Today I was at Recovery at the Village and Michelle, my love, is in Chicago. It was a day for testimony, and the gentleman speaking spoke of how his sin was a result of a deceptive heart, but that the Lord is into changing hearts!
I was amazed to recognize the common thread woven through folks, myself being one of them, who suffer the consequences of repetitive sin. There is such personal disgrace one goes through in dealing with their choices, whatever the flavor of the sin, when it is unconfessed and hidden through a “double” life. I somehow believed enduring years of shame in order to hide my “addiction” was a better alternative to seeking help through a community of believers, the church. We as believers need to make others aware of our struggles, and share our burdens as the Lord intended His church to do. Galatians 6:2-3 says “Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.” Am I helping or hindering a brother by “appearing” to be the “good” believer?
I am amazed at how the Lord has softened my heart towards the sinner, because I now recognize the undeserving grace that He has shown me. We as the church need to have a passion for those who choose to continue down the path of separation from their loving God in hopes of satisfying their desires with creation, instead of being fulfilled by the Creator.
It has been going on since the dawn of creation, the desire to sin. Even Psalm 106:20-21 says “Thus they exchanged their glory for the image of an ox that eats grass. They forgot God their Savior.”
Is it that I forget my God my Savior, or that I choose to do something that does not bring glory to Him. Sin is a choice, and I need to recognize it as that. Am I going to choose to give up my glory in exchange for an image of an ox – moooo – seems extremely jacked up when I think of it in those terms!!!
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
My Faith
Last night I read a blog of a friend who I consider a great mentor to a great many people and to me. It had to do with Faith and works, and it’s been on my mind a lot, though I choose today to only write about the Faith part.
It all started last week when I was playing softball, and after I hit the ball I started to sprint, yes I said started, and then it felt like my right calf had been hit harder than I had hit the ball! So after several days of recovery, I finally made an appointment with the Doc to have it checked out.
I began to wonder, what if I had the faith to pray and my leg would be healed, but 1Cor 12:7-9 says “But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit.” And in verse 11 “But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills.” It is so easy for me to doubt my faith when I pray for healing, and it doesn’t happen before my eyes. Healing is a gift of the Spirit given to whom He sees fit. I need not question my faith, just because I don’t have this or that gift according to MY will.
There is one item of Faith, though, that I know to have eternal consequence. And that is “do I believe that Christ is the Messiah” no matter what my situation. Whether I am walking with or without a limp, whether my sick leave is used up and I run out of savings, whether I ever get to fly again for a living for whatever reason, do I believe that the God of the universe sent His Son to die on the cross so that I could have a personal relationship with Him now and for eternity. And the answer is…absolutely, positively, YESSSSSSSSSS!
I believe the scriptures are the living Word of God: that Christ prayed for me as John 17:20 in the NLT says “I am praying not only for these disciples, but also for all who will ever believe in me because of their testimony.” That is you and me He’s praying for and I am amazed by it! And in John 20:29 Jesus said to Thomas, “Because you have seen Me, have you believed? Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed.” That is you and me too, praise the Lord! Christ said I am blessed!!!! My faith is in Him!!
So no matter what the circumstance, who is your faith in?
It all started last week when I was playing softball, and after I hit the ball I started to sprint, yes I said started, and then it felt like my right calf had been hit harder than I had hit the ball! So after several days of recovery, I finally made an appointment with the Doc to have it checked out.
I began to wonder, what if I had the faith to pray and my leg would be healed, but 1Cor 12:7-9 says “But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit.” And in verse 11 “But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills.” It is so easy for me to doubt my faith when I pray for healing, and it doesn’t happen before my eyes. Healing is a gift of the Spirit given to whom He sees fit. I need not question my faith, just because I don’t have this or that gift according to MY will.
There is one item of Faith, though, that I know to have eternal consequence. And that is “do I believe that Christ is the Messiah” no matter what my situation. Whether I am walking with or without a limp, whether my sick leave is used up and I run out of savings, whether I ever get to fly again for a living for whatever reason, do I believe that the God of the universe sent His Son to die on the cross so that I could have a personal relationship with Him now and for eternity. And the answer is…absolutely, positively, YESSSSSSSSSS!
I believe the scriptures are the living Word of God: that Christ prayed for me as John 17:20 in the NLT says “I am praying not only for these disciples, but also for all who will ever believe in me because of their testimony.” That is you and me He’s praying for and I am amazed by it! And in John 20:29 Jesus said to Thomas, “Because you have seen Me, have you believed? Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed.” That is you and me too, praise the Lord! Christ said I am blessed!!!! My faith is in Him!!
So no matter what the circumstance, who is your faith in?
