Jesus, shepherd. Living water. I lay down my plans at your feet today. I am weary from carrying all my burdens. Listen to the Spirit for several minutes. Jesus is looking at you with affection. He sees every hurt. Every pang of the heart. Behold, the Lamb of God comes looking for a heart that will love Him. Will you love Him today? Surrender every last pain, heart break, longing, and fear. Accept that you are loved. You could never earn His love. You must accept Jesus' sacrifice as a gift. God has chosen you. You have not chosen Him. Stay in this place as long as you need. Jesus isn't in a hurry; pour out your heart to Him. Cry out to Jesus even as the tax collector, "God, have mercy on me, a sinner!" God is compassionate. He is kind. He is long suffering. He remembers your sin not, once you confess and repent of it. Jesus is faithful- even to the very end. He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not forget the character of Jesus. Satan would have you forget all of God's kindness and mercy in Jesus Christ. Do not forget, beloved. Jesus died for you. His blood covers all your sin and unrighteousness. You are clean. You have been washed. You are being remade. You are a son of God. You are a daughter of God. Do not forget the compassion of Jesus.
Mark 6:34
Monday, May 28, 2012
Saturday, May 26, 2012
In Heaven
Sit on the floor. Picture yourself in Heaven. You are sitting at the Father's feet. He tells you to rise. Look! He has prepared a table for you. He puts His arm around you and comforts you as He walks you to the place he has set for you. Everything is done. All the food is prepared. All the glasses and silverware are arranged. You only need to rest in His presence. This is truly the only place where we can rest, is it not? Nothing needs to be done or finished. Rest. Laugh. Smile. Behold the love of the Father. Indeed He does call you son! He does call you daughter! Know that you are in a safe place. All of your fears. All of your regrets. All of your doubts. All of your tears. All of these, are His. The God of Heaven is intimately connected with your suffering. Let the visible image of God- Jesus, take all your fears, regrets, doubts, and tears. As you are in the presence of God, tell Jesus you are giving Him these things. Haha! Wait. Who is laughing? It's your Abba. Suddenly and boldly He laughs. You look at His face and as His eyes search your heart you realize- you realize why He is laughing. He says, "Behold my daughter!", with the biggest grin you've ever seen. With all of your previous chains undone and all of the scales over your eyes cast off, you embrace your inheritance- a son, a daughter of God. With nothing left to hold you down. You run. Full force into the arms of Love. But Jesus is running faster than you. You fall into His arms. Weeping. But these aren't tears of sadness. No. These are tears of endless joy. Tears of acceptance. Finally, you've found the place where you belong. Rest here for a while. Don't leave until you've given everything to Jesus. Don't leave until your hands are empty. Stay in this place today. Stay in Abba's presence.
Saturday, December 10, 2011
Serving
So He told a parable to those who were invited, when He noted how they chose the best places, saying to them: “When you are invited by anyone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in the best place, lest one more honorable than you be invited by him; and he who invited you and him come and say to you, ‘Give place to this man,’ and then you begin with shame to take the lowest place. But when you are invited, go and sit down in the lowest place, so that when he who invited you comes he may say to you, ‘Friend, go up higher.’ Then you will have glory in the presence of those who sit at the table with you. For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Luke 14:7-11
Here we see Jesus entering one of the rulers of the Pharisees house and commenting on how they seat themselves. This is one of my favorite passages. There is so much wisdom in it, so much that Jesus wants to tell this world today. Lets look at this passage then contrast it with today's culture.
