Say what you mean and mean what you say

Proverbs 12:18 - There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.

I know it's been a long time since I've been able to get on here and blog. I appreciate the loyal "followers" as you check in periodically. 


I've been thinking a lot about the holiday season, what a blessing it is to celebrate with family and friends, to reflect on those things we value and worship, and to re-focus on what matters most...which is Christ, and who we are becoming in and through Him.


Of late, I've been dealing with how to grant Jesus access to all areas of my life, as I have felt more busy with work and the "hustle and bustle" that surrounds us.


The devil tries to distract us, to get us worked up about small things, to be offended by what we think others are saying or doing...and when we allow him to deceive and lie to us, one small evil thought can carry a long way...and before we know it, what comes our of our mouths is unwholesome, hurtful and does not build up at all.


So my lesson to you today is two-fold...one - to be careful to tame our tongues...and to take time to listen before we jump to any conclusions, two - to be deliberate about communicating clearly, so that others will not misunderstand where you are coming from.


I have been at the giving and receiving end of each.  I know how easy it is to speak without discernment, to let loose because of emotive passion, to assume that something said or done demands an immediate response or rebuttal.  I also know how frustrating it is when someone is unclear, that you feel misled and defrauded in a sense, because you don't know for sure what someone means.


Let's all work on learning how to better judge what to say, when to say it, how to best say it, and then making sure those who are listening understand it well.


Grace and peace to you. 

Love and Good Works

"For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another.  But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.  The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works.  These things are excellent and profitable for people." – Titus 3:1-9

This passage says so much about HOW we are commanded are to love others, to be ready to do good works: 

1) remember who we used to be

2) to humble ourselves

3) to be reminded of God's saving grace, quick forgiveness and His rich mercy towards me

4) and then to be motivated to turn and desire to love, forgive, and give grace to all, including those who have wronged me

I wrote this prayer which helps me set my focus on Jesus and obedience to my Lord, to die to self and live for Christ:

-O, wretched sinner, wayward child that I am, consider the wondrous work of your Savior Jesus on the cross and bow down, revere His grace and mercy, His majesty!

-Bask in the riches as an adopted heir of the King of Kings and ask not what God can do for me but how I can serve Him and others best, all for His glory!

-Christ is gain, to live and carry this cross, my cross, is my privilege and true joy. Take pleasure in being fully satisfied in a faithful, loving, kind, good God!

May this encourage you, dear brothers and sisters, to think of new and creative ways to be a blessing to others, to "consider how to stir up one another to love and good works" - Heb. 10:24.   

Grace and peace to you!

On self-control

I have just started reading Feminine Appeal by Carolyn Mahaney and wanted to share a few things from her chapter on self-control.


She writes:
"Self-control is so important that the apostle Paul required it, directly or by inference, of every group of Christians he addressed in the Titus 2 chapter.  The emphasis placed on this virtue reveals how essential self-control is if we are to effectively commend the gospel. We cannot affort to ignore it. Therefore, if Scripture requires self-control from every Christian, it is obviously attainable by every Christian."


She addresses self-control and how it relates to eating (too much/too little), sleeping (too much or too little), our thoughts and feelings, and our behavior. Self control doesn't just happen but requires effort.  However, it is critical to realize that it is the Lord who equips us to attain this.


What I really enjoyed most was her ending comments on the one behavior, if diligently pursued would promote self-control in all other areas of our life - the daily practice of meeting with God.


"When we meet with God, we can find peace in the midst of trying circumstances, eternal perspective where we have lost sight of the truth, and power to fight our battle against sin.  We will resemble that tree in Psalm 1 that is healthy, strong, and fruit bearing.  Therefore we should eagerly and consistently respond to our Savior's invitation to come and meet with him."


I would like to encourage all of you to desire and work to gain greater self-control in your lives, abiding in Him, to enable you through your continual dependence and reliance on Him.


Grace and peace to you.

Perspective

Too often, we are preoccupied with things that do not matter. When I reflect on what I do not have, what I desire, what I think I need, I get sad, or even worse, I start to complain and become someone I do not want to be.

On the other hand, as I keep Jesus, and His work on the cross as my only focus, everything on earth, EVERYTHING fades away. I am a wretched sinner. I deserve wrath and judgment for my sins, eternal separation from God...but God chose to save me, to send a precious Savior to die in my place.

Amazing Grace, how can it be? That Thou my God shouldst die for me.

We are small, insignificant, and naturally selfish and wayward creatures. In the grand scheme of things, anything we may encounter is just as small and unimportant...but God takes care to notice and to get involved...in His timing, in His way. He desires to be OUR life, to direct and define who we are becoming...that He alone is enough and sufficient and will provide for our every need.

