01-31-13 Friendship 4

John 13:1-5 "It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.

As I wrote yesterday, Jesus knew who would betray Him - but I was focusing on His (disciples) friends gathering around Him. Today, I feel prompted to focus on the highlighted portion above.

If I knew someone was going to seriously cause me harm and they happened to be sitting at table with me sharing the same food and drink, I would either not invite that person and stay far away from him or not-so-lovingly want to place my hands around their neck and squeeze to twist their head at an odd angle. Ok, maybe a 'slight' anger issue there ;) Either way, I would be seething inside.

BUT JESUS...'Having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end."?? Ok, I get it. Matthew 5:43 starts, "You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ (Yea, God - now THAT'S what I'm talking about) But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven." (What?????) Italics mine, of course. He loved Judas until the end (which in my opinion - the end is death).

Jesus was a faithful friend. He was a loyal friend. He was a friend that would never let go - never leave his friends in a lurch - never turn His back on them. He was a friend to the death. He trusted them - had faith in them - poured his life out for them (figuratively and literally). He is the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8).

He is OUR faithful friend; OUR loyal friend; a friend that will NEVER let go of us - NEVER leave us in a lurch - NEVER turn our backs on us. He is OUR friend to the death. He trusts us, has faith in us, AND He poured out His VERY LIFE for us.

Jesus is an example of true friendship. If He can love not only his friends (which is hard to do sometimes) and also love His enemies AND He said greater things we can do (John 14:12) - we can do the same and be truly 'children of our Father in Heaven'. Do we want to? Our flesh is probably saying, heck, no. But will we try?

01-30-13 Friendship 3

John 13:22-25 "His disciples stared at one another, at a loss to know which of them he meant. One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was reclining next to him. Simon Peter motioned to this disciple and said, “Ask him which one he means.” Leaning back against Jesus, he asked him, “Lord, who is it?”

In this passage, Jesus was telling His disciples (friends) that He knew one of them would betray Him. I can just imagine the sorrow that Jesus felt in saying those words and this close-knit group of friends looking at each other and wondering who could possible do such a thing. I can imagine them saying, "Surely, Jesus must be wrong... but... He's never been wrong before..."

Then a certain friend leaned against Jesus breast and asked who it could be.... and He told him. I don't know if others heard and gasped or if he just told - I believe it was John.

If I close my eyes, and enter into that 'secret place' with Jesus, I can see myself leaning against His breast. Safe, secure, peaceful, protected - those are just a few of the words that come to my mind at the moment.

That's what friendship is - having a person or a group of people that are safe, secure, peaceful, protective and being the same with them. Having friends to pray with - to have fun with - to cry with - to share joy with and even to share sorrow with.

It's hard when a friend betrays us, but it happened to Jesus - it's may happen to us as well. Jesus knows what that feels like - and He had 11 other friends surrounding Him, comforting Him and encouraging Him in His sorrow. THAT is what the Kingdom of God is all about!

01-29-13 Friendship 2

Matthew 22:37-40 "Jesus replied: 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.' "

First, we love God - and we are learning to love God with ALL our hearts, souls and minds - this doesn't happen overnight. There are generally, places that we hold onto that keep us from loving God with ALL of our being. Thank the Lord, that He loves us with all of Himself!

Jesus has given us examples with His Disciples and the relationship He had with them.

But to be a friend to others, we have to be a friend to ourselves. If I'm going to love my neighbor, I need to love myself or I won't have anything to give others. I would feel unworthy of the love of God and my love supply would be empty.

Maybe we don't like the things we've done or not done. We ask forgiveness and God forgives us. We receive the forgiveness and we forgive ourselves. Then we can go on.

Maybe what we should do is take a good look in the mirror and tell ourselves what we think of ourselves and then while still standing there, let God tell us what He thinks.

01-28-13 Friendship

Ecclesiastes 4:10-12 - "Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken."

I love the book of Ecclesiastes. It is one book that raises honest gut-level questions - maybe questions we've all had at one time or another. It's a book of honesty and transparency from the author. Seems to me, qualities of a good friendship.

Two ARE better than one - it's community. It's how we were made.... God saw that it was not good for man to be alone. It is not good for us to be alone. Yes, there are times when it IS good to be alone, but we're not really every alone are we. The Lord is always with us. He will never leave us or forsake us. But when we are alone with Jesus, then we are learning to rest in Him - even though sometimes those times are healing times in our lives.. There is a place of rest and it is in Jesus.

We brings others into our lives so that we form relationships and learn how be a community. Jesus is always with us... so a cord of three strands is not easily broken. He interweaves between us and causes us to learn to be family. We are His family. Our 'real' family.

Two are better than one. When I fall, I can either stay down - or I can take the hand of one of my siblings and trust the Lord in them to raise us back up.

01-26-13 To Run or Not to Run

Philippians 2:3-4 "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others."