Jesus is the ultimate servant. His life served everyone around Him while He was alive and today His resurrection is still serving all who are being renewed. Jesus, may we be like You. Every human soul longs to be desired. Every human soul longs for recognition. Every human longs for identity. Some long for these so much, that they create it for themselves. Let me explain. As the book of Romans declares, "all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God." Because of this fall every human is disconnected from God. The peace, joy, and perfection we enjoyed in the Eden are lost. We no longer know ourselves. We no longer know who we are. We no longer know to whom we belong. We no longer know what our purpose is. We are tossed about. Indulging in whatever seems 'good'. Since we no longer know the things previously mentioned, we search for them. Some more than others. Humans begin to create for themselves recognition, identity, and purpose. Where can this lead but selfishness, sadness, and unrest? We were made in the image of God, of His likeness. We must find this again. We were created for glory. His glory. But, without God, we make up our own glory. We dabble in earthly lusts. Only satisfying the flesh, while the soul is dry and empty. God help your children.
In the Godhead we see Jesus Christ coming to earth to save that which was lost. To bring restoration to the entire human condition: lack of identity, lack of purpose, lack of meaning, lack of ambition, just to name a few. This is good news! We can now operate from a place of authority and not defeat. In Jesus we are sons and daughters of God. Hallelujah. Okay! Here we go. Getting back to the passage of Scripture. Jesus sees the Pharisees taking all the best seats. Note that the Pharisees thought they were better than everyone, that they deserved the best seats. They kept the entire law on the outside. But on the inside they were dead and unclean. They got their glory from themselves. They made it up! This is my point. They were SO FULL OF THEMSELVES. They didn't wait on God to give them their position. They took it with violence. With pride. We should always take the lowest place Jesus says. Always. Don't make any plans to be exalted. Let God exalt you. Let Him come to you and say, 'friend go up higher.' Yes God. We submit to your timing. The last to verses are the best. "Then you will have glory in the presence of those who sit at the table with you. For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” You will have glory. Because it was GIVEN. Not because you took it for yourself. God will give you His glory. But you must humble yourself to receive it.
The world would have us take whatever we can. Earn whatever we can by human means. Let it never be so for believers in Jesus Christ. Fellow Christians, it's time we started living like Jesus. Stop imitating the world. Be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Let us become God's children.
Luke 14:7-11
Here we see Jesus entering one of the rulers of the Pharisees house and commenting on how they seat themselves. This is one of my favorite passages. There is so much wisdom in it, so much that Jesus wants to tell this world today. Lets look at this passage then contrast it with today's culture.
Jesus is the ultimate servant. His life served everyone around Him while He was alive and today His resurrection is still serving all who are being renewed. Jesus, may we be like You. Every human soul longs to be desired. Every human soul longs for recognition. Every human longs for identity. Some long for these so much, that they create it for themselves. Let me explain. As the book of Romans declares, "all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God." Because of this fall every human is disconnected from God. The peace, joy, and perfection we enjoyed in the Eden are lost. We no longer know ourselves. We no longer know who we are. We no longer know to whom we belong. We no longer know what our purpose is. We are tossed about. Indulging in whatever seems 'good'. Since we no longer know the things previously mentioned, we search for them. Some more than others. Humans begin to create for themselves recognition, identity, and purpose. Where can this lead but selfishness, sadness, and unrest? We were made in the image of God, of His likeness. We must find this again. We were created for glory. His glory. But, without God, we make up our own glory. We dabble in earthly lusts. Only satisfying the flesh, while the soul is dry and empty. God help your children.
In the Godhead we see Jesus Christ coming to earth to save that which was lost. To bring restoration to the entire human condition: lack of identity, lack of purpose, lack of meaning, lack of ambition, just to name a few. This is good news! We can now operate from a place of authority and not defeat. In Jesus we are sons and daughters of God. Hallelujah. Okay! Here we go. Getting back to the passage of Scripture. Jesus sees the Pharisees taking all the best seats. Note that the Pharisees thought they were better than everyone, that they deserved the best seats. They kept the entire law on the outside. But on the inside they were dead and unclean. They got their glory from themselves. They made it up! This is my point. They were SO FULL OF THEMSELVES. They didn't wait on God to give them their position. They took it with violence. With pride. We should always take the lowest place Jesus says. Always. Don't make any plans to be exalted. Let God exalt you. Let Him come to you and say, 'friend go up higher.' Yes God. We submit to your timing. The last to verses are the best. "Then you will have glory in the presence of those who sit at the table with you. For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” You will have glory. Because it was GIVEN. Not because you took it for yourself. God will give you His glory. But you must humble yourself to receive it.
