As I was praying tonight, this thought came to me.
There can be no love or forgiveness where there is blame. Blame always has to do with judgment.
I guess if we blame anybody, we should blame the devil.
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Humble yourself in the sight of the Lord
The more time I spend alone with God, the more I feel driven to be on my knees before Him.
I think we've lost something in our western culture with our democracy and independance. We're prideful, in general. We don't bow before our president like people do to a king or dictator. Rather if our president doesn't do what pleases us, we grumble and resent and proclaim, "He's not my president, I didn't vote for him." And unlike under a king or dictator, we don't have to worry about being punished for our disrespect. And we look to build our own little kingdoms where people give us recognition and respect.
I am reminded of Elijah and how his only focus was to turn the people's attention to God and for them to repent before God and turn from their evil ways.
When I think of people physically bowing before God, the first thought that comes to my mind are Muslims. I also think of Buddhists. And the thought crossed my mind the other night as I spent time on my knees before God - Do more people worldwide physically bow down to false gods than people bow down physically to the real God?
I have grown up my entire life in church and in all the church services I've gone to for all the times we've prayed to God as a congregation, I don't think once ever were we asked to kneel if we could. But in sports, so often the coach tells the team, "Take a knee," and they pray that way. Is sports the only time Christianity deems it okay to pray on our knees?
All I know from the times I've spent with alone with God, He desires it greatly. Just as He wants us to pray out loud as often as we can and not silently, for He gave us a voice not only to talk to people in this world, He wants us to pray on our knees, to show Him the respect He deserves as the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords.
Once in awhile I see someone kneeling during the worship songs at church, but it's seldom. But I love seeing it.
I think we've lost something in our western culture with our democracy and independance. We're prideful, in general. We don't bow before our president like people do to a king or dictator. Rather if our president doesn't do what pleases us, we grumble and resent and proclaim, "He's not my president, I didn't vote for him." And unlike under a king or dictator, we don't have to worry about being punished for our disrespect. And we look to build our own little kingdoms where people give us recognition and respect.
I am reminded of Elijah and how his only focus was to turn the people's attention to God and for them to repent before God and turn from their evil ways.
When I think of people physically bowing before God, the first thought that comes to my mind are Muslims. I also think of Buddhists. And the thought crossed my mind the other night as I spent time on my knees before God - Do more people worldwide physically bow down to false gods than people bow down physically to the real God?
I have grown up my entire life in church and in all the church services I've gone to for all the times we've prayed to God as a congregation, I don't think once ever were we asked to kneel if we could. But in sports, so often the coach tells the team, "Take a knee," and they pray that way. Is sports the only time Christianity deems it okay to pray on our knees?
All I know from the times I've spent with alone with God, He desires it greatly. Just as He wants us to pray out loud as often as we can and not silently, for He gave us a voice not only to talk to people in this world, He wants us to pray on our knees, to show Him the respect He deserves as the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords.
Once in awhile I see someone kneeling during the worship songs at church, but it's seldom. But I love seeing it.
Friday, December 4, 2009
An eye for a tooth or love.
When someone is mean to you, the most natural response is revenge. For those who have learned restraint, the second most natural response is to ignore that person.
The Godly response is neither, the Godly response is to do good to that person, to show them love and compassion with no expectations in return.
Though this may be hard, though it may go against every fiber of our being, if we keep our mind focused on pleasing God, we can have a peace when people hate us, when people are mean to us, be it an enemy or a friend or a brother.
I think a lot about how Jesus said that if we love only those who love us, of what good is that to us? Even sinners do that. The hardest thing to do is to show love to someone who seems to despise us. To continually make that effort to show them kindness when all they do is return it with unkindness.
I remember what it was like to walk with an unforgiving heart, to harbor bitterness and hurt in my heart. I don't ever want to be that person again, though the devil may try hard to tempt me there. I want to love as Jesus loves, even when it hurts me to do so, because my reward is not in this world. I want to hear the Lord say, "Well done," when I see Him someday.
The Godly response is neither, the Godly response is to do good to that person, to show them love and compassion with no expectations in return.
