Faith... protecting us...

"In every situation take the shield of faith, and with it you will be able to extinguish the flaming arrows of the evil one."

Ephesians 6:16

Our faith, as we are learning, serves so many wonderful purposes.  And one of those that we have not yet touched on is how it protects us.  A dear friend of mine pointed this out to me the other day, and so I feel it appropriate to cover this topic today.

I can only speak to this from one place, and that is from personal experience.  I will make no claims as to having seen it all or knowing the journey of another in this sense, so please bear with me.  However, I think you'll be able to look back over your growth as a Christian, after hearing the way I see it, and be able to more clearly discern where your shield of faith has been of the most use.

Picture for me the old Roman guard, with their full-body shields that were made of iron and steel.  The thing was heavy, and it protected them from head to toe on one side, the side they used to push through the battle lines and to their objective.  This shield was, for all intents and purposes, impenetrable at the time.  It was the greatest piece of equipment that any foot soldier carried in battle on the front lines.  Now imagine if that shield were fully encompassing on both sides, as welll as the top and bottom, and just as impenetrable... but weighed nothing!

Our shield of faith is just that, friends.  It is an impregnable bubble that encompasses us, body and soul, and does not slow us down, but rather aides us in moving more quickly and safely through life.  We have no reason to fear with this shield around us, as it is the very power of God that engulfed us when we accepted Christ as Savior!  And it does stop those arrows from attacking us full force... if it didn't, we would have all given up by now.  

The arrows tell us we're not good enough and that we don't deserve to be blessed and that we have no expectation of joy, and they are all aflame with the hatred of the enemy.  But they are extinguished as they approach, and their lies become easily seen and read for what they are... LIES!  Some portion of it sticks on occasion, at least for me, but I believe this happens because I allow an opening for it.  I think my own humanity and arrogance trick me into opening my shield every now and again, and the arrow (at least it's not a flaming one) comes through and burdens me briefly.  I overcome, as we all do, but I have to remain vigilant to keep my focus sharp and my shield up at all times for this purpose.  (Hopefully I'm not the only one this happens to...)

Take a moment today to focus on the placement and strength of your shield of faith, and reflect on how it has helped to steer you and guide you... and protect you!  I would bet that if you look retrospectively at all the accomplishments you have made in life, you will find that there have been assaults against you, but you overcame each time!  And sometimes the shield is so strong that you don't even notice the assault, because it doesn't compare to the power surrounding you from God Himself.  Recognize this, give glory to Whom it belongs, and honor the Lord in doing so!

God bless you all!!!  

Faith... how big...

"For I assure you: If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will tell this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move.  Nothing will be impossible for you."

Matthew 17:20b

Have you ever seen a mustard seed?  Have you ever held one in your hand?  They're not much bigger than a large grain of sand, but when they take root, the growth of that one tiny seed is unbelievable.  The mustard plant is HUGE!  It's quite the reversal, I tell ya...

The smallest things really do matter, as I'm certain you already know.  To illustrate, let me tell you what happened to me one day as a kid.  I had a skateboard (like all my friends did), and I decided that I wanted to go riding in the street one day.  It was an average act on an average day.  Literally, nothing special was going on.  However, I was suddenly stopped by something so powerful that my board literally just froze underneath me... I, however, did not stop moving.  I flew.  And, in my opinion, I did a pretty decent Superman impression.  I landed and scraped my forehead, hands and knees, and was bleeding from everywhere.  It was not fun.  And my childhood friends back on East Street would agree that the picture of that moment was not a pleasant one.

But the thing that stuck out to me is what I ran into that caused the major change.  I thought for certain I had hit a boulder or a pothole that I failed to see.  But it was a pebble.  Actually, a piece of broken gravel.  It was so small, and it literally made me laugh to think about how something so very tiny and insignificant could stop a 13 year-old child on a board with four wheels, moving pretty quickly on a slight downward slope (and I was no small child, mind you).  I laughed all the way home, limping with my board in hand.  Then my amazing mom took care of me, and all was better... one of many times throughout my life, to be sure.  If you've ever ridden a skateboard, the same has happened to you at least once, and it was probably just as shocking.

Let's put that into this context now, and think about how the world openly attempts to run over us all.  The world challenges everything that Christians believe, telling us that there are multiple ways to Heaven and that we should not put all our faith in one basket, as it were.  It is a big, monstrous machine that never stops rolling... until my mustard seed gets under its wheel.  And I am one of many people who will proudly stand for Christ and proclaim with all my might that I shall NOT be moved. 

Christ tells the disciples (and us, too) that we can move mountains with our faith.  I would love to think that He means we can literally have Everest dance, but I imagine the abstract and parable-esque meaning is that we can surmount obstacles of any size when we use the faith we have inside us.  For some people, like me, it is simply a matter of seeing what is there in order to make it grow.

Take a moment today to ask Jesus to show you your mustard seed.  For some folks, just seeing the small amount of faith that is there can spark growth and inspiration.  From that growth comes the mustard plant, and then the faith that we all seek becomes a real and awesome feeling that we can no longer ignore.  It literally takes over for us, guiding us and directing us... and correcting us when we know we're wrong.  Look at your mustard seed today, and honor the Lord by letting it flourish to the fullest!

God bless you all!!!

Faith... in song...

"It doesn't matter what you've heard, "impossible" is not a word... it's just a reason for someone not to try."

~ From the song "What Faith Can Do" by Kutless

A friend posted this portion of this song a few days back on facebook, and I was posting one of my thoughts on faith at the exact same time.  I was moved instantly, and had to immediately sketch out something from it... because she and the writers/performers of this wisdom are absolutely correct.

Faith, as we've discussed, is what gives us the ability to see things that we wish to become.  When we look ahead on the road in life, we see what we wish ourselves to be through eyes of faith.  That same faith then propels us to grow and chase the dream.

And it should not be lost on anyone that the words from this line are true: the use of the word "impossible" in any given circumstance, whether in relational disagreements or personal achievements or growth or understanding or reconciliation or whatever, really is a form of cowardice that says to the audience, "I don't want to or don't care to try (whatever it is)."  Nothing is impossible when God is present... NOTHING!  All relationships can be restored, all problems can be solved, all disagreements can be put to rest, all mountains can be climbed and all valleys can be passed through.  There is nothing in the universe that God cannot accomplish, if we will allow Him to work in us.  And the only one I can work on is me... no one else.  I, for one, am willing to have Him work in me as much as is necessary so that I will, as we sang this morning, "love as He loves" no matter who it is that needs it.

Nothing at all is impossible with God in the picture.  Take time today to focus for a moment, quietly, and move back to the place where God is in your picture.  (Please acknowledge that if He is not currently in focus there, it was not Him that changed the lens settings, but you... He is, always was and always will be there and ready to do what He does best.)  Bring your focus back to where it should be, on an accountability to Him and to His Word, and honor the Lord as you eliminate the word "impossible" from your vocabulary, thanks to your blessed faith in God!

God bless you all!!! 

Faith... continued...

"We live by faith, not by sight."

2 Corinthinans 5:7

I will attempt to be brief today, but I can make no promises to that effect.  Consider yourself warned.  (Kidding, of course.)

We're getting into deep thoughts about faith, and about how faith exists and governs and flows through everything we do, say and everything we are.  And these words from Paul are but further proof that our faith is not just a decision we make.  It is, in fact, a way of life.

Faith is a part of me.  It is who I am.  And, as a fellow Christian, it is a part of who you are, as well.  This thing within us, our faith, is the guide-rope along our balance beam of life.  This faith that is in and around us is what forces our turns and twists along the road that we all travel. 

And even as my wife's choice of TV program says, we must "have a little faith" as we move forward.  They are discussing grief, and dealing with loss, but the statement is still a sound and relevant one.

And think about how bad things can be when you only look through your physical eyes.  The things we see are always skewed by our failures and our missteps and our short-comings.  But we have a better set of eyes to look through... and they come from within us!  