God, please look on us with kindness, when we are not faithful or place things or people in front of your purposes, when comfort outweighs character in our twisted minds. Teach us how to serve like your Son did. Help us to be humble, to wait on you, to trust in you more and more.

God, give us a hope and longing for heaven...a greater love and desire to put you first and foremost in our lives before all other "priorities", to live a pleasing and honorable life before you and others, and help us to seek your glory in all that we do.

God, transform our hearts so we can be useful to you. Give us the right perspective on where our energy, desires, and love should be (not on self, but in consideration and deference to others).

Lord, you are Lord of our lives. God, please make us a blessing, that the lost would come to know you.

Grace and peace to you.

Of stones and logs

I was struck deeply this morning by the words of Andrew Murray in his book "Humility":

(pg. 55) - "The humble man looks upon every child of God, the most weak and unworthy, and honors him and prefers him as a son of the King."

Guilty, I thought to myself.

(pg. 56) - "Amid temptations to impatience and irritableness, to hard thoughts and sharp words that come in response to the failings and sins of fellow-Christians, the humble person carries the oft-repeated injunction in his heart and shows it in his life: "Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, even as the Lord forgave you."

Man, that's so true of me again.

"In striving after the higher experiences of the Christian life, the believer is often in danger of seeking more visible virtues...rather than the gentler graces, those which are more distinctly connected with Jesus' cross and death to self: poverty of spirit, meekness, humility, lowliness."

Yes, Christlikeness should be one of service, compassion, long-suffering...areas I so dearly lack.

And I was once again reminded of the woman caught in adultery in John 7:53-8:11 (although the earliest manuscripts do not include it). It is insightful as I am naturally and already gathering stones, ready to cast, quick to condemn, slow to evaluate and check my own heart, and even slower to adopt Jesus' attitude and response, love for her, and to learn from my Master's example.

God, I'm so guilty. Please help me with my pride. Help me to love those you love, that genuine humility must "abide" in us, as we abide in Christ and die to self.

I myself have been forgiven so much.

Andrew Murray says it well: "Let us look upon everyone who tries us as God's means of grace, God's instrument for our purification, for our exercise of the humility of Jesus."

Phil. 2:3-5 - "Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus"

1 John 4:7, 21 - "Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother."

Luke 6:41-42 - "Why do you see the SPECK that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the LOG that is in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, 'Brother, let me take out the speck that is in your eye, when you yourself do not see the log that is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will SEE CLEARLY to take out the speck that is in your brother's eye."

Lord, help us to be patient, to overlook offenses, to be gentle, sweet and kind, willing to associate with people of lowly position (Rom. 12:16). Help us to be humble.

Grace and peace to you.

How the future influences the present

I've been watching this new show called FlashForward on ABC. It's basically about a worldwide blackout that occurs in everyone's consciousness in which each person experiences a two minute and 17 second dream sequence or "memory" of what happens or what they're doing 6 months into the future.

There are few interesting things I have derived from it. First, there's the age-old interplay between fate and our choices, kinda like predestination/election vs. free will. Second, the characters seem to be impacted dramatically by what they saw, whether it motivates them to live with hopeful expectation or dread. Finally, the key is trying to decide whether the dream/memory is "actual" or just "potential" seems to be the main pull.

And as fascinating as this is, I've thought about how we ought to think about the future, about what we do know for sure, and how that affects what we do now.

In Philippians 3:20-21, Paul says "But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself." I don't know about you, but that gets me really excited! How we are to long for that day, and we'll have glorious bodies, and we'll meet Jesus face to face!

Similarly, Hebrews 11:13-16 states "These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city."

And so the heroes of the faith looked forward with anticipation, not having the Bible, lived with conviction, hoping in a future that God had promised, a better country in heaven. And this is the SURE future that we have when we who have faith in Jesus can be motivated by. It is a blessed and amazing and glorious future to behold!

This also reminds me of lyrics in Enfield's song "Arrived":

Watching and waiting our whole life through

For the moment when we arrived in glory.

We'll be standing before His emerald throne.

O what a day it will be!

All tears are gone and suffering ceased,

Perfect new life with no earthly strife,

For we've finished the race, run to His embrace.

O what a day that will be!

When we've arrived, stunned and surprised,

All things resolved in the blink of an eye;

No more distractions, no sin left to fight.

That first glimpse of Jesus and faith becomes sight.

Praise God that He's made a way for us to know Him and His revealed promises to us! Praise God that He is sovereign over all and in control! The Truth is that we who put our faith in Jesus have so much to be excited about.

I pray this encourages you today, and that it daily impacts how you choose to live your life today, with gospel realities front and center, loving those around you passionately for Christ's glory!

Grace and peace to you.

Pride v. Humility

Wow, it's been a long time since I've been able to blog. I will try harder to post more regularly!