I was listening to the story last night of Adam and Eve. After they bit into the apple, they realized they were naked and were ashamed - so they hid and tried to cover themselves. They had such a wonderfully close relationship with God the Father - they could talk with Him about anything. I'm sure there was some coaching going on here and there, but they hadn't done anything really bad. This was really bad. So bad that they tried to hide because of shame and maybe fear of what God would do or say.

We still do this. I was reminded of that last night. I was around some people that I consider pretty safe.... in community. Some confession on my part occurred to one friend and I felt ashamed. What was the first thing I wanted to do? Run to God and fall on my knees and beg His forgiveness? No way. There was this little lying demon on my shoulder saying "You don't belong here' and 'You might as well leave'. I stayed put. There is safety in numbers (especially when they are believers). It wanted me to feel ashamed and run to hide. If I wouldn't done that, it would've had me right in it's little claws. I would've went down a road that I never want to go down again, because I lost myself once... and I will not do it again.

Instead I chose to trust that I do belong - that I was with family - that my family loved me and I loved them - that I didn't NEED to isolate myself down into the pit of shame... Jesus and those who were in that room spoke to my spirit 'Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame.' I will not let the enemy divide and conquer.

In those times when we feel like running away from people or God - let's stand our ground and not let the enemy have a voice. We are Born of God - Sons and Daughters of the Most High LIVING God. He understands our weaknesses and still loves us regardless. Resting in that knowledge that we don't HAVE TO run away anymore, empowers us to Live the Life that Jesus calls us to and gives Him all the praise and honor and glory and power due His Name.

01-25-13 Some May Trust......

Psalm 20:6-8 "Now I know that the Lord saves his anointed;he answers him from his holy heaven with the saving power of his right hand. Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God. They are brought to their knees and fall, but we rise up and stand firm."

Just who IS the Lord's anointed? Well, 2 Cor. 1:21-22 says "He anointed us...". Us is US (not the United States, but you and I ;)). Take a read for yourself.

So, the Lord saves his anointed - since we are His anointed, He saves us.

I'm reminded of some corporate business retreat years ago where you would trust the person behind you enough to fall back into their arms and they would catch you or they'd fall also and you'd land on top of them and at least you'd have a cushion. Anyway, you get the jist.

'The Lord answers us (which means He hears us and acts - maybe not in the way we expect or anticipate, but He acts).... from out of His HOLY heaven. In His holiness, He reaches down with the saving power of His right hand and catches us.

In battle, which most of us are in, if we call ourselves Christians - some in the thick of the battle, some a bit wounded and in triage... do we trust in our own strength? Our eyes see the enemy advancing or even in our faces, but do we trust in our own 'chariots and horses' to carry us through the battle? Or do we trust in the Name of the Lord our God.... JESUS to carry us with His (mighty) right hand?

The enemy is brought to their knees and fall flat on their faces at the very mention of the Name of Jesus... just imagine what goes on in the spiritual when our eyes move from the enemies rants and raves that burden us down to the ground - flattened by the lies; to our eyes looking at Jesus who gives us the strength to 'rise up and stand firm'. Jesus empowers us to overcome anything the world, the flesh, satan can throw at us (and no, I don't give satan the least bit of pleasure of capitalizing his name).

It's our choice... what or who are we going to look at today?

01-24-13 Hinds Feet

Psalm 18:33 "He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; he enables me to stand on the heights."

Habakkuk 3:19 "The Sovereign LORD is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go on the heights."

Have you ever wondered what it means to have hinds feet? To be able to stand on the heights to run and be sure-footed? I have.

The first time I thought of this verse was across from Mt. St. Helens. There was a trail for 'experienced' hikers around this mountain. Well, I thought - what can be so bad that I would really need any experience... I found out. So, off I go on this trail. Just having a grand old time. On the other side of this trail is Spirit Lake - I wanted to see the Lake. But to soon I came to the part of the trail called 'Devil's Elbow'... Yes, I should've known from the title. But hey, sometimes we have to go through a bit of a trial to get to where we want to be.

The trail starts getting narrower and narrower until it's only the mountain wall on one side, a one foot wide trail (no lie), and a 1,000 foot drop on the other side at a very steep angle... with no guardrail.

Oh, I was fine - moving along confidently and having fun with the Lord and me focusing on getting to Spirit Lake. Then, just like Peter looked down and saw the water he was standing on and became consumed with doubt and fear and fell into the drink - I looked down the 1,000 drop and saw the one foot wide trail and began to feel the doubt and the fear consume me. I was a trooper... I went a little farther, but the fear of falling did me in. My eyes were no longer on the Lord or getting to the lake.... but saving myself and getting back on the broad path where I could be sure footed.

Lately, I was reminded of this verse as our group of ladies was at Hocking Hills. Our last hike of the day was Cantwell Falls. Sort of what I had my eye on even before we got there - not because of the falls, but because it had a Rim Trail that was a little challenging to get to. Now, I like a challenge and the word 'trail' perks my ears up - I suppose sort of like a deer when it stops to listen.