Take time today to focus on how your life has been turned by your faith; how you have "somehow" known when you needed to readjust your course.  And please, please, please realize that this is your faith, your Christianity, your very soul speaking to you and guiding you and aiding you in making decisions.  Relax a little, and let your faith help you to make decisions, and honor the Lord in this!

God bless you all!!! 

Friday's Proverb...

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding"

Proverbs 3:5

QBQ - How strong is my trust in God for His plans for my life?  Do I have enough faith to just follow Him?

Trust and faith are synonymous for how we should respond to the Lord, friends.  Take time today to focus on your reasonable and right response to Him, and honor the Lord by extending the very best of your faith!

May He bless you!!!

Faith... defined...

"Now faith is the reality of what is hoped for, the proof of what is not seen."

Hebrews 11:1

Yesterday we discussed how faith is a central component of our beliefs, and how it is faith that allows us to perform our works with the right spirit and heart attitude.  It is faith that brings us to the understanding of how to perform the works we eventually all come to perform, whether overt or covert.  But today, I want to take some time to discuss what faith is.

A friend of mine once read this entire chapter of Hebrews to our Sunday School class, highlighting the word "faith" each time he said it.  It was quite a powerful example of how important faith is, and I am thankful to this day for his recitation in that manner.  Better, though, is how God used my friend to show us the power and capability of faith in the life of a believer, both in that lesson and through his life to this day.

Think on this chapter today in your quiet time.  I know I usually only highlight a single verse, but this seems important today to read this whole passage and see what God can do through a person of faith.  Then take a look in the mirror and ask yourself if your faith is ready to be used by God for amazing things.  He doesn't do "average," you know?  So read it and reflect.

Also, we need to look into the fact that seeing is not believing... believing is seeing!  I, like you, have faith in the God who has everything in His hands, knows it all, has power to control it all, created it all.  I cannot see Him, per se, but I know He's there.  I don't need to look upon Him (no matter how much I may want to), because I KNOW He is present.  And the only assurance I have is from my faith, which grows ever stronger as I pursue my walk with Him. 

Focus today, and do what you can to strengthen your faith and enhance your ability to show it.  Don't think so much about becoming a Noah or a Moses, performing miracles and great feats by your faith, but rather pray to show honor and glory to the One who deserves our all... including and especially our faith!

God bless you all!!!

Faith...

"In the same way faith, if it doesn't have works, is dead by itself."

James 2:17

We're moving into what will probably be one of the larger topics in this study, and I'm taking no issue with starting with this particular Scripture.  So many people confuse this and miss the point of it, and it needs to be covered up front.  With this as a backdrop for all the rest of the similar passages to follow, we should be able to have a very heightened understanding.

We are saved by grace (Ephesians 2:8) and it is nothing we can ever earn.  It is grace that has done it, and our works, no matter how good or great or amazing or awesome will never get us to the place of "deserving" salvation.  No one on earth is good enough.  No group of people combined are good enough.  The whole of humanity, even if all doing one right thing at the same time, still could not possibly hope to attain this status.  We are simply not capable.  Yes, that includes you... just as it does me.

This verse does NOT advocate a works-based system for salvation.  Rather, it states that the works we do BECAUSE of our salvation will PROVE our intense faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.  Having faith is great... it is a central component to Christianity.  But you must DO something WITH your faith.  This could range from praying to preaching to writing to teaching to singing to leading to simply studying and staying true to yourself... but you cannot simply say "I have faith" and not prove it to the One in Whom you have it.  Please understand, I am NOT inciting that you bear proof for any person on earth... but God must know that you believe for real, and that means you must believe and then prove it for Him, and Him alone.

Take time today to think about how you are doing works that prove your faith.  How do you show your faithfulness through your actions and deeds?  Please know that it won't save you to do the works... but it will certainly feel better than you can imagine to do the works for the right reasons, knowing that your fruit will show through them!

God bless you all!!!

Goodness... forever...

"Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever."

Psalm 23:6

For those of you close to me, you know that I wrote an extensive work on this particular Psalm.  And it culminates with this verse, just as this portion of our study does.  There is no better way to complete this set of thoughts on goodness than with this verse.

His goodness is all we can talk about, because we have none apart from Him.  And it will be His goodness that follows us and chases us all the days of our lives.  And because it chases us so fervently, we must be forced to ask ourselves another introspective question.  Why are we running from it?

Frankly, I don't think we can help it.  We see something and think it is too good to be true or it must have a catch or there must be something wrong with our sight if it looks that good, and so we run away from it... but it chases  after us.  And it does so because He loves us.  Oh, how He loves us.  He loves us so very powerfully and so very deeply, all from the place of His goodness. 

Stop running, friend... let it catch you today and every day, and realize that God has nothing but the best in store for all of us.  Be enveloped by His goodness, share that truth with all you encounter, and honor the Lord in this!

God bless you all!!!

Sunday's thought...

Father's Day has come upon us all, once again, and the memories of those we have lost are fresh in the minds of all who no longer have a man to call "dad."  Those men, throughout time, have helped to shape us into the people we are, even from across great distances of time and space, and their memories are worth preserving and honoring.  It is for those fathers who have passed away that I ask that we all take a moment today to thank God for placing these men in our lives, regardless of the capacity they fulfilled or how long they were around.  Something was learned, and we need to ensure it is not forgotten.

And for the fathers still here, like myself, I would ask that we remember that this day is intended to honor us... but already have the greatest honor we could ever have asked for, in that we have the ability to be called "dad."  There is no sound sweeter than to hear my children speak to me and call me whatever form of the name they choose in that moment, be it dad or daddy or dada.  I know that every father who reads this will agree with me on that point, and we need to never lose sight of just how awesome a responsibility it is to have these children that God has blessed us with.  I admonish the fathers today, myself included, to pray for a better walk and ability to be an amazing dad to our children.

And for us all, I ask that we all take a moment to realize that without The Father, none of us would be here.  So amid the celebration of your own dad today, please take time to give thanks for the Father of all creation, God the Father.  He began everything, including all of our families... and He deserves our respect, admiration, love, reverential awe and worship.

God bless you all!!!

Goodness... the finer point of it...

"But you, Sovereign LORD, help me for your name’s sake; out of the goodness of your love, deliver me."

Psalm 109:21

When was the last time you were delivered from a trial of any kind?  Can you recall how it felt to be within that trial, regardless of whether or not you believe you deserved to go through it?  (By the way, if you went through it, you did deserve it.)  Better still, can you recall the feeling of elation that existed when you were delivered from it?  I'm about to deflate that a little for you, so please prepare yourself.

God didn't save you from that or deliver you through it because of anything you did.  It has nothing to do with you at all.  It has to do with how good He is, and nothing else.  He saves and delivers and vindicates and exalts ONLY to further the goodness of His name, and we need to grasp that as truth and accept it completely.  Because, in reality, we are not worth saving, by His standards... it is only through Christ that we are worthy to call upon Him and commune with Him.

The people in the Book of Ezekiel were told many times by their watchman that God would spare a remnant, but it was not for their sake.  It was for the sake of the good name of God, and that it not be besmirched in any way that He would forever keep His covenant to Abraham.  The people did NOT deserve it, but a few were spared each and every time disaster struck.  The chosen people remained on Earth because God said they would, not because they had any right or claim to be there.

Take a moment today to reflect introspectively about the trials you have faced and are facing now.  Look closely to see if you can pin-point the Hand of God lifting you from it or pushing you through it, and realize that you will be delivered in some form from it... but it will only be because you are covered by the Blood, and it has nothing to do with you.  It is literally all about God and His goodness. 

God bless you all!!!

Goodness...

"What shall I return to the LORD for all his goodness to me?"

Psalm 116:12

Moving forward, we come to the next portion of the study in goodness.  And my goodness, there is a lot on goodness in the Bible!  You wanna guess why?  I'll give you a hint: it's because God is full of GOODNESS!!!

