03-02-13 Repentance and The Mind

Psalm 106:7-12 "When our ancestors were in Egypt, they gave no thought to your miracles; they did not remember your many kindnesses, and they rebelled by the sea, the Red Sea. Yet he saved them for his name’s sake, to make his mighty power known. He rebuked the Red Sea, and it dried up; he led them through the depths as through a desert. He saved them from the hand of the foe; from the hand of the enemy he redeemed them. The waters covered their adversaries; not one of them survived. Then they believed his promises and sang his praise."

Psalm 106:19-25 "At Horeb they made a calf and worshiped an idol cast from metal. They exchanged their glorious God for an image of a bull, which eats grass. They forgot the God who saved them, who had done great things in Egypt, miracles in the land of Ham and awesome deeds by the Red Sea. So he said he would destroy them—had not Moses, his chosen one, stood in the breach before him to keep his wrath from destroying them. Then they despised the pleasant land; they did not believe his promise. They grumbled in their tents and did not obey the Lord.

Reading these two portions of Scripture, we can probably see so many similarities to our own lives. The Lord brings us our of our individual Egypts (bondages). A portion of time goes by and we somehow forget what the Lord has already done for us as we run into yet another obstacle in our lives. We fret and despair and don't even give a thought to the fact that He led us out of our bondage - so maybe, just maybe, He can get us through this one. Our minds don't even go there. BUT GOD... in His mercy AND for HIS Names' sake leads us through our Red Seas on dry ground. I wonder how fast some of them went across... I know we would've totally repented before we got to the other side of the riverbed... I imagine they moved pretty slowly with the children and cattle and such. "Oh Lord, please don't let those walls of water come down"... can you imagine walking through that - it probably wouldn't have been in complete confidence that I would've looked at the walls of water and strutted my way through. No, I would've been going through the whole list of grumbling and complaints and asking forgiveness. Of course, my mind would be sayng, those waters are going to fall sometime. God is not happy with you. Might as well stop repenting, those walls are going to come down. Our minds so totally imagine the worst possible scenario most of the time, BECAUSE satan can influence our minds - IF we listen and then dwell too long on what he whispers into them.

Knowing what I know now about Jesus... I would probably do the same thing. Then hopefully would've fixed my gaze on the other side and stopped even being the least bit concerned about what my mind was saying. Listening instead to the Spirit inside of me.

It was only after the waters covered the Egyptian Army that the people gave a huge sigh of relief, rejoiced and praised God and believed His promises.

Then in the SAME CHAPTER.... we read their making God out to be a cow??? Seriously, like worship no graven image (idol, etc) didn't pertain to them? Oh, God had just written the Ten Commandments and Moses was bringing them down the mountain. Their sin was in doing what they thought best (I think we covered that in detail already). Father wanted to destroy them - He was angry. They disobeyed... ummmmm, were in defiance of what their God had said. And at the time, there was no Jesus Who had paid for their sins. Moses stood in the breech - brave man of God he was. And God repented - He relented and yet the people did not believe his promises. WHAT? Well, remember repentance in it's basic sense means changing our minds - God changed His mind. There are other places He did this.... Read Genesis 18 about Abraham and Sodom and Gomorrah.... God does change His mind. His mind is not influenced by the enemy though. Ours is. And this repentance is slightly different from Acts 11:18's "Repentance unto life". God didn't repent because he was sorrowful for having committed some sin. He 'repented' - changed His mind out of His compassion and to show His great power.

American Bible Tract Society Dictionary: "repentance unto life," is sorrow for sin, grief for having committed it, and a turning away from it with abhorrence, accompanied with sincere endeavors, in reliance on God's grace and the influences of the Holy Spirit, to live in humble and holy obedience to the commands and will of God."

OUCH and double OUCH. It's really not enough to do a 180 turn-around (remorse), unless we also resolve to do what is right and actually start to do it.