The world would have us take whatever we can. Earn whatever we can by human means. Let it never be so for believers in Jesus Christ. Fellow Christians, it's time we started living like Jesus. Stop imitating the world. Be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Let us become God's children.
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Conscience
Give no offense, either to the Jews or to the Greeks or to the church of God... 1 Corinthians 10:32
Give no offense my brothers and sisters. Paul says in the next verse do this not for your own profit, but for many, that they may be saved. Paul says He has become all things to all men. Talk about sacrifice! Have we done this? Are we doing this? This verse is in reference to eating food sacrificed to idols. Paul quotes Psalm 24:1, "the earth is the LORD'S, and all it's fullness." Paul says, eat whatever you find in the market, it doesn't matter where it came from. You are free! Will you again be set in chains by laws? If someone says to you however, "that was sacrificed to idols", then don't eat it for conscience sake. Not your own conscience however, why should your liberty be judged by another mans conscience. To the person who does not understand your freedom, don't eat it! Bless this person. Love this person! That he or she may be saved and rushed into the Kingdom of God. Those who call themselves Christians: stop offending other people!!!! You are arrogant. You are puffed up. You build up walls that divide the world and turn hearts away from the Lord Jesus. Shame on you. Let it never be that a Christ follower offends another. Christians are to be servants of all men. Jesus washed our feet and what does He say, "If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet." John 13:14
Now, hear what I am saying. You and I are not to offend anyone. Jesus is already a stumbling block, and His words convict and offend. We are not to offend by putting ourselves above others. In every area of life, make yourself lower than another, that you may honor that person, and he or she may be saved.
Why are we to believe and follow this teaching of Paul?
"Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ." 1 Corinthians 10:33
Come Holy Spirit. Give us Your humility.
Give no offense my brothers and sisters. Paul says in the next verse do this not for your own profit, but for many, that they may be saved. Paul says He has become all things to all men. Talk about sacrifice! Have we done this? Are we doing this? This verse is in reference to eating food sacrificed to idols. Paul quotes Psalm 24:1, "the earth is the LORD'S, and all it's fullness." Paul says, eat whatever you find in the market, it doesn't matter where it came from. You are free! Will you again be set in chains by laws? If someone says to you however, "that was sacrificed to idols", then don't eat it for conscience sake. Not your own conscience however, why should your liberty be judged by another mans conscience. To the person who does not understand your freedom, don't eat it! Bless this person. Love this person! That he or she may be saved and rushed into the Kingdom of God. Those who call themselves Christians: stop offending other people!!!! You are arrogant. You are puffed up. You build up walls that divide the world and turn hearts away from the Lord Jesus. Shame on you. Let it never be that a Christ follower offends another. Christians are to be servants of all men. Jesus washed our feet and what does He say, "If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet." John 13:14
Now, hear what I am saying. You and I are not to offend anyone. Jesus is already a stumbling block, and His words convict and offend. We are not to offend by putting ourselves above others. In every area of life, make yourself lower than another, that you may honor that person, and he or she may be saved.
Why are we to believe and follow this teaching of Paul?
"Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ." 1 Corinthians 10:33
Come Holy Spirit. Give us Your humility.
Friday, November 4, 2011
Hope
Then it happened, as He was coming near Jericho, that a certain blind man sat by the road begging. And hearing a multitude passing by, he asked what it meant. So they told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by. And he cried out, saying, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”
Then those who went before warned him that he should be quiet; but he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”
So Jesus stood still and commanded him to be brought to Him. And when he had come near, He asked him, saying, “What do you want Me to do for you?”