Many people make the common mistake of believing that we are "good people who occasionally do bad things."  However, as my Senior Pastor pointed out so accurately, we are actually and factually "bad people who occasionally do good things."  Only God is good.  Only God can be good.  We are not capable of sustaining that, and we need to come to grips with that truth.

So what shall we return to the Lord, as the verse above asks?  We know that we are not good, but can sometimes muster a good thing, and we know that our works did not, will not and can not save us.  But just because we cannot be saved by good works does not mean we should ignore the opportunity to do them.  Let me be crystal clear: we are saved through GRACE, and GRACE ALONE, and nothing we can ever do will put us to the status of "deserving" His favor or patience or grace or love... salvation is a gift.  But we should not squander it.  Therefore, we should aim to do MORE good things, and do them to prove our faith.  James says that "faith without works is dead," and this is so true.  We have to show people through our works what our faith speaks into our hearts.  Our works PROVE our faith and salvation, not the other way around.

Decide today to give more goodness back to the Lord, and do so in whatever capacity you are able.  Some will give money, some will give time, some will ramble endlessly hoping that someone will hear (or read) their thoughts... but give something good to those around you, even if only a kind smile.  Share the goodness that has been imparted to you, and do so for the Lord and for Him alone.

God bless you all!!!

Friday's Proverb...

"Never let loyalty and kindness leave you! Tie them around your neck as a reminder. Write them deep within your heart."

Proverbs 3:3

QBQ - Is my kindness written deep in my heart?  Does it show from the inside out, as it should?

As we've read all week, our kindness should shine for all to see.  We should wrap ourselves in it, keep it prevalent and visible for all, and never, EVER lose sight of the fact that we show kindness because kindness was shown to us when we did not deserve it.  Stand up for that today!

May He bless you!!!

Kindness... in closing...

"The Lord is righteous in everything he does; he is filled with kindness."

Psalm 145:17

We will close on this in the same place we started, with God's amazing kindness.  It says He is "filled" with it, and that everything He does is "righteous."  This, in case you didn't already know, is absolutely correct!

And as followers, we should attempt to follow this, just as we should with everything we have looked into thus far.  Wouldn't it be great to do everything you already will do, and know that it was the right and righteous thing to do, and you did it with kindness?  How much better would you sleep at night knowing you were kind, and not mean or rude or short or any of the other words we use to describe a lack of patient kindness?

I struggle HEAVILY in this area, as my family and friends would attest (if they were being completely honest and not sparing my feelings).  I am quick to respond, usually with a less-than-positive sounding tone.  It is not meant to be unkind, and not intended that way at all, but it "seems" that way to some.  I fight it at home; I fight it at work; I fight it at church; it is my single greatest personality flaw.  And it is one of the key reasons I started this study; I desire to better this in me, and I know that I can, by the strength and grace of God. 

Closing this portion is difficult, as I really enjoy reading about how kind God has been to me.  And then I further enjoy the exercise of putting that same kindness on display for others.  So I will ask that not just today, but from now on, we all keep kindness as a close companion.  Turn to the softer response in all situations, and show God's kindness in you and through you to all you encounter, and honor the Lord in doing so!

God bless you all!!!

Kindness... what not to do...

"As God’s partners, we beg you not to accept this marvelous gift of God’s kindness and then ignore it."

2 Corinthians 6:1

Have you ever given someone a gift that they just adored?  They had an absolute fit over it, because it was the perfect thing, exactly what they wanted, precisely what they needed.  You could not possibly have done better with this gift for this person on this occasion.  Ever been there?  Better yet, have you ever received that gift?  (Trick question, kids... don't answer that one, because you know you have, as a Christian.)

But have you ever given a gift that was not "all the rage" for the recipient?  The average response, the slow thanks, the confused look upon the face of the person opening it and the silence all add up to the truth that this gift is not what they either expected or wanted... or perhaps they don't realize that they need it.  And so it gets ignored, and your feelings on this matter, in this moment are quite strong.  It's a tad embarrassing, honestly.

We have been given a gift of kindness that we did not deserve.  And I know that I do my fair share and then some of squandering that gift at times, as I show my humanity to others in my reactions and responses.  Do you?  Let's all take a moment today and purposefully not ignore the gift that we have been given.  Make a concerted effort to show kindness today, and honor the Lord in doing so!

God bless you all!!!

Kindness... some more...

"Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience."

Colossians 3:12 (Emphasis added)

If this doesn't say it all, then I don't know what will.  We've covered God's kindness to us, and it is vast.  But now we must look to the kindness we need to show to each other, and this verse, I believe, is the best way to discuss that point.

Paul tells the church at Colossae that they must "clothe" themselves in this and other traits.  They literally need to put it on, like a coat, and have it visible and present for all to see.  Equally important is the fact that they must have it wrapped around themselves, ensuring their own emotions and instant reactions and humanity don't hinder the spreading of the Word and the Way.

Think about that for a second: we're always fighting the urges of the flesh.  So cover your flesh, all of it, with kindness and don't let your flesh show to others.  If your flesh cannot get loose to cause the problems, then your problems just might seem a little less frightening.  (I just love the way Paul uses metaphors!)

Take a moment today to reflect on how you can cover your flesh with a cloak of kindness.  Cover up and respond first with the kindness that you show to others.  Some things are still going to agitate the flesh, for certain... but how we respond to those things, and whether we show and use that kindness cloak will determine our effectiveness as witnesses!  Show what you know, and honor the Lord in doing so!

God bless you all!!!

Kindness... continued...

"For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God, with undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins."

Romans 3:23-24

I'm going to be brief again today, because I think that the verse says all that is needed for this point.  Although we should take special note that this particular verse does not say that only a few have fallen short, or that there are some who are not in need of His kindness... it says ALL, which does include you and me. 

Good news side of that, though, is that God is kind.  It says that He gave us "undeserved kindness" by sending Christ to us.  Put simply, this means that we are saved by grace, not works, and there is nothing we could ever do to earn the kindness that has been shown to us by the Father.  And that includes works we do alone and works we come together to perform as a group... we cannot now and never will be able to attain the level of "deserving" His kindness and mercy and love.  Period.

So, as we are to model this kindness to show Christ to others and show the fruit of the Spirit alive in us, I'll ask again today that you find someone who needs kindness, and show it to them.  Please notice, I didn't say someone who "deserves" it, I said someone who "needs" it: that is what happened for us through Christ, not the other way around.  And in showing this kindness, bring honor to the Lord today!

God bless you all!!!

Kindness... from God...

"He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins. He has showered his kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding."

Ephesians 1:7-8

I have attempted to be patient with this next passage, and have found peace in doing so.  Now it is with joy that I can share the depth of the love God has for us in His unyielding kindness.  (You like the throwbacks to the previous fruits there?  All ties together, folks... don't forget that.)

As we move into kindness for our next portion of this study, we should first look at how God is kind to us.  There won't be a ton of extrapolation on this, as it is certainly not necessary when you read things like this passage from Ephesians.  The verse describes Him as being "so rich" in kindness.  Not just rich, but "so rich" in this attribute He shows to us.  His wealth of kindness, to put it another way, overflows onto and into us all (and please understand, when I say all I mean ALL) without ceasing or diminishing... He's that kind.

And given His level of patience, as we discussed in the last portion of that fruit, we are blessed that His patience and kindness work together.  I know plenty of people who are patient, but not kind.  They wait and wait and wait, and when their turn comes to speak or act, malice and vengance is all they portray.  They are not kind.  But God is.

Take a moment today to think about one person you could show more kindness to.  Contact that one person and share a kind word.  And, as we studied in the first part of this conglomerate, be certain you share this kind word with ABSOLUTELY NO EXPECTATIONS AT ALL.  Do it because it's the kind thing to do, look for nothing in return, and honor the Lord in this!

God bless you all!!!

Patience... at peace...

"The Lord does not delay His promise, as some understand delay, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance."

2 Peter 3:9

Yeah... we've been busy talking about how we should be patient, and I tried twice to close this portion of the study but couldn't, and it has to do with the fact that I had not yet discussed how God is patient.  He is patient with us... all of us. 