Though this may be hard, though it may go against every fiber of our being, if we keep our mind focused on pleasing God, we can have a peace when people hate us, when people are mean to us, be it an enemy or a friend or a brother.
I think a lot about how Jesus said that if we love only those who love us, of what good is that to us? Even sinners do that. The hardest thing to do is to show love to someone who seems to despise us. To continually make that effort to show them kindness when all they do is return it with unkindness.
I remember what it was like to walk with an unforgiving heart, to harbor bitterness and hurt in my heart. I don't ever want to be that person again, though the devil may try hard to tempt me there. I want to love as Jesus loves, even when it hurts me to do so, because my reward is not in this world. I want to hear the Lord say, "Well done," when I see Him someday.
Friday, November 27, 2009
Fasting
Awhile back I had talked with a friend about fasting. It is something I have been interested in learning more about and doing for a long time, but every time I've tried fasting, medical complications always seem to rise up that stops me short of my goal.
This friend then gave me a book to read, "Fasting: Opening the door to a deeper, more intimate, more powerful relationship with God" by Jentezen Franklin. (Don't ask me how to pronounce his first name.) I ended up putting the book aside, something about it, maybe the cover, didn't appeal to me to actually read but I felt that since she was kind enough to lend me the book, I ought to read it. And for a long time now, it has been sitting on a shelf on my headboard, reminding me I need to read it and get it back to her.
At the beginning of this week, I started to feel guilty for having held onto this book for so long, so I made up my mind to read it so I could return it to her. What I found was a wonderful gem of a book. I tend to highlight, underline, and write in my books as I read them, but being that this wasn't my book, I didn't think the owner would appreciate me doing that, so I jotted down some notes in my prayer journal. Here are some quotes that stood out to me...
* Too many Christians find that they are malnourished in the Word but well fed on the world, and they live defeated lives as a result. - p. 123
* People want and need to be connected in relationships. That need to be connected is evidenced in the church by home groups and a greater emphasis on community. While that is good, if we're not careful, we can become too horizontally focused and not sufficiently vertically focused. Church right now, for the most part in the Western world, particularly in America, is all about me. "I want my needs met. Bless me; teach me; help me." While those are legitimate needs and desires, we must keep in mind that the cross has two beams: one is horizontal, but the other is vertical. - p. 162-163
* Today, if we have lost anything in this country, we have lost the right way. Yet I ask you, who is fasting for the protection of our little ones this age? Today, fasting has all but disappeared from regular Christian discipline. We have more media availability for preaching than ever before, yet sin and repentance are seldom preached. - p. 178-179
* Any time you fast, it is a hunger strike against hell. - p. 183
(I like that one!)
* Sanctification is the process of becoming holy in daily life; it is practicing purity and being set apart from the world and from sin. Sanctification is allowing the Holy Spirit to make us more like Jesus in what we do, in what we think, and in what we desire. - p. 224
* We need a sanctification of motives. We need a sanctification of desires. We need a sanctification of attitudes. We need a sanctification of the right spirit. We need a sanctification of our flesh. - p, 228
* Do you want things to change in your home? You are the priest of your home - fast, sanctify yourself, and take a firm stand in the middle of God's will! - p. 230
The book isn't too long, 237 pages on a book that's a little over 7 inches tall (short in comparison to most books it seems). And it does contain practical information on how to fast, however a different friend of mine handed me a much smaller pamphlet awhile back with the practicals of how to fast which I find to be more conveinant for figuring out that and even more details on how to actually fast. However, this book I find to be a wonderful sermon about why to fast and how much fasting was a part of the lives of those faithful to God in the Bible and how it really doesn't seem to be talked about or preached these days. A rather curious observation I discovered while reading.
It makes me wonder if the reason we don't see more of the power and glory of God in our lives is due to our disobedience in this. For this author quoted the Bible frequently throughout the book and pointed to how God moved most powerfully in the lives of people when they fasted. Daniel and Moses are two great examples.