It starts in our spirits..... We purpose to turn from sin. The Spirit of God who leads Who influences our Spirit leads our minds to turn away from sin. To turn away from listening to the lies of the enemy, to turn away from listening to our emotions (that, by the way, can also be influenced by the enemy) - and to turn to GOD ALMIGHTY - our FATHER - our DAD - our Common Denominator (He's the same for all of us). He is our Friend, our Comforter, our Refuge to run to in times of trouble, THE Mighty Fortress - that hides us from the enemy - but He is also a Holy God and Father, Who's very Presence commands our respect and reverence.

Let's give him today the honor due His Name (as much as our finiteness will allow) and truly turn from our wrongs towards the new LIFE He offers us.

Change Me - Unknown

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8m8Ivi4Gu-I

03-01-13 Repentance and Faith

Acts 20:20-21 ^"You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house. I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus."

So, what do we know so far about repentance? That it requires a broken and contrite heart; that pride will keep us from it; that it's a matter of the heart and not just the intellect, and; we have to exercise our will to do it, lay our will at the feet of Jesus and then follow the Father's will.

What about faith?

I brought out the Funk & Wagnalls 'New' Standardard Dictionary of the English Language (the 'new' 1938 edition). Back then, they had much more time of their hands because the definitions are 'loaded'. The very first definition says:

"A firm conviction of the truth by what is declared by another by way either of testimony or authority, without other evidence; belief in what another states or affirms, or testifies, simply on the ground of his truth or veracity; especially (as distinguished by mere belief), practical dependance on a person, statement or thing as trustworthy; fiducial as opposed to merely intellectual belief; trust."

Veracity = truthfulness

Fiducial = of the nature of faith, or practical confidence, as distinguished by merely intellectual confidence.

I'm going to unpack that just a little bit and go so far as to say: "Faith is based on mere belief as opposed to intellectual belief on the testimony or authority of another - without other evidence." I think maybe at least some of us have read something similar to that somewhere in the Word of God. Oh yeah, it's in Hebrews 11:1 "Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.

Mr. Funk and Ms. Wagnall's (yes, you read that right) and the many, many men and women who contributed to this edition, must have read their Bibles - at least the ones who gave this faith it's definition!

When we come to Father as His children in humble repentance and we are exercising great faith in our God. I believe that in His mercy, but also because of this act of faith, Jesus moves into action. Imagine for a moment, Jesus at the Right Hand of Father. As we humbling draw near to God's throne of grace (Hebrews 4:16), Jesus becomes very excited. As we repent for our wrongdoings, He jumps up, points at us and while looking between us and Father, says, "See, look at (insert name here). See, Dad, what they're doing? They are at the foot of My Cross and turning their hearts and wills back to You. My Blood now covers them - they are worthy to be in Your Presence!!! Isn't that the most WONDERFUL thing you've ever seen??" And Father smiles and huge, wide smile, with tears of joy flowing down upon the throne. He is moved so much by the faith of the one repenting that He turns to Jesus, then looks at us and says, "I forgive you."

Faith not only moves mountains, but it moves something bigger, the Heart of God Himself. Reach out in faith today and let repentance free you.

This song has been stirring in my heart all week. I just have to 'get it out'...

The Touch of the Master's Hand - Wayne Watson

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eyt3-Uy4gVQ

02-28-13 Repentance and The Will

Ok, so I searched and searched for a verse or few from the Word of God that mentions anything about doing OUR will. I searched the NIV, NRSV, NKJ, Amplified and even The Message - Biblegateway.com is so user-friendly ;). You know what I found? NOTHING. At first, I was like, "God did I hear you right - because I can't find anything about doing our will in any Bible." He was like, "That's the point." OH.

Now, the various versions of the Bible do say a lot about doing the Will of God - but oddly enough, is strangely silent about the will of us. Think about this: What is our will in regards to sin? Isn't it pride? Isn't it self-seeking? Isn't it all those 'I's' that we saw in Job yesterday? Isn't it all the 'I's' that brought lucifer down? Sorry for those English majors... I can't bring myself to give him any credit - even capitalizing his 'name'.