Have you ever thought about that?  Imagine if one of your friends or family acted towards you the way we all DO (tough to admit, but deep down we all know it's the truth) act towards God a lot of the time.  How would that make you feel?  I'm not gathering a warm and fuzzy vibe over here, and I'm betting the same is true for you.  But God loves us through it, over and over and over and over and over again.  He is patient with us.

We (humanity) were created by Him, for Him, and we turned our back on a simple instruction, and yet His patience held.  We made Him so furious that He washed the planet clean of most, but for the future a faithful few were spared, and His patience held.  We longed and yearned for the Messiah, crying out that God had abandoned us... and we sought idols and false gods, distorting the Law, and His patience held.  We begged for prophets, then cast them out, one by one, as we did not like what they had to say, and His patience held.  We murdered, we coveted, we stole, we lied, we cheated, we openly turned our back on Him to try and make it our own way, and His patience held.  We found His Son, learned from Him, and then crucified Him to keep our status quo, and His patience held.  We heard and saw the resurrected Christ, received the Spirit and converted thousands, but still tried to hide sin in our hearts, and His patience held.  We formed new nations and new governments, all the while patting ourselves on the back for our genius and ingenuity, while only some gave credit to God where it belongs, and His patience held.  We broke vows and promises and covenants and traditions and patterns of faith to assuage our "modern society," and His patience held.  We, the human race in total, are wretched, fickle, faulty, filthy, failed things, and if any one of us were actually in charge, we would call forth another flood and spare no one... except, of course, our own person... but we are not in charge, and His patience still holds.  I'm gonna repeat that last part for you: WE ARE NOT IN CHARGE, AND HIS PATIENCE STILL HOLDS!

Take a moment today to think about how patient God has been with you.  If you are like me, you will probably work your way to tears as you think of all the times you have wronged the One who does no wrong.  It will humble you, as it does me, to realize that we really are less than not capable of even hoping to be beneath unworthy of seeking even the smallest momentary glimpse of His shadow... yet His patience was such that He came back to save us and free us and wash us clean through the death of His Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ.  So be patient today, more than you have ever been, and honor the Lord in this!

God bless you all!!!

Patience... still...

"May you be strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for all endurance and patience, with joy..."

Colossians 1:11

I find it personally humorous that I have been unable to post until now today, due to some network issues at my home.  It forced me to have patience with this thought.  And I'm quite glad.

Because in all the round and round we've done on patience and what it means, we have failed to discuss what it brings.  And this segment of a statement from Paul tells us clearly, this practice of patience brings forth strength and power from God himself.

So as I attempt to come to the real close of patience (seriously), I would ask that you all focus on what patience and the increase of it has brought you.  If you feel stonger, recognize that this is a blessing from God, and honor the Lord in using that strength to further His kingdom!

God bless you all!!!

Patience... yet again...

"He must increase, but I must decrease."

John 3:30

Another part of the journey of patience is reminding myself of my place.  I wear a bracelet from the organization "I Am Second" to aid in this practice.  He does, and must continue to come first... always.

The Word tells us so many stories of those who put God and Jesus first, and what outcomes they had.  All of them are amazing, which is why their stories were passed down to us through the centuries, but the thing that is not mentioned is the time leading up to the great story part.  There was patience involved, and the sowing of that patience and focus and dedication allowed for the reaping of greater fruit.  Moses, David, Nehemiah, Ezekiel, Paul, Timothy... Jesus... they all had patience.  We must endeavor to have it, too.

Take a minute today to put yourself in place behind Christ.  Let Him go before you in all things.  Pray before jumping into something.  Focus your heart and mind where they should be.  Dig deep for the patience you need to show true Christ-like calm in all situations, and honor the Lord in this!

God bless you all!!!

Patience... again...

"I am sure of this, that He who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."

Philippians 1:6

Okay, I know I said I was "closing" yesterday, but I realized last night that in my haste (irony, right!) I forgot to mention a few things.  This one, in particular, is important to say and important to hear... for me, at least.

We must remain patient for the fulfillment of what we are to become.  So many people, myself DEFINITELY included, have this "I wanna be the best thing I'll ever be right now immediately" mentality.  But we miss the point that each step on our journey betters us, because it is God who has laid this path in front of us.  The work begun in us is one that will be carried out, for sure, but we must endeavor to see where we are growing and improving.

The Amplified version says that this work will be brought "to a flourishing finish," and I really dig that translation.  A flourishing finish... like with jazz hands and fireworks and a long power chord with dissonance that resolves at the last moment in a massive fermata!  But we have to actually get there first.  You don't get to that chord and hear it with all its power unless you hear the whole song before it.  Without the progression, it is meaningless.

Take a moment today to reflect on where you are right now.  Look back to see what brought you here, and examine where the Hand of God caused a turn to bring you to this point.  Then know that He will continue, and that you must be patient to allow it to happen.  He said He will do it... so He will.  Believe that, and honor the Lord in this!

God bless you all!!!

Patience... in closing...

"But he who stands firm to the end will be saved."

Matthew 24:13

Patience is so difficult a thing, as we've said, given our world and the freedoms (or trappings) of modern technology.  Everything on earth... well, everything in America, at least... is always all about bigger, better, faster, more, More, MORE!!! 

Let's change that thought process, just for today.  Lets' take a moment, right now, wherever you are and whatever you're doing, to slow down.  Slow down and think of nothing at all.  Slow down to the pace of a crawl, mentally, and focus on nothing for just a few moments.  You will find it quite freeing, I believe.

And after you've done that, realize that we have all we "need" as supplied by God.  Everything else is a "want," and purely of the flesh.  But we are cared for and provided for, just as Jesus said we would be. 

So be patient.  Going faster only increases your propensity to miss warning signs and oncoming traffic.  So be patient.  Speeding gets you a ticket.  So be patient.  Not thinking things through brings more headache, heartache and grief than anything else.  So be patient. 

Encourage your own patience today by encouraging the patience of another.  Stand firm, all the way to the end, and honor the Lord in doing so!

God bless you all!!!

Patience... further...

"You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord's coming is near."

James 5:8

As we continue to examine patience (and oddly I am feeling like rushing through it in my flesh, but in my spirit I know I need to take heed of the whole process), we have to realize that words like the ones above from James are speaking to us, even today.

And even though we cannot know when the Lord will return, I would not want to be one of those left standing who wasn't ready... so I have to remain vigilant, and be prepared for it to happen at any given moment.  But I must also remember to remain patient, and not overly anxious for the Lord's return, as that creates another problem altogether. 

If one cannot control the anticipation, they may begin to grow overly excitable about things in the world, and they may begin to place deadlines on things and tell people that the end is near... like people have been saying since Jesus' time.  And none of them have been correct.  Not one.  Out of countelss trillions who have been born and have died before us, including those today who claim the world's end is right around the corner, not one has been right so far: betting odds are bad on those folks, I think.  So why would anyone continue trying to make God work on a human schedule?  Patience.

Take time today (because it's Sunday) to think about one aspect of your worship that could use more patience.  Do you rush through prayer?  Do you long for the chorus of a song, ignoring the words in the verse?  Do you wish for only the contemporary songs and ignore the hymns?  Do you pray for the sermon to get to the end point so you can get a donut or some more coffee?  Be patient within your own worship today, and honor the Lord through this!

God bless you all!!!

Sunday's thought...

"He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake."

Psalm 23:3b

I had someone ask me if it was me who writes these posts on the blog today, and I was shocked when I answered him.  I said that it is me who strikes the keys of the keyboard, yes... but it is God who pulls the strings of my heart to do so. 

For those of you who, like me, are fanatic musicians and play mutiple instruments, think of it this way: He is the musician, and I am the instrument.  Through me, He makes things happen.  But an instrument cannot play itself... it requires masterful hands to move people through the music.