Today's sharing comes from the notes from my Discipleship Counseling class. More specifically, the ideas are from Andrew Murray's writings in his book on humility.

The epidemic vice and root of every vice is pride.

The endangered virtue and root of every virtue is humility.

Pride - The mindset of self (a master's mindset rather than that of a servant): a FOCUS on self and the service of self, a PURSUIT of self-recognition and self-exaltation, and a DESIRE to control and use all things for self.

Humility - The mindset of Christ (a servant's mindset): a FOCUS on God and others, a PURSUIT of the recognition and the exaltation of God, and a DESIRE to glorify and please God in all things and by all things He has given.

In our study, we listed about 30 manifestations of pride, including: a lack of gratitude, seeing yourself better than others, talking too much about yourself, seeking independence and control, being unteachable, lack of service, lack of asking forgiveness, resisting authority, being jealous or envious, using attention-getting tactics, and more.

We also listed manifestations of humility: recognizing and trusting God's character, focusing on Christ, seeing yourself as no better than others, talking about others only if it is good or for their good, being gladly submissive and obedient to those in authority, seeking to build others up, serving, admitting when you are wrong, repenting of sin as a way of life.

There are so many verses (Col. 3:12, James 4:7-10, Prov. 27:2, Rom. 12:3, Prov. 6:16-17, Jer. 9:23-24) that correspond to these, and I would encourage you to seek out the Scriptures diligently, and pray that the Holy Spirit can help you regularly inspect and search your heart because pride can be blinding, and so subtle but ever so present in our lives.

Dear friends, without careful evaluation, pride pollutes our lives and poisons our relationships with each other, but especially with our almighty God because it becomes self-worship.

May we learn to regain a high view of God and a proper view of self, so that we can put off pride and put on humility at the level of our thoughts and motives, through our communications, and in our deeds.

"Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross." - Phil. 2:3-8

Our battle with sin is a daily thing. I pray that you'll work hard to clothe yourself with humility, and by God's grace, to "have" and make our own, the mind of Christ.

Grace and peace to you.

Idols of the heart

"You shall have no other gods before me." - Ex. 20:3

"Sin is fundamentally idolatrous." Isn't that so true? We're reading parts of Instruments in the Redeemer's Hands for Biblical Counseling by Paul David Tripp and it is soooo good.

I was listening to a song by Paul Alan called "One Thing". I can't make out exactly what he's singing about, sounds like waiting on answers from God, but the lyrics also imply that we're all reaching for something...and that emptiness is good, the thirst is good, because it needs to be for God and God alone.

It's easy to migrate worship of the Creator into worship of a created thing. Questions you can ask yourself are:

1) What is ruling my heart in this situation?

2) What do I become anxious over or fearful over?

3) Do I desire or want something that God does not want or desire?

When desires become demands, the "thing/person" gains position of prominence. We are unhappy without it, can disobey God to have it/keep it, or if you don't get it, you will disobey God.

Here are some other good barometers for understanding where your "treasure" and "worship" lies:

1) how you spend your time

2) what you sacrifice to do certain things with certain people

3) what you spend your money on

4) what you have frustration over, in the sense that you want/need something God hasn't given to you

"Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry." - 1 Cor. 10:14

"Little children, keep yourselves from idols." - 1 John 5:21

"Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry." - Col. 3:5

So how do we battle these idols?* It's so subtle, something seemingly innocent, then creeps up and becomes 1st in our hearts.

a) Pray daily

b) Ask yourself hard questions, invite the Holy Spirit to search your heart

c) Write down how your particular idol is worshipped

d) Acknowledge it for what it is - sin of idolatry

e) Ask God for forgiveness

f) Study God's character and replace that idol worship with worship of God

*adapted materials from GCC DC1 class

We probably all struggle with this, especially when "self" is placed over God - that's SIN!

I pray that God will help us see the idolatry, to search our hearts against, to bind our wandering hearts back to Him.

"I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules. You shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers, and you shall be my people, and I will be your God." - Ezekiel 36:25-28

Grace and peace to you.

The cross affects every category of our existence

Just a quick post today. I wanted to share a particularly well written and concise piece on the cross. This is a direct excerpt from Ch. 6 of Worldliness:

"For Paul, the cross was the singular, decisive, existence-altering reality of his life. No category of Paul's existence remained untouched by Christ's atoning death on his behalf.

The cross reinterpreted his past, revealing his sinfulness and the futility of his efforts to earn God's approval.

The cross also defined his present. Now, for Paul, "to live is Christ" (Phil. 1:21). Knowing Christ, pleasing Christ, serving Christ, glorifying Christ - Christ became the very meaning and purpose of Paul's life.