That song by Frank Sinatra.... My Way. REALLY?? How'd that work for you?? I know it hasn't worked in my life... no matter how I sliced it. Has it really worked in any of our lives?? There's a saying, My way or the highway. REALLY?? I'll take the 'High'way, thank you very much.

Our will says, "I'm ok" when we're not ok. Our will says, "I can do this by myself" when we really can't do by ourselves (and we'll likely find that out the hard way). Our will says, "I don't need God to heal me, where's that other self-help book?". Our will says.... blah, blah, blah.... oh yes, it's alive and doing very well without needing anything from anyone, thank you very much. Our will always says 'there's a better way and I'll find it all by myself'.

But... what is God's will? You know, our Father - the One who came to earth in Jesus and suffered death because He loved us so much. By the way, Jesus did the will of His Father, not His own - or else I wouldn't be sitting here writing this and you wouldn't be sitting there reading this. This may raise a little anger in some... where's that coming from... oh, our will.

Now, our will is God-given. It gives us the ability to choose. Do we choose to do the will of God or do we choose to do our own will - God has left that up to us. Sometimes what we sense God wants us to do just may be the hardest task we've ever done in our lives... thus far. We can choose not to do it -in which there will more than likely be some kind of consequence (even as 'small' as a knowing that we should have done it) - and by the way, that would be OUR will for us. Or we can listen to God and do what He says, which would be HIS will for us.

Let's repent for 'doing things our way' and choose to use our will to do the will of our Father in our lives.

If it's a heartfelt repentance, it may be painful. It won't stay that way. He wants to bring us joy, even as He bring Him joy and this where sorrow and joy, emptiness and fulfillment meet... in repentance. .Jesus didn't come to condemn (I think I've said that before....) - but Jesus said, "I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness. “If anyone hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge that person. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world. There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; the very words I have spoken will condemn them at the last day. For I did not speak on my own, but the Father who sent me commanded me to say all that I have spoken. I know that his command leads to eternal life. So whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say.”

Jesus came to give us LIFE. In return we give our lives - our wills over to Him. Don't worry, he'll take better care of our will than what we have ;)

May this song bring us to our knees and then empower us through the Holy Spirit to walk a life pleasing to God.

Not My Will - Acappella

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

02-27-13 Repentance and The Heart

Joel 2:12-13 “Even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.” Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity."

Repentance from the heart. What does that mean? Most of the time, we equate the heart with emotions and while that's true, it not the full meal deal. When we look at our hearts spiritually, we see emotions. We see good and bad responses to people we perceive to have harmed me (whether true or not). We see the very core of my being... who we are underneath all the garbage that life has thrown at us. We see our own woundedness, which we can run from or face (by the way, it's excruciating to face the woundedness, but the freedom on the other side is sooooo much better). We may see our anger/rage/retaliation/hatred. We may see what we consider 'little sins' or 'humongous sins'. Whatever we see - it's because the Lord wants us to see it at that moment.

When at the very core of who we are/were, we repent - it's not easy. It takes an act of our wills. It takes turning our minds over to the Lord - our thoughts - our preconceived ideas of what repentance should look like and what the Lord is going to do.

When we get in touch with those deep emotions that sometimes have been hidden for - oh, let's say approximately 43 years, hypothetically speaking - TEARS ARE GOING TO FLOW...AND FLOW... AND...... The Great Surgeon has prepped us for this very time - that we always knew would have to come someday, if we want to move ahead in the Lord. Those emotions, those thoughts (ie. lies), those wounds have been there for possibly a very long time, but the Lord knows exactly what He's doing and He's not going to stay digging around in that place any longer than He has to in order to get it all out. As He's taking it out, our tears act as cleansing agents of the Lord - He making that place brand new.

When we see our sin, He doesn't want us to stay there... and He certainly doesn't want us to He wants us to become lost in our guilt (or fall into the enemy's trap of condemnation - "You are just too sinful for God to forgive you" Etc...etc... etc....