Focus in prayer today on how you are used as an instrument for God's kingdom.  Some write, some sing, some preach, some teach, some serve and some lead... and some lead by serving, which is especially powerful!  But whatever it is that makes you an instrument for the Musician, honor Him by being ready to be used for what you were born for to the fullest extent of His power!

God bless you all!!!

Patience... Who rewards it...

"Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful."

Hebrews 10:23

If we look back a few days to the characteristics of God, we see that He knows all, sees all, is always present and has all power to do whatever is needed.  And therefore, if He promises us anything at all, it WILL be done.  The thing we need to grasp, though, is that it will happen on His timeline... not ours.

And so patience becomes a NEED in our walk, just as it is in everything.  We have to grow into the understanding that things all happen in sequence, and that we are not now, nor will we ever be, privy to that sequence of events or the timeline surrounding it.  It is not our place to know; it is our place to worship.

The best examples I can think of come from the Old Testament, starting with Moses.  After fleeing Egypt, Moses tended sheep on a hillside for forty years... FORTY YEARS... before he returned to free the people enslaved by the Pharaoh.  He waited, fulfilling his purpose at the present (not lingering in the past or wandering to the future), and then when he was ready (as deemed so by God), he went to accomplish amazing feats that we know about today!  And the second example would come from Ezekiel, in which God tells the prophet that He will keep His covenant and spare a remnant... but it has nothing to do with the people or anything they did.  They don't deserve it at all.  It is because He cannot have His Name questioned, or His faithfulness doubted.  He saves them for His name's sake... because He promised He would do it.

Look deep today and think about how you can be more "unswerving," as the Word says.  Decide on one aspect that you can improve upon, and focus only on that today.  Pray for the strength to share it when the time is right and the Spirit moves, and honor the Lord in doing so!

God bless you all!!!

Patience...

"We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised."

Hebrews 6:12

Patience is next in our list of the fruit of the Spirit, and it is possibly the most elusive of all.  Given our extremely mobile and well-connected society, and how much smaller the world has become for all of us, we all expect things to move at our pace.  But, much like with events in the world of recent times, we are not in control of the time clock: God is.

And in the game of life, we have no way of knowing whether this is the first or last quarter, so why stress over whether we are playing forward or point guard?  The place I am in right now is PRECISELY where I am supposed to be, just as it is for you.  So have patience (I say mostly to myself) and know that the best is still yet to come.

Side note: placing earthly, temporal deadlines on Heavenly, eternal concepts is equal to blasphemy.  It is telling God that your idea of when-where-how is better than His.  He knows; we don't; nothing further to discuss on that point.

And ponder on that thought for a moment... things do get better when we calm down and relax and stay patient and focused and faithful.  When we keep our cool, remember Who is in control of all things (ALL THINGS), and remember that we are saved, justified, blessed and covered by the blood of the Lamb, things seem to be less difficult.  Giants grow smaller.  Thunder seems quieter.  Nothing is quite so scary any more.  But it takes patience to see it through.  It takes patience to calm down.  It takes patience to be rational.

Take a moment this evening to ponder on what one thing you could be more patient in.  Whether it is your job, your relationships, your chores, your homework or whatever the case may be, decide on one thing that you will slow down and focus on.  And then DO IT!  And as you patiently approach this topic or task with a fresh perspective, remember that you do this, like everything, to bring glory to God the Father!

God bless you all!!!

Friday's Proverb...

"A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones."

Proverbs 14:30

QBQ - How can I ensure my peace outshines everything else?  Does my envy keep me from my peace?

The majority of my problems are all caused by the same culprit: me.  I get in my own way all the time, and I really wish I could figure out how not to.  But if I start to focus on the peace that we have been learning about, and I look for that peace specifically, I may see the higher road! 

Take time today to focus on your own inner peace, let it muzzle the envy you have, and honor the Lord in doing so.

May He bless you!!!

Peace... in closing...

"Therefore, since we have been declared righteous by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ."

Romans 5:1

We are justified.  I will say that again for you: we are justified.  And this justification, as Paul tells us, comes not through the simple ramblings of our own insignificant thoughts and wishes, but rather from our Heavenly Father and our Savior.  And we have peace with God.

Since we are all born sinners, and God hates sin and cannot look upon it, to have peace with God is a pretty awesome thing, don't you think?  Jesus washes us clean, allows us that peace with the Father, and justifies our very existence as children of God. 

And here comes the tricky part that all saved Christians must understand and never, ever forget... if Jesus justified you once, it never has to be done again.  If you ask for it to be done again, you ask Christ to climb back on the cross, because apparently the first time wasn't enough.  Assuming that you or anyone else is not competely justified, and therefore at peace with the Father for all eternity, is the same as questioning the power of the Almighty.  Don't be that believer... please.

Take a moment today to reflect on the peace that Christ has given to us, and the price of that peace that He willingly paid for all mankind.  And yes, that does include YOU, and all you've done and all you will do in the future.  Honor His sacrifice by accepting that peace into yourself completely, and living it out for all those around you to see.  Show the most powerful witness you ever could, by being the expectation... not the exception.

God bless you all!!!

Peace... the salutation...

"Grace to you, and peace from our Lord Jesus Christ."

Paul... a bunch of places

I don't mean to make light of such powerful words, so please do not think there is any hint of disrespect to the man Paul or to his customary greeting and salutation... but he honestly used it at the top and bottom of every letter he wrote.

And given who Paul was and who he became, it is especially powerful that he would understand so very deeply that peace needs to be offered at the beginning and end of everything. And it should be this way because before us (meaning, before creation), there was only God. I imagine that was a pretty peaceful time. And after us, when we arrive in Heaven to worship the Creator for all eternity, and all pain and strife are gone... that will be fairly peaceful, as well, I would assume. So Paul starts and ends in godly fashion, and we should pay careful attention to do the same.

For those of you who know me personally and exchange emails with me frequently, you know that I close my own messages by praying "grace and peace to you and yours" to whomever I am sending. I do this as a personal reminder that I need to shed grace and pray peace on all people... ALL PEOPLE... that I encounter. We all should have a level of focus and dedication, mirroring Paul, to the positive encouragement and uplifting of others through peace.

Take a moment today and think about how you can "increase the peace," as it were, in your own outlook on life. The only person you can control is you, and you should, as Ghandi said, "be the change you wish to see in the world." So be that today! Shed peace on someone... on everyone you meet today. Do it in spirit, in action or in speech, and do it with the grace that IS afforded to you in all circumstances as a saved Christian. The feeling you get will blow you away!

And, as always, grace and peace to you and yours, brothers and sisters.

God bless you all!!!

Peace... prayed over us all...

"May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ."

1 Thessalonians 5:23

Peace is already granted unto us. And then Paul shares the greatest thought one could ever share with another believer. He prays that God would wash us clean, because He is the God of peace. And it is peace that will cleanse us and keep us pure.

Peace, as we said earlier, is one of those things we all yearn for. Some are militant in their chase for it, believing that once all opposition is ended, peace will naturally occur. But this is not true, as seen by many centuries of one king rising and taking the war away, only for another uprising to come later because of the growth of corruption within the once-fair kingdom that supported peace. Why does this happen? Simple: people are involved.

Others are passive in their approach, believing that if they are at peace, they will bring peace. True, to some extent, but the problem still exists that people are invloved in the equation, and we are (ALL OF US) wretched and fickle things, with no constancy about anything in our natural design. We simply are not built to be that good.

But the best way to achieve this, in my humble opinion, is to turn it over to God, as Paul did. Speak the words with purpose, and share them openly. And recognize that the only way to peace is from two directions that are not natural... from within and from above. God brings peace, not man. Having God and Christ makes the impossible things into possible goals. This is the only way it works.

Take a moment today to pray peace over someone. Meditate on this verse, and then designate a person to pray over with these amazing words. Think about how completely peace cleanses, as the verse explains, and look for that cleanliness in that person when you see them next. It'll bless ya!

God bless you all!!!

Peace...

"Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Your heart must not be troubled or fearful."