And of course, the cross determined his future - if living is Christ, then "to die is gain" (1:21). All of Paul's hopes and joys lay in Christ, and death simply brought these to their fullest realization.

As a result, the cross was the crucial factor defining Paul's relationship with the world. On the one hand, the world was crucified to him. It held no sway over Paul, nor was he dependent upon it for anything. He didn't crave its approval, embrace its values, or covet its rewards. On the other hand, Paul had been crucified to the world. At his conversion, he was "crucified with Christ" (Gal. 2:20); in his union with Christ, his sins had been forgiven and his sinful nature crucified. Life in this world would never be the same.

How are you and I to view our existence in this world? Through the prism of Christ's saving work on the cross. The cross transforms all the categories of our lives. It answers the central questions of the human predicament.

The cross tells me who I am. Apart from grace, I'm a sinner separated from God and subject to wrath, but through the cross I've been forgiven, adopted into God's family, and transformed by the Holy Spirit to know, love, and glorify God.

The cross interprets the world I inhabit. God made this world good, and although sin severly corrupted it, the cross demonstrates God's commitment to remove sin from his creation and his power to restore it to himself.

The cross transforms my view of people. Although made in the image of God, because of sin they are guilty, corrupt, and liable to punishment before a holy God. However, the gospel offers men and women hope, because on the cross Christ paid for the sins of all who would ever be forgiven.

The cross gives my life purpose. Through the cross I've been purchased by God and restored to his original purposes for me. I now can know him and glorify him in this world, reflecting his character and laboring to see his reign expressed throughout creation.

What part does the cross play in your life? Does it tower over all the other realities of your earthly existence? Does it define who you are and how you live?

When we see our lives in light of what Jesus Christ accomplished on the cross, everything will be different. We won't be enamored by a fallen world that opposes God; it is for such a world that our Savior died. Nor will we ignore the world, untouched by its God-glorifying potential or unmoved by its needs. Rather, we'll take our place in this world, enjoying God's gifts, fulfilling God's purposes, and giving our lives to see the gospel proclaimed, sinners saved, and God glorified."

I pray that you'll be encouraged and challenged to live such a cross-centered life.

Grace and peace to you.

Our heart condition

It's been a while since I've been able to blog, haven't really had much time to sit down and type up my thoughts so I'm happy to be back! Been reading and reflecting a lot though, these past three weeks have gone by quickly...

I'm reading a book on Worldliness, put together by C.J. Mahaney. It has me thinking about how much we allow the world to influence us, rather than the other way around. On pg. 20, it mentions Demas, someone who was burning bright with the love of Christ for a while, and then suddenly faded from fellowship and turned his back on Christ. It's tragic, and could happen to anyone of us.

"A love for the world begins in the soul. It's subtle, not always immediately obvious to others, and often undetected by the people who are slowly succumbing to its lies.
It begins with a dull conscience and a listless soul. Sin does not grieve him like it once did. Passion for the Savior begins to cool. Affections grow dim. Excitement lessens for participating in the local church. Eagerness to evangelize starts to wane. Growth in godliness slows to a crawl."

So, please ask yourself this...are you drifting?

"The greater our difference from the world, the more true our testimony for Christ - and the more potent our witness against sin."

Pastor Rick Holland reminded us of the frightening realities of hell on Sunday - a place of ETERNAL torment, where you have no relationships, friends or people to talk to, where it is totally dark, and you know that God is out there, but you cannot enjoy or feel His presence (Luke 16). How horrible is that? Many of us have loved ones that are on their way there...

HOW ARE YOU LIVING YOUR LIFE IN A WAY THAT BRINGS LIGHT INTO DARKNESS, THAT HONORS GOD, THAT DRAWS UNBELIEVERS TO CHRIST? Or are you indistinguishable from the world?

In the choices that we make day to day, how should we then live? Scripture commands us to be holy:

"As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct" - 1 Pet. 1:14-15

To walk in a manner that is worthy:

"so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God." - Col. 1:10

In obedience to His word:

"If you love me, you will keep my commandments. Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me." John 14:15, 21

Yes, I'll be the first to admit that it's very hard. We are all sinners. However, be honest with yourself, search your hearts (deceitful and misleading, and wretched as it is), confess your sins, and surrender it all to God. The book continues: "We must run to the cross where God's holiness and mercy intersect decisively. We find grace. Grace that forgives. Grace that empowers us to change. Grace that leads us to desire and pursue obedience."

Most of us have a healthy mind and volition, but we must train it to align with Truth and what Scripture teaches. Submit to God's authority and Lordship, yield to Him when He leads you and asks you to give things up that seem "pleasurable" or "exciting" or "desirable" for the moment, for things that are beneficial, honorable, and pure. God's best is always for our own good.