No, Father wants us to realize that no matter what we've done, that we can return to Him with all our heart. ALL OF OUR HEART means everything inside of us as much as we are able and sometimes with fasting, but more than likely with weeping and mourning - and it does so totally feel like our hearts are being ripped to shreds. That's the rending of our heart... He doesn't care about outward appearances, 'oh, I'm sorry I did this or that, God' and go on with our lives, but He not out to see us suffer either. What He does want is a heartFELT repentance and for us to return to Him - His peace, His love, His joy, His grace, His mercy, His kindness. He's not angry with us, He LOVES us. He treasures us.

If there's anything between us and the Lord today, let's return to Him - get with a trust friend, if need be and go to Father together. Let's start today to make things right.

I Repent - Fight the Fade ... (a little 'Rockish')

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=agvtNXC0yEc

02-26-13 Repentance and Pride

Job 42:1-6 "Then Job replied to the Lord: “I know that you can do all things; no purpose of yours can be thwarted. You asked, ‘Who is this that obscures my plans without knowledge?’ Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know. “You said, ‘Listen now, and I will speak; I will question you, and you shall answer me.’ My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you. Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes.” "

One day, way back old, old, days - satan asked to test (after some conversation with God). What followed -- to say that Job was a man who had some major calamity in life is a gigantic understatement. In ONE day, he lost his oxen, donkeys the servants who took care of them to raiders; he lost his sheep and their servants to fire; he lost his camels and their servants to other raiders; and, finally all his sons and daughters to a whirlwind or a tornado! And YET, he stays humble and mourns the losses, but then WORSHIPS the Lord!!! Wow.... just wow.

Next he's afflicted with boils all over his body that itched and caused open sores and incredible pain. His friends was even unrecognizable to his friends. This went on for some time. Of course, his friends tried to comfort him and 'figure out' what was wrong to cause of all this. I don't think I would've been as patient as Job was with his friends constant babbling (well-meaning babbling, I suppose) and looking for answers.

Finally, he breaks and really let's loose... he starts out with sarcasm with his friends. Then, he accuses God of making his life bitter. It seems that in chapter 27, he presumes to know God's ways - how He deals with me and how He work, along with His infinite power. Then, in chapter 29 - he shows his pride by saying how good he was. In verses 7-25 (19 verses), he reference to HIMSELF 36 times!!! And satan's downfall was filled with 'I's also... and not as many as far as what's recorded.

I can imagine the Lord looking at Job with his eyebrow up and saying, 'REALLY. You REALLY think that you did all of that - that you were ALL that? Now, what part do you think I played in the abundance and grace that was on your life previous to all of this?' Basically, when Job FINALLY finishes his rant, the Lord speaks (Job 38 into 42.... and He shows Job what he just said. Now, Luke 6:45 says "For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of." The Lord shows Job his heart and what it was full of.

When it was presented to him by the Lord Himself, he came under conviction (not condemnation - which the enemy tries to put on us). Conviction leads us to do something about whatever was just shown us. First, to ask forgiveness - then to repent (to totally do a 180). The Lord spoke, Job LISTENED, and then he answered by humbling himself (causing himself to come back under the Lord's authority and rule) and repents in dust and ashes. He saw his own unworthiness and sinfulness compared to a holy and righteous God. Maybe the dust signified that he felt lower than the dust... and the ashes meant maybe meant he saw his own humanness next to the Awesome, Incomparable God of the Universe. Regardless of what these meant, this was a HEART-FELT repentance. There was sorrow and grief involved. I'm sure there were tears when he realized who/what he had become. Not tears of self-pity, but tears of a sorrowful heart that knew he was holy ground and that only God was all-together holy and to be revered. There was a holy reverence for God. Job vacated the throne of his own heart and was asking God to take that place of honor inside.

I believe the Lord was right beside him the whole time he was in that grief and repentance, just as he has been/is/will be with us when we realize(d) the extent to which we have fallen and truly from the heart repent and turn from our sin.

Then He blesses us.... maybe not with material possessions (but maybe so) - but for sure with peace, joy, that fresh and cleanness inside and out. We can't help but praise Him... this is what He wants. Relationship restored. He wants his son - His daughter to come back home so He can gather them up in His arms and hold them close to His heart.