John 14:27

Peace. Peace is defined as the freedom from disturbance, or a state of quiet and tranquility. And if earth defines it as such a calming thing, just imagine how powerful it truly is when Jesus gives us His peace! And it is peace that resides in our hearts, and gives us freedom.

Jesus Christ, the Son, the Savior, one with the Father who created all things, gave us His peace. And if He is tranquil over all things, why would we concern ourselves with anything except the eternal salvation of ourselves and those we love? He left us His peace so that we would be peaceful. Perhaps we should try to use that... hmm...

And He points out that He does not give "as the world gives." Imagine all that you have gained from the world, and how fleeting it was. Like happiness and contentment, which are only replaced by sadness and longing for something better. But the PEACE that we have allows our JOY to radiate through all of that, and we can realize that we have no need of anything... no need of anything... NO NEED OF ANYTHING AT ALL!!! Because we have Him, and His peace, firmly implanted in our hearts.

Take a moment today and think about ways in which you can better show His peace to those around you. Is it a little more smiling? A little more laughter? Perhaps a little less grumbling or complaining about things which we cannot control? Whatever the case may be, focus and show that peace today to all you encounter. It will be a blessing and a powerful witness!

God bless you all!!!

Joy as a companion...

"Weeping may spend the night, but there is joy in the morning."

Psalms 30:5b

One thing that has always helped me in times of distress or concern has been to personify that which keeps me grounded. In light of this, I would encourage you to think primarily of joy as your companion.

In a larger work of mine, I describe wisdom as a lady that can be courted (reference Proverbs 8). Wisdom, obviously, is not a person. Neither is joy. But this friend, joy, is a permanent thing for us as Christians.

And, as I close my thoughts on joy, I remind you again that it is not, never has been, and never will be a situational thing. Joy is forever. Joy is for always. Joy is for you and me, and it is PERMANENT! So bring joy to your home, and realize that your sorrow may last for a night, but there will be joy again in the morning. And, oddly enough, joy is there even in the sorrow... even if it's sometimes hard to see.

Take time tonight to realize and recognize the joy in all things. Spend the time needed in any situation from now on to see the joy before examining the negative. Focus on the positives first, always, and your joy will be more and more apparent in all things. Add it to the love you more readily see and show, and honor the Lord in all things through this.

God bless you all!!!

Friday's Proverb...

"The hope of the righteous is joy, but the expectation of the wicked comes to nothing."

Proverbs 10:28

QBQ - What do I expect out of life? And if I am seeking it, am I more readily apt to find it?

It has been said many times by many people that if you look for the negative, you will surely find it. But the same is true in the reverse! As we study joy, we should endeavor to seek out the joy in ourselves, and then show it to others. Who knows? They may find it appealing and decide to follow suit.

Honor the Lord today by seeking your own joy with fervent expectancy, and let it shine to all you encounter!

May He bless you!!!

Joy in trials...

"Consider it a great joy, my brothers, whenever you experience various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance."

James 1:2-3

To extrapolate on the truth that joy is not situational (told you I'd bring that up a lot), we must look first into the hard stuff. And there is nothing harder, in my mind, than to keep your joy radiant when you are in the middle of difficult situations in life. Nothing takes more focus; nothing takes more energy; and nothing in life can bear greater witness!

Paul is a great example of this teaching from James, as he was whipped and chained and sang hymns the entire time. He praised God for the blessing to be counted to suffer like Christ, for Christ. And we should do the same.

It's no secret that what I am typing about is not easy. But if we put ourselves into the shoes of those who see us, and then imagine a few things, it may be helpful in this task. First, realize that those around you should know you are a Christian. Second, acknowledge that anyone can tell when someone else is having a bad day. Third, imagine what would happen if you had been witnessing successfully to someone for weeks, and then you had a bad day and lost your temper and your joy (outwardly, at least), and that person you were trying to help saw how easily you faltered. Please remember, also, that even though there could be many, many reasons for the failing in attitude that day, no one else may be privy to them. They still see a change in attitude from a seemingly controllable incident... even though it was the last incident of many, in reality. So what they percieve is an easy departure from the Way.

Be certain, today, that you are not letting external circumstances ruin your internal joy. For those of us that are married, pay extra attention to the joy that you show in front of your spouse, as it will... IT WILL... be an encouragement for them to follow suit. And for those who are not married, the same is true for your friends or your significant other.

Sometimes the only Jesus some people ever see is in us, as Christians and witnesses. Make certain you honor the Lord by showing that we can be joyous in all things!

God bless you all!!!

Joy...

"Be joyful, always"

1 Thessalonians 5:16

The first thing, as mentioned before, is to realize that joy is not specific to your individual situation. Rather, as I said before, it is permanent.

Paul exhorts to the the church at Thessolonica just as I exclaim to you, thousands of years later, that we NEED to remember that our joy cannot be removed by a simple bad day or negative turn of events. There is nothing on this earth, and nothing else in the entire universe that can get in between us and our joy. Nothing. Ever. Period.

So when you walk around this week, or even just for the next day or two, remember that some people you see do not have this joy. (And if you are surrounded only by Christians, then I suggest you get outside your comfort zone and show the love of Christ to those who may not know it.) Some people have it, but don't know how to show it. They need an example.

Keep your head high, no matter what. Joy is not situational, and how you handle the circumstance is FAR more important than the issue that brings the circumstance forth. Make no mistake; that joy inside you cannot go away. Access it, and honor the Lord in doing so!

God bless you all!!!

Joy... for starters...

As we move through the fruit of the Spirit, some of them will lend naturally to more Scriptural references... this is one of them. However, before we get into the Bible and what it has to teach us about joy, I need to make one point exceedingly clear.

Joy is not situational. It is not temporary. It is not fleeting, like happiness. It is not fickle, like contentment. True Biblical joy is, for lack of a better word, PERMANENT.

We'll get to a ton of examples on this, but I need to warn you that I will make the statement, over and over again, that joy has nothing to do with one specific moment. It is not related to right now only... it relates to all time! And it does so because it can never be taken away, once it is gained.

Tomorrow I'll get deeper into the first session on this, but for now, please ponder on what it means to have true, Biblical joy in your life. Focus on the truth that it CAN NOT be taken away or diminished by any single circumstance or a group of related or unrelated happenings. It is consistent; it is complete; it is from God!

God bless you all!!!

Love... conclusion...

"For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing will have the power to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord!"

Romans 8:38-39

Although the topic of God's love, or even the topic of love itself, as a fruit of the Spirit cannot ever really be concluded, we are moving into the next portion of this study, and this seemed a logical verse to use in closing. And there will not be a lot of expansion on it...

But just let me say, in simple terms, that NOTHING can ever stop the love God has for you; nothing can outmatch its power, nothing can outreach its grasp, nothing can outshine its radiance. It is a perfect, deep and abiding love that never, ever changes... EVER.

To possess this love is a given, because all who are Christians have it coming to them. The question is, do all who receive it give it back? Are you sharing that kind of love, as God and Christ share it with you? Are you willing to look past all things, and recognize what could be?

Take a moment, right now, to stop and think of the one person in your life who needs that love to be shown to them today. And then pull an old fashioned "WWJD" moment, and call them up! If imitation is the highest form of flattery, and the highest Being in the universe instructs that we imitate Him, let's do it! No thinking, no reasoning, no procrastinating... DO IT! And honor God with the love you show.

God bless you all!!!

Covering love...

"Above all, keep your love for one another at full strength, since love covers a multitude of sins."

1 Peter 4:8

Perhaps the most important thing I can say about love as a fruit of the Spirit, aside from explaining how God loves us, is that we should always endeavor to keep it going. Nothing should ever stand in the way of it. Nothing should ever be able to surmount it. Nothing should ever have any chance to stand against it.

And as my iPod shuffles over to the David Crowder Band and their song "How He Loves," I am reminded of how important it is that we attempt, in our best fashion, to model God's love. Can we actually imitate God in this completely? No. But that doesn't mean that we shouldn't try with ever fiber of our being!