My dear friends, we are to be NEW creatures, set apart from the world because of the precious sacrifice Jesus made on our behalf:

"Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God." - Col. 3:2,3

"And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires." - Gal. 5:24

God, I pray for more opportunities to shine your light in this fallen world, that I would not succomb to the lies, to continue to pursue You and glory for Your name alone.

Grace and peace to you.

More loving

I've been thinking about some things...why we sometimes make it more difficult than it has to be. A large part of it has to do with our unwillingness to surrender to God, to trust Him completely. There are people around me that keep making foolish decisions, ignore counsel, when they KNOW what is right and deliberately refuse. People insist on "settling" into what is comfortable and convenient when they KNOW much better is available. So naive...so sad. And I would posit that it is never "God's will" to be subject to church discipline, to alienate yourself from a church community, to be excited to rush into/planning to sin...

I do not presume to know or understand many things. God is in control and will hold us all to account on how we lived our lives. People can be irrational and sin is always extremely deceitful. Our hearts betray us all the time...and without God's grace and a constant "fight" against selfish sinful desires, I fear we openly sign up for Satan's service, inviting God's "spanking" more than we should.

And when you really begin to scrutinize the way you choose to live, SO MUCH is defined by what you value, and the people who are around you, shaping you...if your closest friends are passionate about Jesus and the Word and loving God's people, you'll start to be that way. On the other hand, if your closest friends prioritize gym, work, and significant other ABOVE spiritual growth...you'll do the same.

At the end of the day, if Jesus isn't at the center, if it's not going to be a spiritual connection we have with each other, then it's not really worth it. Without the Word informing us about how we are to live and relate to one another, we cannot claim to be "GOOD" for each other or that we truly "LOVE" each other because the world knows nothing about that, because only God defines what those are.

We need knowledge of God's Word to even be able to distinguish what is true and what is fraud. Love isn't about feelings...not about physical attraction...not about compatibility. Rather, it's about sacrifice, it's about putting the other above your own selfish needs, it's seeking what's God's best for that person, devotion/commitment to their ultimate good...which includes hating the sin in their life.

And if you're unable to do that for one another, and they're unable to do that for you, is that loving at all?

I pray that God will open up our eyes. First find the sin in your own life. Confess and repent. Then go and help get the sin out of your brother's/sister's life. And really, shame on you if you're the one causing them to stumble.

Live in a way so that when you have to give account, you can say for certain it was done with faithfulness, with love, and that you had their good, God's best in mind.

Grace and peace to you.

Serve the Lord with gladness

"Slaves, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ, not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart" - Ephesians 6:5-6

This past Sunday was a "full day" event. Our dear Pastor Kurt was leaving for a senior pastorship position in Hickory, North Carolina just as I was becoming a member at Grace. It was a day of bittersweet moments, as I symbolically signaled my "leaving" MBCP and "cleaving" to my new church family and community.

And yet, as I sat and reflected on all that has happened these past few months, I see evidence of God's grace everywhere...how appropriate is that? :)

So as I learn and am eager to grow even more, I'm borrowing a "Kurtism", especially as an encouragement to remind myself with when I feel overwhelmed by the weight of the sin that surrounds us, the deceitfulness and real wickedness that defines our human condition; to serve my Lord faithfully, because I love Him, and to do so with gladness.

Everything I have, including my health, my family, my friends, food, shelter, clothing, the ability to walk, see, hear, feel, and smell (haha) is given to me anew every single day...by God's grace. I am blessed.

Should I feel the least bit of self-pity or despair, shame on me, for I have once again forgotten the goodness of my Savior's love and sacrifice, that I AM NOT MY OWN, but a slave to Christ --> not only is this my duty (Luke 17:10), but it is my honor and privilege and it should be my JOY to serve.

Lord, please forgive me when I slip into "me-mode" and focus on me. Please increase my faith. Show me how I can live and serve you in whatever you place in my path... difficult people, difficult situations...with love, excellence, humility and gladness. :)

Grace and peace to you.

Rejection

I've been thinking about something recently. Why is it that we often hold such a high view of what other people think of us?

It's always the people we care most about, the ones we make ourselves transparent and vulnerable to, the ones we respect and love, that can really crush our spirits, and send us down a path of despair...and I'm guilty of this "fear of man" as much as you are.

But when you get to the root of it, rejection can be a good thing. I mean, it hurts and can sting really bad, but here's what I've learned:
1) God wants our sole and undivided attention and devotion
2) these people are or are dangerously close to becoming your idols
3) the way you feel/react is much more important
4) these people aren't worthy of that power over you

So what can we do to set proper boundaries, to acknowledge this for what it truly is?