I know that's where I want to be... how about you?

Undo - Rush of Fools

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

02-25-13 Repentance and Brokeness

Psalm 31:17 "My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise."

Isaiah 57:15 "For this is what the high and exalted One says—he who lives forever, whose name is holy: “I live in a high and holy place, but also with the one who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite."

At some point or another, I'm 99% sure that most of us have seen our hearts as the above picture depicts. Borken, tattered, pierced through, shattered. Sometimes a kind word or a 'bandaid' helped. Sometimes there actually needed to be some intense work of the Holy Spirit to stitch the Love of God over through and over a gaping wound. Sometimes, it cracks right down the middle and we feel like it's breaking in two - emotions go flying love/hate - kindness/bitterness, etc. The wound may be fresh and very fragile because the would just occurred or it was just uncovered from a long time ago or we remember something that we did and that caused the crack to form. We don't think we can let anyone touch it because we just know it will totally breaking apart. So, maybe we isolate or put on one of those fake smiles when we're around people. But God.... He knows.

We may not want anyone to get near 'that' place, yet Isaiah says that God is with those of a broken and contrite heart. He's not standing in the shadows. He's WITH us.

Now, I know we all understand what 'broken' means. We've probably broken something in our lives - a dish - a cup - a bone - etc....

I've read this verse, quoted this verse and never looked up the word contrite... just figured it had something to do with being broken. So, since I do like dictionaries and finding out what anything means, I looked these too words up.

It says the following in Merriam-Websters on-line dictionary (yeah, I got a little lazy):

Broken: 1. violently separated into parts : shattered.

Contrite: 2. feeling or showing sorrow and remorse for a sin or shortcoming.

When we repent of our wrongs, our hearts break when the Lord allows us to see His broken heart that was so full of love for us that He poured out everything He had so that we wouldn't be in bondage to anything or enter into sin in some other way. He had a violent ending to His life, so when our hearts are full or sorrow or remorse over something the Lord has shown us as sin, it feels like our hearts are shattered.

I'm talking about willful sins and also when something has been done against us and we REACT in a sinful way. We don't repent of the wrong done to us, we only repent of any sin we may have enter into afterwards.

For instances like these above, it requires trusting Jesus, that He is not going to condemn you and He is not going to hurt you further. He wants to forgive and heal. It's good to have someone else with you, if needed. That requires a whole LOT of trust and, yeah, I know, we can't/won't let ourselves 'go there' sometimes- we don't want feel the pain. But if we let pain, disappointment, sadness, bitterness or hate take root (whether against others or against ourselves) - our hearts most likely will become infected. It may just get to the point where the infection is so deep, we will either die (spiritually, emotionally, mentally - sometimes even physically) or it forces us to seek help.

We'll be discussing these further during this week. For now, let the Lord being to soften the soil of your heart so that He can extend His grace and mercy to you.

Let it Rain - Michael W. Smith

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ucWK6fkGsAE

02-23-13 Sin and The Wilderness

Luke 4:1-13 "Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry. The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.” Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone.’ ” The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. And he said to him, “I will give you all their authority and splendor; it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. If you worship me, it will all be yours.” Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.’ ” The devil led him to Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down from here. For it is written: “ ‘He will command his angels concerning you to guard you carefully; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’ ” Jesus answered, “It is said: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’ ” When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time.

Don't know, but I think ending the Sin week (now THAT didn't sound right) - this portion of scripture just can't be left out.

I read this version and the version in Matthew 4... very similiar - also kind of odd that they're both in Chapter 4 of the respective books. I read this one slowly and actually learned a thing or two. So many times, we read scripture and either are in a hurry or just want to get it over with or maybe the Holy Spirit just doesn't really doesn't seem to illuminate anything in that particular one - maybe because we didn't ask.... just sayin ;) It is a great idea to ask the Holy Spirit to let you see with His eyes what Father is wanting you to know in that portion of His Word. Remember all scripture is God-breathed (2 Timothy 3:16)... meaning it is the very essence of LIFE (Judy G - pun intended).

