that you need to follow this set of rules or these doctrines or steps 1, 2 and 3, etc. in that order and THEN we can be saved.  Or we just have to live right and do good and if we screw up, try again and THEN we can be saved.  

Well, in Acts (which means 'acts')... 16 - I'm going to start at verse 25 for context: "About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose. The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped. But Paul shouted, “Don’t harm yourself! We are all here!” The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his household were baptized. The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God—he and his whole household."

"The foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength" - I would rather side with the "foolishness" and "weakness" of God and live than to have human wisdom and strength and die Luke 9:24-26 "For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self? Whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels."

Amen and Amen!

Freedom Song - Passion

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_1KKWOeo68

04-01-13 April Fool's Day

 

1 Corinthians 1:18-25 "For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written:

“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.” Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength."

 

I saw this sign "Help Wanted: Fools for Christ".  I laughed at first - then I thought I about it.  I like to think about things.  Now, thinking too much about things can be detrimental to our health and add stress and anxiety to our to our lives, but when we think about things that the Spirit within us prompts us to think about, the Lord speaks in ways that only He can.  In eight verses, John mentions variations of the word 'foolish' 5 times (more if you count the ones that are implied).

 

I started looking at the verses I listed above.  To those who are already 'dead' inside, the Cross means nothing to them - but to those Who know the power of what happened on the Cross, it means LIFE in the here and now - not just for the future.

 

The 'religious' leaders of the day - those who followed the law strictly (outwardly anyway), mocked the message of the dying to self - our own wants and desires - of loving others and loving ourselves - of taking care of each other just like we would want to be taken care of.  Those who knew Jesus understood His sacrifice was for them and entered into not some 'religious' form of obedience, but entered into a love relationship with Him and with God, the Father.  Those of us who know Him by faith (John 20:20 - "Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."), have come to enter into that very same relationship of love.  Sure, discipline when we need it, but always love.  Jesus loved us all the way to the Cross.

 

Was Jesus a fool for dying for the sins of the whole world? In some eyes, it saddens me to say 'yes'.  But if we had to die for something worth while, wouldn't we die for something we believed in with all our hearts.  Besides all the prophecies that foretold His coming, His life, His death, His resurrection, His returning again.... some say sooner rather than later. 

 

I shared one favorite verse yesterday.  This is my life verse, given to me years and years ago.  It's Romans 14:7-8 "For none of us lives for ourselves alone, and none of us dies for ourselves alone. If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord."

 

There can be no greater cause to die for than for following in the Lord's footsteps and doing what He did.  Or for doing even greater things than He did - John 14:12 "Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father."  That brings a fire to my eyes and roaring flame in my heart.

 

When it comes down to it, we're either a fool for Jesus and what He taught or we're a fool for satan (following the world and our own fleshly desires).  I know that sounds brazen of me or harsh, but the Lord even says, we can't serve to masters 'either we will hate the one and love the other or love the one and hate the other.'  Matthew 6:24 - it talks about money and God, but it's same concept. 

 

We can't have the best of both worlds - with God, we have all the best, including eternal life with Him on a new earth and with a new heaven - the way He originally intended it.  With the world, well, what you see is what you get.

 

I resolve to be a fool for Jesus to today.  So, maybe April Fool's Day should be a Christian Holiday :)

 

God's Own Fool - Michael Card

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tEJrjGa106U

 

 

03/31/13 Resurrection Sunday

Hallelujah!  The Lord is Risen!

John 20-21

Mary (not Jesus' mother) went to the tomb are found something rather peculiar - the stone was rolled away.  Now we're not talking about a couple hundred pound stone or even what we've seen as a perfectly round stone - as a ball would be round.  According to http://theosophical.wordpress.com , depending on the type of stone it more than likely weighed between 2,000-4,000 pounds.  

Now, granted, Jesus could have blasted through the stone when He was raised, but it was actually much more dramatic for the stone to be rolled away.  There would be nothing to grip from the inside to roll it left or right - whichever the case was.  He could have just disappeared and reappeared (as it seems He had done later.  He could have just spoken the word and removed it - He is God, you know - but still He wanted to prove a point in a way that the impact would be the greatest.  Let's face it, He had soldiers guarding the entrance on threat of their lives.  I'm at least 99.99% sure that maybe one of them would rest while the other watched for some disciple to come and take the body, but not both.  I also don't believe that both were asleep at the time. They totally did not know how He got out... Period.

But He did get out.  