Thursday, July 16, 2009
The Ladder
I woke the other morning with the thoughts of my past addictions; otherwise known as sins (Wonderful Counselor – Ab Abercrombie) I had grown accustomed to committing in order to satisfy my kingdom of self (Paul Trip). My heart grew so accustomed to them that it felt as if they were needs, though I am aware now of the condition of my spiritual heart driving those kinds of thoughts. SIDE NOTE I understand that after a time chemical addictions can turn in to physical needs and painful recoveries in order to come off of them, but thank God, I am only addressing mine, and my addictions hadn’t reached that level (alcohol), and lust of the flesh 1Jn 2:16.
It occurred to me that there is a path that the Lord desires for me to follow and Prov 4:25-27 says “Let your eyes look directly ahead and let your gaze be fixed straight in front of you. Watch the path of your feet and all your ways will be established. Do not turn to the right nor to the left: Turn your foot from evil.” On that path He desires for us, I will display the Fruits of the Spirit, Galatians 5:22, but on the path I chose away from His will, I display the deeds of the flesh, Gal 5:17.
In my minds eye, I see this as a ladder I am climbing while striving to be more like Christ. And on that climb, He will provide the things I need in order to be successful, as measured by Him, much different than worldly success. On each rung He provides the food I need, the air I breathe, and the heartbeat to keep this body going, and Godly counsel through His Word. But the problem is, there are things of the world that caught my eye, and at first they appeared to be close in and easy to grasp, but as the addiction deepened they got further and further away from the ladder, and I had to reach out so far to grab them, to satisfy my sinful nature, that eventually the Lord allowed me to fall off the ladder in my attempts to grab those objects that would never satisfy my sinful nature. And after the fall, I am able to see more clearly that He does provide all my needs and that keeping my eyes straight ahead and on Him is a better path, His path, not mine.
It occurred to me that there is a path that the Lord desires for me to follow and Prov 4:25-27 says “Let your eyes look directly ahead and let your gaze be fixed straight in front of you. Watch the path of your feet and all your ways will be established. Do not turn to the right nor to the left: Turn your foot from evil.” On that path He desires for us, I will display the Fruits of the Spirit, Galatians 5:22, but on the path I chose away from His will, I display the deeds of the flesh, Gal 5:17.
In my minds eye, I see this as a ladder I am climbing while striving to be more like Christ. And on that climb, He will provide the things I need in order to be successful, as measured by Him, much different than worldly success. On each rung He provides the food I need, the air I breathe, and the heartbeat to keep this body going, and Godly counsel through His Word. But the problem is, there are things of the world that caught my eye, and at first they appeared to be close in and easy to grasp, but as the addiction deepened they got further and further away from the ladder, and I had to reach out so far to grab them, to satisfy my sinful nature, that eventually the Lord allowed me to fall off the ladder in my attempts to grab those objects that would never satisfy my sinful nature. And after the fall, I am able to see more clearly that He does provide all my needs and that keeping my eyes straight ahead and on Him is a better path, His path, not mine.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
He knows my steps
Or as today would have it, He knows my swim. I was swimming out in the bay by my hotel and was amazed at God's creation, and it occurred to me that God knew I would take this swim today and see His glory in His creation. He knew I would see that hermit crab, which looks so tiny in that shell, and yet appears to be ten times bigger when it comes out. He knew I would see the little sting ray that made me nervous, thoughts of the Crocodile Hunter! And so many other fish that I am amazed to see in the “wild.” To know that God created those things for a purpose, and wonder, in awe, what that purpose might be! That He spoke the hermit crab into being, that He made the sting ray with His words. That He knew I would see them today, before I was born! Simply Amazing!
And then my mind went to deeper thoughts, no really, deeper thoughts, Ha! I felt more comfortable in the shallow water, like I had some kind of control over my safety as long as I didn’t get to deep. Christ is the Living Water, and I think about how often I want to stay in the shallow end, like I might have a little control over things in my life. Just think the vastness of the ocean if you just get out a little deeper, and can see all it has to offer. So why not do that with the Living Water! I need to get deeper to submerse myself in His Love, and trust that He will, and does protect me when I just have the faith to have a deeper relationship with Him.
Not all my thoughts for the day, but enough for my first attempt at a blog!
And then my mind went to deeper thoughts, no really, deeper thoughts, Ha! I felt more comfortable in the shallow water, like I had some kind of control over my safety as long as I didn’t get to deep. Christ is the Living Water, and I think about how often I want to stay in the shallow end, like I might have a little control over things in my life. Just think the vastness of the ocean if you just get out a little deeper, and can see all it has to offer. So why not do that with the Living Water! I need to get deeper to submerse myself in His Love, and trust that He will, and does protect me when I just have the faith to have a deeper relationship with Him.
Not all my thoughts for the day, but enough for my first attempt at a blog!
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