I highlighted some phrases that the Holy Spirit shone His Light on to me.

The first thing I noticed was that Jesus was FILLED with the Spirit. He kept His spiritual tank filled up with the highest 'octane' fuel imaginable (even higher than hydrogen - of course... He did make the components of hydrogen... oh, never mind). I imagine He kept filled up the same ways we would; prayer, listening to Father, reading the Word (huh, even the Old Testament...). He never ran on empty.... hoping to make it to the next town. Just as we need to stay filled up, especially on this long trip of life, because we never know when we're going to be stuck in in the middle of nowhere, the needle's in the red and we don't see any sign of fuel (fumes only last so long)!

Jesus was LED by the Spirit INTO the middle of nowhere. I don't think He just went waltzing in not knowing what He was getting Himself into. For one, He was determined to fast... for forty days. People just don't usually do that for the fun of it - or just because they want to. They have to be LED by the Spirit to do that. Just like in my my illustration above, if a person fasts for that long, they need to have their spiritual tanks filled to the brim... forget the little sign that says 'do not top off'. That person better be topped off with the Spirit... because the Holy Spirit is what is going to fuel them.

I never noticed before that Luke says that Jesus was tempted FOR FORTY DAYS. Wow. I really thought since only three temptations were recorded that he was only tempted those three times. That's not what I just read. Think about this... what if, during those forty days, He was tempted in ALL ways like we are / have been / ever will be tempted (Hebrews 4:15)? He must not have just been physically hungry, but emotionally and mentally tired when these last three temptations came at him.

I tried to fast for 40 days once (notice that I said 'I' - 'I' wasn't led by the Spirit, but I did want to do it just to draw closer to God. I did closer to God, but not as close as I needed to. He showed me the error of my ways - and the pride that I had in my heart because 'I' was trying to do something and wasn't resting in the Lord like I should have been. About day 36, I started to go into starvation mode. THAT was not what I intended. Drinking sips of Gatorade and eating baby food and crackers for the next week or so, was a bit embarrassing (except I really liked the green beans and banana).... It was tiring. I can't imagine going through a 40 day fast AND being tempted - by several things possibly every day!

As for the last three temptations - I see and probably read somewhere that they are likened to I John 2:16 "For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world." The lust of the flesh - food. The lust of the eyes - everything in the world. The pride of life - listening to the enemy and thinking God will save Him, because after all He IS the Son of God. Sort of premeditated or presumptuous acts when not consulting with Father.

Each time, He came back with 'It is written' or 'It is said'... He spoke the Truth of God that was hidden in His heart to combat the devil's tricks and schemes to get Him to fall. This is why the Word of God is so important. Why we may not know the chapter and verse or even the book that a particular scripture is in, but that we start to learn and meditate and memorize the portions that the Lord leads us to. Then when we are tempted... to SPEAK it outloud against the temptation. Read Isaiah 55:10-11. His Word spoken out does not return empty, but accomplishes what He says it will do.

Lastly, satan didn't just tempt His during this one space of time. Luke says that he just went away until another opportunity to tempt Him presented itself. He need to always be on guard against the enemy's tricks. So, I'll leave you today with one last verse... I Peter 5:8 "Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." Know that our Father has you in the palm of His hand, but stay aware of your spiritual surroundings.

Temptation of Christ - Desert Voice by Eric Becker

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=phiVW2ycgWU

02-22-13 Sin and The Word Of God

James 1:19-25 "My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.  Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do."

Wow.... I shutter to think how many times I've open my mouth to speak without REALLY listening to the other person... and most of the time, it was in anger. Then when I actually listen to the what the other person is trying to say, I have to apologize (open mouth, insert foot - because I just became a heel). The fruits of the Spirit are what? Oh, love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. "WHAT!! But, You don't know what they did or said to me, God!! They deserved all of that and them some. You expect me to just take that crap from someone without fighting back???" And the Lord comes back with, "I did." Oh.....