I believe we have to first confess it as sin, that our fear of man and the desire to be needed and cared for by those people has superceded our fear of God. Second, we need to be vigilant and guard our hearts. And lastly, we need to be a lot more flexible and allow for opportunities to be let down without being so disappointed, sad or frustrated.

I know it's hard...but His grace is sufficient for you.

We all live within a community and we're relational by design. Nobody likes being rejected. Nobody wants to be told that they're not likable or pleasant to be around. But hurt doesn't always equal harm, and we have to be discerning about what is good and what is bad, judging our hearts, and our perspectives.

And believe it or not, even when you feel the most lonely, there's always someone around who is more than willing to listen, to relate, to love, and accept you AS YOU ARE. I know it's kinda cheesy, but Jesus loves you and is the only one who is worthy of that "high regard".

Grace and peace to you.

Starve the flesh, feed the Spirit

What does it really mean to die to self, fight sin and fleshly desires? There is a battle that wages inside of us everyday...

Romans 8:12-14 - "So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh - for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God."

Pastor John MacArthur's commentary explains putting to death the deeds of the body, how the apostle Paul destroys FALSE views of how believers are made holy:

1) that in a crisis-moment we are immediately made perfect;
2) that we must "let God" take over while we remain idle;
3) that some turning-point decision will propel us to a higher level of holiness

Rather, the apostle says the Spirit provides us with the energy and power to continually and gradually be killing our sins, a process never completed in this life.

The means the Spirit uses to accomplish this process is our faithful obedience to the simple commands of Scripture like Rom. 13:14 - "But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make NO provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts."

In addition, we are to be led by the Spirit (vs. 14) not through subjective, mental impressions or promptings or "signs" to provide direction in making life's decisions. Instead, God's Spirit objectively leads us sometimes through circumstances (Acts 16:7) but PRIMARILY through: 1) illumination, divinely clarifying Scripture to make it understandable to our sinful, finite minds, and 2) sanctification, divinely enables us to obey Scripture - Gal. 5:16,17 - "But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please."

So the takeaway I get from this is that we're commanded to WORK with the Spirit, to cooperate, and actively participate in this process of obedience and fighting the flesh.

Beloved, I know what it likes to feel the onslaught of Satan's attacks, the struggles we face everyday, the constant requirement to be aware and deliberate about seeking holiness.

We don't have to be taught how to be selfish. We don't have to be taught how to be disobedient. We don't have to be taught how to sin. All of this is natural...default. We cannot be ignorant, idle, or lukewarm about our relationship with Christ.

I'm a thinker. I'm analytical. I'm always interested in progress, perseverance, and living purposefully. Let's be wise with the choices laid before us. Read and meditate on Scripture! Let's press on towards love and good deeds, holiness, all with greater humility, self-control, and Spirit filled living...all for God's glory!

Grace and peace to you.

Our just God

I've been reflecting on this passage in Romans, seeing again that God is just indeed.

And isn't that what we all try to impose on our own? We all demand some sense of "fairness" in this world. Good should be rewarded and evil punished. But we've all lived long enough to know that it doesn't always seem that way...people who choose unrighteousness and sin appear to be happy and prosper, people who are righteous and desire holiness struggle and suffer...

As children, we're always complaining and comparing, questioning why others aren't treated the same. As adults, not much changes, but perhaps the bitterness lingers longer when "justice" as we understand it doesn't occur on OUR TIMING, by OUR METHODS.

But it's not about us, or our limited understanding or our comfort. God is interested in the bigger picture, showing us how to grow greater faith and trust in Him. If we were in command, where would our need for a Savior fit in? And not only does He know best, He does it better than anyone could, and I believe God is always working toward our good, for His glory. (Rom. 8:28)

So here's the verse:
Romans 2:4-8 - "Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance? But because your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, who will render to each person according to his deeds: to those who by perseverance in doing good seek for glory and honor and immorality, eternal life; but to those who are selfishly ambitious and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, wrath and indignation."

I don't know about you, but I have a strong sense of justice in me...and it brings me great comfort that God is in control, sees all, knows all, and will reward and punish accordingly. That things are not being unnoticed...and we must give account for how we live our lives.

So, I pray that you'll ask yourself the hard questions today...what's getting in the way of your pursuit of Christlikeness? Are there any plans and hopes and dreams you are still holding on to that may not square with the will of God for your life? If you had to surrender any of these for the cause of Christ, how would you react? Will you not submit to your Heavenly Father's care?

Life is too short. We ought to examine our hearts daily, to fall to our knees again and again at the foot of the cross, taking in the full measure of God's grace and love for us in Jesus' sacrifice, and think Lord, I'm not worthy, but I'll serve You the best I can, I'll serve You until You return.

Grace and peace to you.

What's your zeal index?