He said, “Lord, that I may receive my sight.”
Then Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he received his sight, and followed Him, glorifying God. And all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God.
Then those who went before warned him that he should be quiet; but he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”
So Jesus stood still and commanded him to be brought to Him. And when he had come near, He asked him, saying, “What do you want Me to do for you?”
He said, “Lord, that I may receive my sight.”
Then Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he received his sight, and followed Him, glorifying God. And all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God.
Luke 18:35-43
If there is one thing this passage screams it is hope. Put yourself in the position of the blind man, perhaps you already feel this way today. No hope. Blind. Looked down on. People telling you to be quiet.
Jesus hears your cry! He wants to heal you of your burdens. Come to me and find rest, Jesus says. Begin to cry out to Him, and see if He doesn't move your circumstances. Have faith though. His ways are not our ways. Have patience for His timing. The bible says that a man without faith is a like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.
We see Jesus commands the man to be brought near. Jesus asks what the man wants Him to do for him. 'Lord, that I may receive my sight.' What happens next is very interesting. Jesus tells the man to receive his sight, because his faith has made him well. The man believed! Jesus says 'your faith has made you well.' (emphasis mine) Jesus takes no claim for the miracle. Wow.
Read the last verse again. When Jesus gives us a new hope, the people praise God. Let us use our hope from Him to help others. All glory to God in every situation! All praise belongs to You Abba.
Keep believing for your miracle!
Amen.
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Marriage
Let the husband render to his wife the affection due her, and also likewise the wife to her husband. The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. And likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. 1 Corinthians 7:3-4
My heart is heavy over the state of marriage in today's society. There is so much independence desired from both sexes. Both male and female are refusing to lay down their lives. Let me begin by saying that this laying down of ones life cannot be comprehended outside of a relationship with Jesus Christ. Jesus is to be the foundation of every building, the lifelong institution of marriage cannot be lived out in joy unless this truth is realized. Jesus literally laid down His life in order to bring all who are called by God back into relationship with Himself. In this same way marriage reflects this action of two people laying down their lives for each other. But again, this can't happen unless the individuals in marriage are laying down their lives to Jesus. Then, and only then, will the love of Jesus be able to fill the marriage and cause both individuals to joyfully lay down their lives in order to serve one another, just as Christ comes and serves us.
Becoming one.
So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church. For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones.“For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church. -Ephesians 5:28-32
Paul is reaffirming Genesis 2:24 in these verses. This is a mystery indeed, but Paul says that he speaks concerning Christ and the church. Jesus gave his life for the church, therefore we can say 'we are members of His body, of His flesh, and of His bones.' In this same sense, in marriage as a whole, two people become one flesh. This is clearly seen in the gift of children. One person coming from two separate people. Quite a mystery indeed. But quite wonderful as well. From this revelation, we can move on to 'no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it'. If we hated our own flesh, how strange would that be? Such a person would be labelled a lunatic. Is this not what marriage is ultimately confined to outside of understanding of Jesus and His love for the church? Sadly, yes.
God who is Love- captivate us and let us see Your love. Change our understanding of marriage. Let us see the fields of joy you prepare for us to run through with the one we love.
My heart is heavy over the state of marriage in today's society. There is so much independence desired from both sexes. Both male and female are refusing to lay down their lives. Let me begin by saying that this laying down of ones life cannot be comprehended outside of a relationship with Jesus Christ. Jesus is to be the foundation of every building, the lifelong institution of marriage cannot be lived out in joy unless this truth is realized. Jesus literally laid down His life in order to bring all who are called by God back into relationship with Himself. In this same way marriage reflects this action of two people laying down their lives for each other. But again, this can't happen unless the individuals in marriage are laying down their lives to Jesus. Then, and only then, will the love of Jesus be able to fill the marriage and cause both individuals to joyfully lay down their lives in order to serve one another, just as Christ comes and serves us.