I am ready to see a change in my own life, I am ready to see God answer my most desperate prayers, I am ready for Jesus to rekindle that fire that burned so bright the night I asked Him into my life. I am ready to go deeper with God.
This friend then gave me a book to read, "Fasting: Opening the door to a deeper, more intimate, more powerful relationship with God" by Jentezen Franklin. (Don't ask me how to pronounce his first name.) I ended up putting the book aside, something about it, maybe the cover, didn't appeal to me to actually read but I felt that since she was kind enough to lend me the book, I ought to read it. And for a long time now, it has been sitting on a shelf on my headboard, reminding me I need to read it and get it back to her.
At the beginning of this week, I started to feel guilty for having held onto this book for so long, so I made up my mind to read it so I could return it to her. What I found was a wonderful gem of a book. I tend to highlight, underline, and write in my books as I read them, but being that this wasn't my book, I didn't think the owner would appreciate me doing that, so I jotted down some notes in my prayer journal. Here are some quotes that stood out to me...
* Too many Christians find that they are malnourished in the Word but well fed on the world, and they live defeated lives as a result. - p. 123
* People want and need to be connected in relationships. That need to be connected is evidenced in the church by home groups and a greater emphasis on community. While that is good, if we're not careful, we can become too horizontally focused and not sufficiently vertically focused. Church right now, for the most part in the Western world, particularly in America, is all about me. "I want my needs met. Bless me; teach me; help me." While those are legitimate needs and desires, we must keep in mind that the cross has two beams: one is horizontal, but the other is vertical. - p. 162-163
* Today, if we have lost anything in this country, we have lost the right way. Yet I ask you, who is fasting for the protection of our little ones this age? Today, fasting has all but disappeared from regular Christian discipline. We have more media availability for preaching than ever before, yet sin and repentance are seldom preached. - p. 178-179
* Any time you fast, it is a hunger strike against hell. - p. 183
(I like that one!)
* Sanctification is the process of becoming holy in daily life; it is practicing purity and being set apart from the world and from sin. Sanctification is allowing the Holy Spirit to make us more like Jesus in what we do, in what we think, and in what we desire. - p. 224
* We need a sanctification of motives. We need a sanctification of desires. We need a sanctification of attitudes. We need a sanctification of the right spirit. We need a sanctification of our flesh. - p, 228
* Do you want things to change in your home? You are the priest of your home - fast, sanctify yourself, and take a firm stand in the middle of God's will! - p. 230
The book isn't too long, 237 pages on a book that's a little over 7 inches tall (short in comparison to most books it seems). And it does contain practical information on how to fast, however a different friend of mine handed me a much smaller pamphlet awhile back with the practicals of how to fast which I find to be more conveinant for figuring out that and even more details on how to actually fast. However, this book I find to be a wonderful sermon about why to fast and how much fasting was a part of the lives of those faithful to God in the Bible and how it really doesn't seem to be talked about or preached these days. A rather curious observation I discovered while reading.
It makes me wonder if the reason we don't see more of the power and glory of God in our lives is due to our disobedience in this. For this author quoted the Bible frequently throughout the book and pointed to how God moved most powerfully in the lives of people when they fasted. Daniel and Moses are two great examples.
I am ready to see a change in my own life, I am ready to see God answer my most desperate prayers, I am ready for Jesus to rekindle that fire that burned so bright the night I asked Him into my life. I am ready to go deeper with God.
Monday, November 16, 2009
Love and forgiveness for the Body of Christ
I had a good talk with a friend this weekend and the question arose regarding the Biblical issue of love. The Bible tells us that we are to love one another, but how do we love exactly?
Jesus said that entire law and the prophets could be summed up in only 2 commands - Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. And love your neighbor as yourself.
If it can all be summed up in just two commands, why then are the long and the prophets so long and detailed?
Because we humans struggle with a sinful nature that distorts how to love.