Of course John and interestingly enough, Peter both ran to the tomb to verify that Mary wasn't just pulling their leg.  Then ran back to the house and told the other disciples.  Thomas seemed to be the only one missing, besides Judas, who unfortunately had hung himself - or I believe that Jesus would have forgiven even him.  Argue freely on that, if you want.  I believe since Jesus could forgive those who beat Him and hung Him on a Cross, He could have forgiven Judas. I believe when he gave the money back, He was showing action to his remorse, he was deeply sorry for what he had done. We tend to isolate, not congregate when we are ashamed or hurting - I think that was Judas' downfall.  He isolated.  The enemy took that isolation and ran with him all the was to the potter's field, where he hung himself.

I find it interesting that He appeared to Mary - the one Who worshiped and sat at His feet whenever she could.  We can learn a lot from Mary, if it's only just that whenever He was around, she was at His feet; listening and worshiping with a thankful heart all the Lord had done for her.  

Why didn't He appear to the two disciples?  Just speculating, but maybe it's because He needed a little more to time to become 'solid' again (Mary wasn't even allowed to touch Him yet).  Maybe it was because they looked, saw the tomb was empty and immediately left to tell the others - not even comforting Mary.  Maybe Jesus wanted His first act as Risen Saviour to be one of comforting one of His flock.  I like the last one - but it speculation on my part.

I also find it interesting that Peter was with the other disciples.  I would have been too ashamed to face the others.... even though ALL disciples fled at the time of His arrest.  Maybe they thought that His shame was not greater than theirs.  I would have.  Think for a moment how you would've felt.  

Peter was there along with all the other disciple, except Thomas for some reason, maybe He went out to get bread or something.  Jesus JUST appeared in the room.  If I were there and came too, I probably would've fainted again.

Jesus showed them His hands and feet, then they REMEMBERED all He had said to them before His death - and KNEW beyond shadow of a doubt that He was/is the Son of God, the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, the One Who descended into hell - took the keys of death and hell with Him as He rose up from satan's grasp and became ALIVE AGAIN!  

Let's all imagine the look on satan's face when he saw he had absolutely no power over death nor hell any longer!  That he has lost, not only the battle, but the war and now his fate was sealed.  One of my favorite verses is Revelation 20:10 that says, "And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown.  THEY (including he) WILL BE TORMENTED DAY AND NIGHT FOREVER AND EVER." Period.

The only person that did not see Jesus was Thomas.  He doubted the other disciples, probably thinking they were all drunk or something.  Then Jesus appeared to Him.  He dropped everything, including his jaw (writer's liberty) when Jesus showed him the nail prints in His hands and feet.

He then cooks and eats fish... I think to show He could eat... but also waiting to Peter to come back from fishing.  This I believe was His first of millions or acts of forgiveness, redemption and restoration of us as the Children of God, the Lights of the World.  Peter, as soon as he saw Jesus, jumped out of the boat and was basically naked when he reached shore.  To me, that says, he was in a hurry for one, but it also says, "Lord, I stand before You bare, vulnerable, naked. You know my sin.  I have nothing to give You - not even my clothes.  I'm sorry for my sin, I repent and I ask You to take me back into Your fold."  

Jesus asked three times if Peter loved Him.  I'm not concerned as much with what meaning(s) are attributed to the word 'love'. I believe He was asked because He denied Jesus three times; but also because of the Trinity - He had sinned against God, the Son; God, the Father; And God, the Holy Spirit.  At the last question, Peter was like, Lord, you KNOW I love you - you KNOW my heart.  I would definitely have some tears streaming down my face at this point.  Jesus said in love and redeeming power, "Feed my sheep. Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!”  And Peter did.

Oh, Lord - today we CELEBRATE Your Rising from the deepest parts of hell with the Keys of death and hell in your left hand and the Keys to the Kingdom of God in Your right hand.  Let us choose to follow come to You as Peter did with a humble heart, but also with a resolve to follow You everyday of our lives.  To keep you first in our lives.  To let others know of Your saving grace, mercy and power.... not just for today, but for always.  Let us be gracious to others, because we don't know what they are going through.  Let us be merciful to those who need not our anger, but our compassion.  Let us show the world Your power in our thoughts, in our words and in our deeds. Let not our will be done in our lives, but give us eyes and ears to hear what YOUR WILL is for us.  You are our Risen Lord.  Alive and Well and full of Love.  Thank You Jesus for EVERYTHING!