Nobody else wanted to go, but it so in my heart to try to run the trail. Well, a friend and I was a little ahead of some of the others and I mentioned that I REALLY wanted to go on that trail. She basically said 'go for it'. I took my water and flashlight (being that it was almost dusk)....and being prepared I had put on running shirt under my pj's ;) I gave her my backpack and off I run up the 90 or so steps to get to the trail.

Then I proceeded UP the trail to get to the rim of the falls (2.5 mile trail). As I was running, I felt the Lord beside me. I was feeling free and the cleanness, freshness, quietness, peacefulness of the trail. There were places where it came real close to the edge or the rim and also really huge slippery rocks. As I was bouncing up and down through the trail to miss the rocks and roots, the Lord said, 'You have hinds feet'. I not only knew what he meant by those verses, but I felt what meant. I was on the heights - running with the Lord.

Though most of you may not be runners, He has given us ALL hinds feet to folllow Him on the heights - to overcome obstacles - to be victorious over the battles in our lives - to not trip over every problem and trial that comes up. Jesus gives us the strength to follow His lead as we put our feet in His foot steps. Let's not follow our fleshly doubts and fears that cause us to stop or turn back. Let's follow Jesus today.

01-23-13 Focus

Philippians 4:8 "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things." 

 

Ok, so based on the above, we are to set our minds, our thoughts on what is TRUTH (the Word of God), what is HONORABLE (honest and trustworthy), what is JUST (fair and steadfast), what is LOVELY (Who is more lovely than Jesus?), what is COMMENDABLE (worthy of praise). So, why do we let our minds dwell on the lies, the dishonorable, the unjust, the unlovely, the things that are not worthy of praise? Do we go by what we feel or by what we know to be truth? Emotions aren't 'bad', but sometimes they can cloud the truth, like a fog that descends upon our minds.

 

Do you know that just the act of saying the Name of Jesus changes thoughts, the patterns in our brains - which in turn effects our emotions? Try it - outloud. Jesus. Jesus. Jesus. Jesus. Jesus. HE turns our focus away from our troubles, our circumstances, ourselves and onto Who He is and eventually who we are in Him (and as a side benefit - sends the enemy scurrying away).

 

The Lord does deal with the deep things in our hearts and sometimes those deep things hurt, but have you ever tried to dig out a splinter that was stuck? It hurts coming out. It may bleed - so it gets bandaged until it stops bleeding. The air hits it and it heals.

 

If the Lord is digging as a splinter in your heart (or a thorn), it may hurt for a while - it may bleed - crying is ok - I heard ;) The Lord comes and gently covers the wound with His hand (that was wounded for us) until the bleeding stops. He then uncovers it and the Holy Spirit 'hits it' - fills it with His goodness, love, peace, rest, power, etc... and it heals.

 

I'd rather set my mind on Jesus - how about you?

01-22-13 In a Tight Place

Matthew 7:13-14 “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it."

More insight from Hocking Hills. There were a couple of very narrow place where the footing was a bit slippery and exact. Now, some of us don't like closed in places and wanted to go the longer way around. Isn't that how we are sometimes. The enemy whispers - 'you'll fall and hurt yourself', 'you'll get stuck and won't be able to get out' - lies that fill us with fear and not faith. Our flesh tells us 'Let's take the hard way and do it ourselves (protect ourselves) so that we don't get hurt'. When instead, Jesus offers us an easier way and asks us to trust him and those he has put around us to help pick us up when we fall - and be near us when we are afraid.

This doesn't mean that we follow everyone we meet, talk to or listen to them - but when Jesus is involved, those of us who KNOW Him (ginosco - gr. - to know in the very depths of ourselves) have a relationship with Him, talking to Him, listening to Him, following Him - even into the tight places that scare us... and He gives us the capacity to discern those we can trust who also KNOW Him.

Let's rest in the arms of Jesus when He calls us to the tough places in our lives. He KNOWS us and we can trust Him every day in every way. We can trust the Lord in the people He has put around us.

Fear Not - Jesus says that over and over - trusting in His love for us banishes fear. Let's learn to rest in that.

01-21-13 Peace

The Lord put a single verse into my heart last night, and this morning has elaborated upon it for all of us.... be blessed today.

New International Version 1 John 1:7 "But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin."

As children of God, we all have a common bond - we have one Father - one Lord and 'older' Brother - one Spirit that unifies us. As with the Trinity, they draw us together as one. When one hurts, we all hurt. When one has victory, we all have victory. We cannot be defeated as one. United we stand, divided we fall is not just a colloquialism, but truth. Mark 3: 24-25 'If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand.'

We can have confidence that His peace and His rest will always be there whether we fight together or we pull back to rest and gather resources.

Our flesh would have us draw back in times of despair, but our Spirits crave relationship. It's in the times of despair that we must overcome our flesh and stand together as one. Our strength comes from being of One Body (no matter in what physical location we meet) - with Jesus as our Commander-in-Chief. Our strength comes from learning to draw back and rest in Him - that is our peace. He is our peace and He is our Great Warrior - nobody and nothing can withstand the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. When we step back into His peace and rest, He is our Protector. It's ok to rest - to experience His peace. It's ok.

He is our hope and our strength.