Wow, it's been 2 weeks! I'm pretty disappointed in myself that I haven't had the opportunity to keep up with blogging. I really need to get back into the routine of setting time aside to post...but I hope you're encouraged by this one!

I'd like to focus this post on two passages - 2 Corinthians 13:5, 7:11.

13:5 - "Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you - unless indeed you faith the test?"

7:11 - "For behold what earnestness this very thing, this godly sorrow, has produced in you: what vindication of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what longing, what zeal, what avenging of wrong! In everything you demonstrated yourselves to be innocent in the matter."

I believe a life that has experienced true repentance and transformation will bear good fruits (John 15), that true believers love God, love His word, are devoted to God's glory, AND are eager to obey.

With that said, I wonder why it is then that people sometimes cannot distinguish "believers" from "non-believers". Are we not to be set apart? To be way different from the world and to live our lives in excellence, above reproach, for God's honor and glory?

And so I ran across a very interesting quote by Bishop J.C. Ryle about zeal in religion:

A zealous man sees only one thing, cares only for one thing, lives for one thing; he is swallowed up for one thing. He burns for one thing; that thing is to please God, and to advance God's glory.

And I thought hard about what I'm passionate about, if I could identify what I saw as "passion" and "zeal" in others around me, and if those lined up with what we profess as believers...and that has turned up mixed results.

I asked a friend of mine recently to present evidence of "fruit" in the life of her friend, and her response was "why should I do that?" I have reflected on that...and quite frankly, the lack of discernment is frightening.

The saddest thing is...we often spend time and money and resources thinking about, pursuing things that are NOT pleasing to God, not advancing God's glory. Makes you wonder even more about why these things aren't more "obvious" to us, that things that matter greatly to the heart of God, should matter to us. That God is a jealous God (Ex. 20:5) and he deserves our full devotion and attention!

So I pray that your witness, your example, your life is one of zeal (as defined above), that others could characterize you as a zealous man or zealous woman, someone who recklessly abandons and counts it all loss in order to pursue that "one thing".

May God grant us the ability and opportunity to cultivate hearts that are not "lukewarm", that no one has to ask whether you love Jesus, whether you serve God, whether you believe the Bible as truth and the food you long for.,.because it should be OBVIOUS.

Grace and peace to you.

Resolve to be spent...

It's been a week since I last blogged but it feels like much longer. I actually haven't had much time to do too many of my normal routines - being sick meant not being able to go to the gym, having less time to spend during quiet times, and barely checking/responding to emails.

And life has been pretty interesting lately...but everyday is a learning experience, and I'm just enjoying the ride that God has taken me on, learning to go back to basics, trusting Him - that there's not much "faith" involved if we know what's to happen...only to believe that God is good, has our best in mind, is steadfast, loving, and faithful, and will provide.

So, I'm coming up on my last week at BarBri grading, and I'm relieved in many ways - because I desire to have more free time to blog, study, and read - also realizing how much I take for granted the energy I used to have during my younger years...trying to keep up with 310 and their social activities can be quite taxing.

And it's in my moments of physical weakness, that I'm again reminded of how much I need to rely on God for everything...that even though I trust Him to feed me, keep me warm and sheltered, that my every breath is a gift...

My encouragement to you on this Sunday evening is to keep pushing hard, to strain and continue that pursuit of holiness and Christlikeness, to be spent for Him, to love and serve others in a sacrificial and obvious way...that even when you're exhausted, the words that roll off your tongue (flowing out of a joyful heart) are praises to the Father above for all that He gives us: "good" and "bad" times, "good" and "bad" news, that I've been granted another day...

that He's perserved me for a unique and special purpose and that my goal should be to honor and glorify Him despite my shortcomings and own expectations...

that I can rest deeply knowing that I'm doing better than I deserve...

that I'm to be prepared in and out of season, to obey and serve Him with every ounce of strength I have in me...until Jesus returns!

Grace and peace to you.

God's ways do not change

I've been feeling under the weather, battling a bit of a cold, fatigued and more mellow than usual but it's a time of reflection and relying on God's strength from day to day.

I wanted to share briefly from J.I. Packer's "Knowing God". May this encourage you today.

"God's ways do not change. He continues to act toward sinful men and women in the way that he does in the Bible story. Still he shows his freedom and lordship by discriminating between sinners, causing some to hear the gospel while others do not hear it, and moving some of those who hear it to repentance while leaving others in their unbelief, thus teaching his saints that he owes mercy to NONE and that it entirely of his GRACE, not at all through their own effort, that they themselves have found life.