I've been thinking a lot lately about this verse:
"If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' do that." - Luke 6:32-33
Jesus is talking about loving our enemies in this passage. But don't we sometimes have brothers and sisters in Christ who don't love us and who don't do good to us? One problem that always seems to be prevalent in churches is gossip. Gossip is hurtful, unkind, things people say to others to turn them against the person being gossiped about. Is not our instinct to turn against or away from the person gossiping against us? Yet Jesus tells us to love such a person. And to forgive them, which leads to another verse I've been thinking a lot about lately:
"Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." - Luke 6:37-38a, 38c
Sometimes we Christians can be full of unforgiveness towards one another. Sometimes we seem to expect other Christians to be perfect knowing full well that none of us are. Sometimes we Christians can be unloving, impatient, and unkind to one another.
Sometimes someone just rubs us the wrong way and it's hard for us to be kind to them, to love them, to forgive them. Sometimes we let things build up for too long and don't even realize the bitterness that has built up in our own heart towards another.
So many people have been burned by churches and have left feeling hated, unwanted, unloved, uncared about. Awhile back I was in a prayer meeting and listened to a woman in tears ask why we don't pursue those who stop coming and encourage them to remain a part and not give up on them. Do we even notice when people stop coming? Or were we too busy only loving those in the church who loved us back, who stroked our need for acceptance and inclusion yet joined them in snubbing others and leaving them out?
So often if people are hurting or struggling, we fear that they will drag us down. We don't want to be around those who aren't fun and who make us laugh. And so we pawn them off telling them to get counseling or we just ignore them. I've seen people wilt under rejection who don't need counseling, they just need a friend, someone to care enough to keep them accountable and not say, "Welcome to church," and then walk away to rejoin their friends.
My heart breaks for this. I myself have been on all ends of this. I've been the one rejected, I've been the one to reject, I've been the one who ignores, I've been the one who didn't care, I've been the one to say what I should not have said, I've been the one to not speak when I should have, I've been the one to let fear keep me from being the loving sister in Christ that God wanted me to be.
And so I try, I try to include everyone if I can, I try to encourage everyone I can. Sometimes there is someone I just don't want to associate with, I don't want to give any attention to because I don't want them to give me any attention, and then I feel guilty and I feel convicted and I offer them the words of kindness God laid on my heart - and I have never regretted it once.
Jesus said that entire law and the prophets could be summed up in only 2 commands - Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. And love your neighbor as yourself.
If it can all be summed up in just two commands, why then are the long and the prophets so long and detailed?
Because we humans struggle with a sinful nature that distorts how to love.
I've been thinking a lot lately about this verse:
"If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' do that." - Luke 6:32-33
Jesus is talking about loving our enemies in this passage. But don't we sometimes have brothers and sisters in Christ who don't love us and who don't do good to us? One problem that always seems to be prevalent in churches is gossip. Gossip is hurtful, unkind, things people say to others to turn them against the person being gossiped about. Is not our instinct to turn against or away from the person gossiping against us? Yet Jesus tells us to love such a person. And to forgive them, which leads to another verse I've been thinking a lot about lately:
"Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." - Luke 6:37-38a, 38c
Sometimes we Christians can be full of unforgiveness towards one another. Sometimes we seem to expect other Christians to be perfect knowing full well that none of us are. Sometimes we Christians can be unloving, impatient, and unkind to one another.
Sometimes someone just rubs us the wrong way and it's hard for us to be kind to them, to love them, to forgive them. Sometimes we let things build up for too long and don't even realize the bitterness that has built up in our own heart towards another.
So many people have been burned by churches and have left feeling hated, unwanted, unloved, uncared about. Awhile back I was in a prayer meeting and listened to a woman in tears ask why we don't pursue those who stop coming and encourage them to remain a part and not give up on them. Do we even notice when people stop coming? Or were we too busy only loving those in the church who loved us back, who stroked our need for acceptance and inclusion yet joined them in snubbing others and leaving them out?
So often if people are hurting or struggling, we fear that they will drag us down. We don't want to be around those who aren't fun and who make us laugh. And so we pawn them off telling them to get counseling or we just ignore them. I've seen people wilt under rejection who don't need counseling, they just need a friend, someone to care enough to keep them accountable and not say, "Welcome to church," and then walk away to rejoin their friends.