So what Father wants is for us to empty ourselves of all the junk we've been carrying around with us all our lives - 'get rid of the moral filth and the evil' that's inside of you. Why would we WANT to keep that stuff anyway? For protection, for self-medicating, for our own comfort.... for what?? The Lord has been planting His Word in us from the moment we started reading His Word and listening to Him. Those seeds are GROWING into beautiful plants and all that other stuff is going to have to go somewhere... it might as well be out! If not, all that junk will begin to choke out the beauty that God has already given us.

Is it scary. Yep. Some of us have carried things for so long, we think it's who we are.... those things have just become a part of us like our eyes and hands are a part of us. "Well, what is it going look like if I give Him these things? Who am I going to be? What will happen to me... the emptiness, the confusion - it will overwhelm me and I won't be able to handle it." Jesus says, "You can do ALL things through ME - because I am strengthening YOU (Philippians 4:13) for such a time as this (Esther 4:14). You are not alone (Hebrews 13:5). I will not leave you comfortless (Isaiah 66:13). You will be filled with ME (Ephesians 5:18). You will have MY mind (I Corinthians 2:16 YOU are MORE than a conqueror through ME (Romans 8:37)!"

Well, alrighty then. That about sums it up.

Our God is FOR us, not against us. Read His Word, but don't just do it 'because I have to do my devotions' :) Do it because you want to learn more about how we're supposed to live out this new life that God has put in us through Jesus. Do what He says to do. Don't do what He says not to do. His Words are ALIVE and bring FREEDOM.

For Such A Time As This - Wayne Watson

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LXcJUIAJNW0

02-21-13 Sin - Mind Games

James 1:13-15 "When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death."

So, ok then. God doesn't to sin. He may give us a test or quiz now and then (what good teacher) wouldn't? During those times, He just wants to make sure not only that we have been through training (by reading the Bible, praying, listening to Him), but that we understand and are effectively competent to put into practice what we've learned. Part of my work responsibilites is training/teaching, so I not only want the people to sit through my training and take a little quiz and then forget everything I've said, I want to know if they really 'get it'. In training there are three type of participants, the captives (who have to be there), the vacationer (who just wants to get out of a few hours or a days work), and the absorber (the one who wants to understand and learn a certain skill or idea). God wants absorbers - that we would take His Word - His Presence in like a sponge and apply to our own lives, then give it away to others.

How are we tempted to sin? THAT would be satan's job. But that's not exactly correct.... we have a part to play in it. See, if I didn't like ice cream (not saying I don't like ice cream), but if I didn't like ice cream, satan couldn't tempt me with eating too much ice cream. He can only tempt us in the areas of our weaknesses. I'm saying we haven't overcome them or that the Lord can't or hasn't freed us from certain sins, so they are no longer a temptation.... for now. He tries to trip us up in areas that we are in process of overcoming or have already overcome. Take for example.... ok, me... I quit smoking 6 years ago in a couple months. Every once in a while, I'll smell a unlit cigarette (because they smell the best) - and no one will be around me smoking. I will have this little twinge inside that says, 'Go ahead, have one.' Now, also be an aspiring long-distance runner. I'm not going to do it no matter how mad, glad, sad or afraid (or hungry, angry, lonely or tired) I am. I know I don't want a cigarette, but he still tries to tempt me... to coin a term 'silly rabbit'.

Remember, though what I said a couple days ago... it's only sin, if the Lord is convicting us not the enemy condemning us (or I said something like that.

We're tempted when we dwell just a little too long on the enemy suggestion to sin (yep, starts in the mind - which can be satan's playground). We are enticed, which means that our eyes are taken off of Jesus and onto (usually) a former idol and dragged away by it. After that desire takes over, the enemy takes the sin and implants it into our souls - like a spade thrust into the ground. We go through with that desire (aka. sin). If we continue in that sin, it brings the death and darkenss of satan's clan to a part of us that once held the Life and Light of Jesus by the power of His Holy Spirit.