Becoming one.
So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church. For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones.“For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church. -Ephesians 5:28-32
Paul is reaffirming Genesis 2:24 in these verses. This is a mystery indeed, but Paul says that he speaks concerning Christ and the church. Jesus gave his life for the church, therefore we can say 'we are members of His body, of His flesh, and of His bones.' In this same sense, in marriage as a whole, two people become one flesh. This is clearly seen in the gift of children. One person coming from two separate people. Quite a mystery indeed. But quite wonderful as well. From this revelation, we can move on to 'no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it'. If we hated our own flesh, how strange would that be? Such a person would be labelled a lunatic. Is this not what marriage is ultimately confined to outside of understanding of Jesus and His love for the church? Sadly, yes.
God who is Love- captivate us and let us see Your love. Change our understanding of marriage. Let us see the fields of joy you prepare for us to run through with the one we love.
Friday, October 28, 2011
Greed
And He said to them, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.” - Luke 12:15
Lord come. Break the hearts of all peoples who place greed as their idol.
We always want to be better than God. We all try to stand on our own without the Father. Greed is just one of those ways. Why do so much work? Why trust in our own ways; in means that literally disappear in a second? Man constantly tries to build a name for himself, and show how great he is. What a trivial pursuit. Shame on man. Shame on man for trusting in paper, plastic, and debt. When will man stop trying to fulfill his own heart? When will we give our heart back to our Lover? When will we stop trusting in covetousness? When will we stop trying to seat ourselves as God? "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding but acknowledge Him in all your ways, and He will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3: 5-6
Lord cast down our idols. Confuse all our plans with your majesty, your mystery. We submit to you. We submit to Your plan. Your authority.
C.S. Lewis says that unhealthy and inordinate desires create "an ever increasing craving for an ever diminishing pleasure." Are you tired of accumulating everything but possessing nothing? This is every human life without Jesus. Jesus comes to set us free from these desires to make a name for ourselves. Jesus sets us free to experience not our own love, but the love of the Father. We no longer have to secure our own future, but we are already secure in Him. Thank you Jesus for bringing us back to nothing, or as Job put it, "Naked I came from the womb, naked shall I return." I hold onto nothing in this life, for it is gone in the very next moment. I hold onto my identity as the Fathers' son. I need not worry about a thing. What a glorious freedom.
Paul speaking of money says this to Timothy:
"But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. 1 Timothy 6:11
Lord come. Break the hearts of all peoples who place greed as their idol.
We always want to be better than God. We all try to stand on our own without the Father. Greed is just one of those ways. Why do so much work? Why trust in our own ways; in means that literally disappear in a second? Man constantly tries to build a name for himself, and show how great he is. What a trivial pursuit. Shame on man. Shame on man for trusting in paper, plastic, and debt. When will man stop trying to fulfill his own heart? When will we give our heart back to our Lover? When will we stop trusting in covetousness? When will we stop trying to seat ourselves as God? "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding but acknowledge Him in all your ways, and He will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3: 5-6
Lord cast down our idols. Confuse all our plans with your majesty, your mystery. We submit to you. We submit to Your plan. Your authority.
C.S. Lewis says that unhealthy and inordinate desires create "an ever increasing craving for an ever diminishing pleasure." Are you tired of accumulating everything but possessing nothing? This is every human life without Jesus. Jesus comes to set us free from these desires to make a name for ourselves. Jesus sets us free to experience not our own love, but the love of the Father. We no longer have to secure our own future, but we are already secure in Him. Thank you Jesus for bringing us back to nothing, or as Job put it, "Naked I came from the womb, naked shall I return." I hold onto nothing in this life, for it is gone in the very next moment. I hold onto my identity as the Fathers' son. I need not worry about a thing. What a glorious freedom.
Paul speaking of money says this to Timothy:
"But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. 1 Timothy 6:11
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