My heart breaks for this. I myself have been on all ends of this. I've been the one rejected, I've been the one to reject, I've been the one who ignores, I've been the one who didn't care, I've been the one to say what I should not have said, I've been the one to not speak when I should have, I've been the one to let fear keep me from being the loving sister in Christ that God wanted me to be.
And so I try, I try to include everyone if I can, I try to encourage everyone I can. Sometimes there is someone I just don't want to associate with, I don't want to give any attention to because I don't want them to give me any attention, and then I feel guilty and I feel convicted and I offer them the words of kindness God laid on my heart - and I have never regretted it once.
Friday, October 23, 2009
People are...
This thought came to me as I was doing a little bit of painting after work. (Hoping the drop in temps doesn't ruin it.) Anyway...
The world is not filled with good and bad people. It's just filled with people who have the choice to do good or bad. When people do bad, they need forgiveness and encouragement to do good. When people do good, they don't need higher expectations put upon them that they can then never mess up because that will set them up for the possibility of a much greater fall.
That was my thought.
The world is not filled with good and bad people. It's just filled with people who have the choice to do good or bad. When people do bad, they need forgiveness and encouragement to do good. When people do good, they don't need higher expectations put upon them that they can then never mess up because that will set them up for the possibility of a much greater fall.
That was my thought.
Thursday, October 8, 2009
What Makes A Friend?
I imagine the definition of a real friend differs from person to person. This is my definition of a real friend, what makes a person a friend rather than just an aquaintance...
A friend loves at all times.
A friend misses you when you're gone.
A friend asks you how you're doing and gives you their full attention to respond.
A friend does not speak to you only when they want something from you (be it your time, your talents, your skills, etc...)
A friend does not try to shame you.
A friend does not talk down to you. They don't act superior over you.
A friend does not spend time with you only to do the things they want to do, but to do the things you want to do even when it's not something they necessarily enjoy.
A friend is honest but loving in their honesty.
A friend is loyal no matter what.
A friend checks up on you to see how you're doing and is concerned when your patterns start changing unexpectedly.
A friend wants to spend time with you.
A friend is always willing to lend a helping hand.
A friend is an encourager be it in words or notes.
A friend prays for and with you.
A friend is someone you can call in the middle of the night without fear of them despising you for it.
A friend does not despise your weakness.
A friend is quick to forgive and not hold anything over your head.
A friend is humble because it means putting you above themself when necessary.
A friend is more precious than gold or silver.
A true friend is hard to find but a joy unlike any other when discovered.
A friend is not perfect but does the best they can.
And a friend has times when they need to be forgiven as was just said, nobody's perfect.
You can be a friend to someone even if they refuse to be a friend to you. But you can not make anyone be a friend to you. And by Jesus' example, we are to be a friend to all whether they accept us or reject us.
A friend loves at all times.
A friend misses you when you're gone.
A friend asks you how you're doing and gives you their full attention to respond.
A friend does not speak to you only when they want something from you (be it your time, your talents, your skills, etc...)
A friend does not try to shame you.
A friend does not talk down to you. They don't act superior over you.
A friend does not spend time with you only to do the things they want to do, but to do the things you want to do even when it's not something they necessarily enjoy.
A friend is honest but loving in their honesty.
A friend is loyal no matter what.
A friend checks up on you to see how you're doing and is concerned when your patterns start changing unexpectedly.
A friend wants to spend time with you.
A friend is always willing to lend a helping hand.
A friend is an encourager be it in words or notes.
A friend prays for and with you.
A friend is someone you can call in the middle of the night without fear of them despising you for it.
A friend does not despise your weakness.
A friend is quick to forgive and not hold anything over your head.
A friend is humble because it means putting you above themself when necessary.
A friend is more precious than gold or silver.
A true friend is hard to find but a joy unlike any other when discovered.
A friend is not perfect but does the best they can.
And a friend has times when they need to be forgiven as was just said, nobody's perfect.
You can be a friend to someone even if they refuse to be a friend to you. But you can not make anyone be a friend to you. And by Jesus' example, we are to be a friend to all whether they accept us or reject us.
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