Also, we need to keep focus on the truth that love does cover a multitude of sins and offenses. How many times has someone said, "I know (that person) is that way... but I love (him/her) anyway," to you? People say it all the time. We overlook all the things our children and friends do that would be offensive to others, because of love. We overlook things that our parnters in Bible study may say or do that would offend others, because of love. We certainly are adept at overlooking the things that we, individually, say and do that could be absolutely offensive to others, and that is due to the extreme love of self that we all use to justify our fleshly moments. So why can we not overlook those things that we find offensive?

Showing God's love, as stated many times before, is difficult. But perhaps as we come near to the end of this portion of the study, our first place should be to remove the feelings from our sleeves and begin to actively seek opportunities to overlook offenses and show true loving character to all we encounter. We all know who out there bothers each of us, and we all know what sets us off into a mood of negativity. So let's try it out and see if we can be more Christ-like and just see past it, as Peter says.

God bless you all!!!

Sunday's thought...

"There is certainly no righteous man on earth who does good and never sins."

Ecclesiastes 7:20

Solomon's wisdom was so accurate in his day. It still is. No one on this earth lives a life free of sin. Not me... not you... no one.

But as we have been studying love as a fruit of the Spirit, it is necessary to point out that it is our own love that allows us to look past all this. I'll expand on that later with a verse from 1 Peter, and that you won't want to miss.

We must have love to see people not for who they are, but for who they can become. It is that extraordinary vision that Jesus used when He climbed Calvary for all of mankind. He saw us... all of us, even to this day and beyond... for what we can become. And He showed true love for us!

We must also realize that people are looking at us, too. It's neat to think about this from the standpont of how I can be a better person, but it starts to get uncomfortable when it is placed on me that other people are looking at me the same way I look at them. (Believe it or not, the uncomfortable part is a great thing! It means we're outside the comfort zone, in the world, where we can grow and minister.) And if I want them to look on me with love, how could I dare to show only contempt and judgment?

Take a moment today to ponder whether or not you are looking for the best in people. It is a truism that if you seek the negative, you'll find it. The reverse is true, as well, you know. Seek the best today, and honor the Lord in doing so.

God bless you all!!!

Growing love...

"And I pray this: that your love will keep on growing in knowledge and every kind of discernment."

Philippians 1:9

Continuing with our exposition of love as a fruit of the Spirit, we need to look into what happens when love grows. And we need to examine what can happen in the reverse, when there is an atrophy of love.

Paul tells the church at Philippi that he wants their love to grow... and he says that to us today, as well. If our purpose were simply to develop something and then sit stagnant and never increase, we would be no better than the simple and non-sentient animals some folks have as pets. But we are not pets. We have the ability to adapt and overcome and improve on all things... especially ourselves!

To grow in every kind of knowledge, though, means that you would have to also grow in the knowledge of what happens when there is a vacuum left by an absence of love. The obvious answer is that an absence of love is where apathy and hatred come from. This is true, but since love is of God, its absence is painful, too. And that pain is real, and it is noticeable to all who endure it.

The good news is that the absence, in order for it to become hatred and full-blown uncaring, would have to be cultivated into such a thing. And if we, as Christians, take the initiative to show love as God instructs us to do, we should be able to cultivate and maintain something else entirely: caring, empathetic, loving brothers and sisters in Christ!

Today, think about how you are growing your love. Are you stretching your limits, like you would if you were working a muscle? Are you pushing farther and farther outside your comfort zone, so that all people will know you as a disciple of Christ? We all should be! So take a moment now to read 1 Peter 4:8 (where our next post will come from) and see how you measure up. It humbles me, as I know I am not there yet... but with God on our side, we have all of Heaven to support us in any task!

God bless you all!!!

Today's thought...

"Now concerning that day and hour no one knows - neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son - except the Father only."

Matthew 24:36

QBQ - If Jesus doesn't know about it, how would I have any chance to know about it?

We need to realize that while we were born to ask the questions, we were not born to have all the answers. Finite beings cannot ever gain the ability to grasp infinite concepts, and that is precisely why any discussion of exact dates for the end of the world or for the Rapture or for anything else, really, is irrelevant.

Placing dates on things and telling people when something divine will happen is the same as putting God on your timetable... when we are firmly and completely on His, and nothing will ever change that.

Thank God for the day He blesses you with, and praise Him throughout each day you are allowed to have. Honor Him and His wisdom, which is far greater than can be imagined, and live each day as though He were coming back immediately, ready with a clean heart. Show love for the purpose of showing love, pray earnestly and remain focused.

God bless you all!!!

Friday's Proverb...

"He mocks those who mock, but gives grace to the humble."

Proverbs 3:34

QBQ - Do I show respect and love to all I encounter, as Christ would?

In the current study of the fruit of the Spirit, we are looking currently into love. An absence of love brings forth disrespect and mockery. There is an endless list of Proverbs and other Bible verses to describe the maladies that befall those who are called mockers, so make certain today, friends, that you are not one who mocks. Instead, speak only words of encouragement today, and honor the Lord in doing so!

May He bless you!!!

Showing love...

"I give you a new commandment: love one another. Just as I have loved you, you must also love one another. By this all people will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."

John 13:34-35

People talk a lot about loving your spouse (I am one of them) and about loving your kids and about loving your earthly family and friends... but Jesus wasn't concerned with those bonds in this statement. This command was given with respect to how we should treat other believers, other Christians. It says we are to love them... all of them... as Jesus did the disciples.

We've been through how God loves us, and we know that it is deep and abiding and downright hard for us to do the same. And since we know and accept that Jesus and God are one and the same Being, along with the Spirit, then we can logically infer that when Jesus says "just as I have loved you," it is the same love that God shows us. And we are COMMANDED to show this to every other believer.

There are those who save this love only for their close group of friends, and some who will venture out a little further than this in their emotional walk, and then others still who do show true Christian love to all they encounter. I know I fall short in this, and I give in to fleshly thoughts and comments and gossip, even when I should not. But it is the realization and awareness of that tendency that allows me to grow past it.

Take time tonight, beloved friends, to think of one person you can reach out to and share an extra dose of Christian love with. And then do it! Call, text, facebook, whatever it takes. Find your comfort level and reach out as a brother or sister who loves like Jesus loves. And don't forget, you must offer it freely and completely, with no reservations or expectations for anything in return... to do otherwise is for your gains, not for the Kingdom.

God bless you all!!!

Spouse's love...

"Husbands, love your wives, just as also Christ loved the church and gave Himself for her, to make her holy, cleansing her in the washing of water by the word."

Ephesians 5:26-27

To continue a study of the first part of the fruit of the Spirit, love, I must dive straight into one of the chief reasons this blog was born, and that lies specifically in the love that one shows to their spouse. I can only speak to this from a male perspective, and discuss how husbands should love.

The referenced passage is a common one, and almost all couples classes know it. But the key here, if we are only examining love, is to see what was done BECAUSE of the love. From the actions taken, we can derive the depth and breadth of the love that existed. And that love is the model for us, gentlemen.


Christ is the Bridegroom, and He gave His life to cleanse and save the church (His bride). To put it another way, He accepted blame for all things past, present and future, took it all upon Himself and died to save those who were present, the prophets and faithful remnant before and all of us and our descendants who call upon Him as Savior. He stood in front of the gun for us. He jumped onto the train tracks for us. He ran into the fire, drug us all out, and then went back in. He died for us... for you... for me.


This is the type of love that we, as husbands, are COMMANDED to show our wives. We are to follow His example, the ultimate example possible, and be ready and willing to accept all responsibility and consequence. This love we are to show is unconditional, requiring nothing at all. Let me repeat that last part, it requires nothing at all. It is an unfailing love that only grows over time, and never, ever diminishes. To put it another way, from a far more famous set of hands than mine:

"Marriage is a solemn agreement before God; hence those who divorce their wives are guilty not merely of covenant breaking but of blasphemy."
~ C.M. Laymon

Please notice that Laymon doesn't hold the wives responsible for the divorce... neither will God. It is shown clearly in the garden, as God walks through and is not looking Eve who took the first bite, but for Adam who did not protect her from the temptation of the serpent. He is looking for Adam who abdicated his role and failed to guard his wife. He will look for the husband who divorces his wife, gentlemen... not the other way around.