I Corinthians 10:13 (Italics mine) "No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind (ie. you're not alone). And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear (just a little catch here, it's what He knows you can bear). But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can endure it."

That way out may be calling someone, praying, reading the Word, putting on some praise and worship music, running down the street screaming like a wild person (ok, maybe not the last one - but I have felt like that many times). But if I do want to scream, I can get mad at the enemy and yell at him all I want.... telling it exactly where to go and exactly where I'm NOT going - with him. I already have a Master, thank you very much!

I know sometimes the pull is really, really strong - but we are overcomers - we are born of God - we don't have to be slaves to sin any longer - we bow down to one Master as Lord and King of our Lives - Jesus, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

Stand Your Ground - Joe King (IMHO Really Cool Singer ;)

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

02-20-13 Sin - Perserverance

James 1:12 "Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him."

Odd, how God changes our mind at the last minute about what He wants us to say or do.... like today....

Yesterday, we were studying how faith develops perseverance in us. In verses 6-8, James talks about asking God for wisdom to walk in the way of the Lord. When we ask, to not doubt - there are two sins that it seems all other sins hinge upon; one is unbelief and the other is pride. If we doubt God is some areas and have strong faith in others, we are divided... we are double-minded in out trust in Him. Thus, we our lives become unstable - like plumb line swinging back and forth between pride and unbelief. Pride in that we think we know better than God and hold onto our sin (whether it's murder or self-hatred or lying or whatever). Unbelief because we just can't seem to trust that God is for us and our greater good. No, that's not entirely right - it's not that we can't trust Him, we WON'T trust Him.

Maybe we've been hurt once too many times in certain areas that, we just won't open ourselves up again. Maybe we become angry as a self-protection so that we won't be able to receive what He wants to give us. Maybe we hurt so much that all of our sin and/or emotions (anger, hatred, rage, malice, sadness, self-pity and a slew of others, including sin) seem to be balled up in one big ball of rubber-bands that seems like it would take forever to unravel. I'm not about the kind of colorful rubber-band ball we can find at the store, but what we find when we take apart a golf ball - the bland greyish brown rubber-bands).

The Bible says that the Word is a two-edged sword. In Hebrews 4:12, God says, "For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart."

I take this two ways:

One, while talking about the armor of God, Ephesians 6 says that "the sword of the Spirit is the Word of God."

Two, John 1 says the Word of God was/is Jesus. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning."

Who is 'He'? Jesus. I my imagination, I see Him taking His Sword and cutting right down the middle of that ball of rubber-bands - and pieces go flying everywhere. I think sometimes, He does do that, but times than not, He gently slices through a few at a time. This is where perseverance comes in and patience with the process, with God and with ourselves. Once He gets through all the 'rubber-bands', guess what He finds? A hard core that all of the rubber-bands were wrapped around. This could be a stronghold, a vow, a demonic influence, a hardened heart, lies that we've believed all our lives, the core trauma. All the rubber-bands were just 'protecting' the core.

The trial in this case going through the temptation to isolate, to medicate, to fight the Lord - the process - those who genuinely are trying to help, to get as far away from our Father, from Jesus - from whatever we THINK is causing us pain right now. The rubber-bands breaking and exposing the vulnerable core only happens if we say yes to freedom, if we want freedom there is a price to pay. To allow the Lord the room to work out of us what and who REALLY caused the pain and to heal and make whole. Standing doesn't mean we always have to be strong and tough, standing sometimes means letting others in and around us to be the Body of Christ in flesh... and to listen to the Lord as transforms that ugly scarred core (like we find in the golf ball - because it does have all the lines from the rubber-bands on it) and turns it into what He originally intended it to look like - filling in those scars with different colors and making us into beautiful brides of Christ.

THAT is 'the crown of Life that the Lord has promised to those who love Him.'

Persevere, my friends - please persevere - through the sin and all that the sin covered up. There's freedom on the other side.

Dear X (You Don't Own Me) - Disciple

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

Hold Fast - MercyMe

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uWejcH0JWTc