Take a moment today to examine where you can improve in this regard. Let go of whatever it is you are holding onto, and be as unconditional as Jesus is to you.


God bless you all!!!

God's love... last thoughts...

"...for the Lord disciplines the He loves, and punishes every son whom He receives."

Hebrews 12:6

To finish out the focus on the love coming from God, specifically, I have two final points that must be delved into. The first was eluded to in the initial post on this topic, and it comes from Hebrews 12:6, referenced above. It is a hard truth, but one that must be further examined.

He punishes us... yes, our God of love punishes us. And He does so out of pure love for us. Because He is immutable, and His character is therefore immutable, His love is unchanging. Therefore, since we know from the Bible that He hates sin and cannot look upon it, it stands to reason that He must issue loving correction when it is needed for each of us. And I can tell you from a plethora of personal experiences that I have received said correction every single time I have needed it. And while there was a time in my life that I, too, was guilty of asking why God would do such a thing, I understand now that it was and sometimes still is an absolute necessity for me.

And if it is not a necessity for you, then please call me today, right now, and tell me how you figured out how to not need correction. (Reference Proverbs 12:1)

Secondly...

"Love is patient; love is kind. Love does not envy; is not boastful; is not conceited; does not act improperly; is not selfish; is not provoked; does not keep a record of wrongs; finds no joy in unrighteousness, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends."

"Now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love."

1 Corinthians 13:4-8a, 13

To understand the way God loves us, the best example comes from these words of Paul to the church in Corinth. I mentioned in an earlier post that His love is easily described as being equal to His grace, in that it covers all things. But when I read the passage above, I realize that there are very few relationships I have which can be categorized by all of the tenets laid forth.

To truly show the faithful love to one another that God shows to us is difficult, because it means we HAVE TO look past all the hurt and all the wrongs and all the "I can't believe" statements about what has already happened. It is over, whatever it was, and that wrong exists no more unless it is allowed to exist in the mind. God sees all things in one frame, and He forgave us and loves us anyway, even though He knows all the wrong we have ever done and all that we still will do. To show this fruit of the Spirit, we must endeavor to do the same. And it begins with the CHOICE to look past what has hurt us.

The beginning of this has already been powerful, and it will only grow from here. We will move on to how we should love each other, and examine more words from Paul and from Jesus to look at how we are commanded to love. But for now, take time to think about how you can more readily express to others the kind of love that God shows to you, starting with your spouse and them moving outward from him/her. I promise... it will bless you!

God bless you all!!!

God's love... continued...

To use the same versefrom yesterday, I would like to add one final illustrative point. When we think of God's love, we have to think of it from God's view, which means we need to understand and appreciate it as an immutable thing. This means that it cannot... CAN NOT... change. It is complete, all of the time, for everyone, forever.

Some use God's grace as a way to define and explain His love for us, in that grace is unmerited favor. And to use that term is perfectly fine, as long as one understands that grace covers all things... ALL THINGS... and cannot be adjusted to fit lifestyles or comfort zones. If it changes, it is no longer grace. It then becomes favoritism.


So do me a favor... think of that one unforgivable person in your life right now. The one that has done either one thing that is so very wrong, or has done many wrong things that culminate to unforgivable status. Do you have the person in mind? I do... it's me. And if yours is any different, then you have missed the point.


The only person I can ever control or worry over is me, and I am responsible for my actions. And it is my walk with Christ that I can improve or let slip, and no one else's. But, as the song says, "He loves me anyway."


Take a moment today to humble yourself before the Lord, and ask that He show you tangible love today. Get back to the basics of it all and admit to yourself, out loud, that you are still a sinner; a saved sinner, but a sinner nonetheless. And while asking for forgiveness is no longer necessary, a healthier perspective will bring forth positive motion toward ridding yourself of another level of your fleshly desires, whether they are in greed or lust or envy or any such thing. And thank God for the privilege to return to the Throne and praise Him... because He loves us, no matter what!

God bless you all!!!

God's love...

"For God loved the world in this way: He gave His One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life."

John 3:16

As I begin this personal journey and study into the fruits of the Spirit, I am forced to start as one should... at the beginning. All of love begins with God, as does all of everything. So we must first look to how He loves, and attempt to grasp the truth of that.

The issue, however, is that we cannot understand His love. His love does not pamper us, it perfects us (Heb 12:6). His love is one of redemptive power. His love is perfect and eternal. His love is infinite. We, as finite beings, cannot possibly grasp the infinite truths that exist within the Kingdom of Heaven...at least, not yet. But let me put it this way: no matter what you ever do wrong, even when all of those wrong things are added together, God still loves you more and more and more without ceasing or stopping... MORE AND MORE!!!

As humans, we flippantly throw "love" at ridiculous things like TVs and celebrities and cakes and flavors and cooking utensils, etc. We say it like it is just another small part of our existence. But answer me this question: if we are to attempt to live like Christ, and Christ is God, and God is love, and His love is all the things described above (all true, by the way), then why would we throw it around so casually?

To understand and truly see anything, I must first take it apart and see the inner workings of it. I don't know anyone who would love me enough to give their child as a sacrifice on my behalf. That is love. And if you use that term for your next frosted pastry or television program, perhaps you should consider what it means from God's perspective.

Take time today to think about how you say you love things... we all need to, myself especially. It's the same thing as putting yourself in the right frame of mind before you pray. Think about it before you throw the word around like a tennis ball. And if we all begin to use it properly, I am willing to bet that we all will know greater and greater, true and deep, abiding love!

God bless you all!!!

Sunday's thought...

Even a child is known by his actions, by whether his conduct is pure and right.

Proverbs 20:11

This is a truism of our world, in that we all look to children and decide who they are based upon their actions. Make no mistake - people do the same for you and me. Our actions tell people who and what we are... and Whose we are.

When people see you with your spouse, do they see the love of Christ radiating off of your relationship? Can they tell immediately that there is something "right" about the two of you?

Pray this morning to honor God by showing love to your spouse today. If you show these actions, then people will know you, and they may come to know Him!

God bless you all!!!

Today's thought...

I gave them this reply. "The God of Heaven is the One who will grant us success."

Nehemiah 2:20a

Nehemiah speaks these words to a defiant group who are attempting to stop him from beginning to rebuild the walls around Jerusalem. He refused to be dissuaded is his pursuit of a Heavenly goal, and no amount of negative speech or threats or anything else... not even the current culture norms or status quo... could stop him.

We all have issues in our lives. The question we must answer is whether or not we approach them with a God-focused mentality, or if we are simply willing to take the quick and easy path that has little to no resistance. Nehemiah didn't give in... neither did Jesus.

If you are in the process of rebuilding your walls, whether around yourself, your marriage, your kids, etc., do not be discouraged by anything that anyone says. If in your heart you feel that God wishes for you to complete this task, take courage and move forward... He will grant you the success that will advance His will and kingdom, and you will be blessed in the effort!

God bless you all!!!

Today's thought...

My son, if sinners entice you, do not give in to them.

~ Prov 1:7

How often has it happened that someone has walked into the wrong part of a conversation and jumped right onboard the gossip train? It happens frequently for me, and that is one area in which I still struggle. But the most important thing to see here is that it does not tell us we are above the influence, but that we should not give in to the influence of gossip (which is alluring, as we all know).

Take time today to think about the words you use and the ones you choose. It makes far more sense to "just say no," as it were, than to partake in any talk tat could harm someone else. Because, if I remember correctly, when you point one finger there's at least four more pointing back, right?

Speak words of encouragement to one another, always, and honor the Lord through your open and obvious love and care for how powerful your words are.

May He bless you!!!