Still he blessses those on whom he sets his love in a way that humbles them, so that all the glory may be HIS alone. Still he hates the sins of his people, and uses all kinds of inward and outward pains and griefs to wean their hearts from compromise and disobedience. Still he seeks the fellowship of his people, and sends them both sorrows and joys in order to detach their love from other things and attach it to himself. Still he teaches believers to value his promised gifts by making them wait for those gifts, and compelling them to pray persistently for them, before he bestows them."

Our God is constant, and we too are to be steadfast and immovable (1 Cor. 15:58) when it comes to living our lives out based on Biblical Truth. I pray that you are fighting sin in your life, and pursuing that path towards holiness, in order to endeavor to be more like Christ in thought, word, and deed.

Grace and peace to you.

God that gives

What can I say but that God never ceases to amaze me. I am not who I used to be.

How many of you wake up with a song on your heart? And it's such a joy to praise corporately as well. I was so blessed by the rich teaching and worship at the Resolved conference...which continues as I attend various 310 and Grace activities.

Our God works in mysterious ways...and I find life to be a constant exercise of faith. As I'm eager to see where the next steps are for me, I just can't help but chuckle along the way.

Over the past week or so, I've learned how God puts people in our lives, ahead of us, to give us guidance, advice from experience, and for that I'm so grateful. That seems to be a common theme these days, huh?

And I've also thought deeply about why God would choose me, why He continues to put up with my shortcomings, and impatience, and why He loves giving us gifts we do not deserve. When the world is complaining, wallowing in their negativity, and feeling helpless, hopeless, we often try to ignore that and put on a face of "things are ok"...but if we look at Matt. 7, it's a whole different story, God wants to give good things to us, if we would ask of our dear Father. Isn't that wonderful?

I don't have as much time to blog these days between work and activities with 310 folks, but I intend to get back into the swing of things...so I hope you are all enjoying the blessings that God continues to grant, even in the most surprising and interesting places, and to savor it as something from your dear Father who is always looking out for your best interest.

Stay tuned...

Grace and peace to you.

Getting to know...

I'm so amazed by how awesome our God is. There are new things I'm learning everyday! I'm comforted by the fact that although life can be unpredictable sometimes, we're have a God that is consistent, unchanging. And although we don't understand, or don't want to accept things as they are, God is working in His mysterious ways, ways that I trust are for my good, for His glory.

I'm currently working through J.I. Packer's "Knowing God". It's excellent so far, as he explains that knowing God is so much more than head knowledge, so much more than doing things, so much more than an "ends". He describes how complex "getting to know" can be, especially when the object/person is complex. And it's this God that draws us and opens Himself up to us, to know, to "experience" so to speak. Isn't that wonderful?

I was listening to KKLA this morning and the guest was Ed Underwood, senior pastor at Church of the Open Door in Glendora, CA. He was sharing about his "gift" of lymphoma, and how God has used this to bring warmth into his ministry, to unify his church, to bring God more glory...and I'm so humbled by yet another example of this sort of "everyday" surrender and great faith.

I am blessed to be around people who also demonstrate this with their struggles/crosses and feel so fortunate to observe and learn from their examples.

And he made one comment that really struck out in my mind, something that reminded me about how much theology affects our perspective and worldview: "that as a father, he's not smart enough to orchestrate pain/discipline/trial into the lives of his children, but that we have a Heavenly Father that does."

What an excellent observation. It's not until we're broken, or the edges smoothed that we're able to deal with our pride, idolatry, waywardness, and get to a place where God has our attention...and I'm loving it!

I'm at this place in my spiritual journey, really eager and hungry to learn more, but cautious to take this with the understanding that getting to know God is my top priority, to delight in my Maker, Savior, and Shepherd.

Yay, very excited about Resolved! Will keep you posted.

Grace and peace to you.

God provides

For those of you who have been Christians for a while, isn't it interesting when you look back on those times in your life - times when you felt like God had maybe abandoned or forgotten all about you, times when you really struggled, or were in pain, or crying out of desperation - that you realize were the most profound seasons of change and growth?

I know it's been a crazy road for me. But I'm getting to this place where I'm good again, happy again, "whole" in many senses of the word. I have a really solid, wonderful set of friends (both new and old), wise counselors that I've chosen to surround myself with, and I wouldn't trade it, to go back.

And I'm tasting just how wonderful and great our Lord is, how good He is TO ME. And it is sweet, my dear brothers and sisters, to be near to my comforter, healer, and most loyal friend.

So the thing I thought about today was how David, a man after God's own heart, took a mighty fall, when he committed adultery, and then added murder to that mix, and it took about ONE FULL YEAR for him to come around (please note how sin leads to more sin and brokenness)

...until he finally confesses and repents after Nathan's rebuke...and yet, that's how God sometimes must deal with us, putting us in times of crisis or breaking us hard, to get our attention back on Him, in full reliance in Him, to bend us back after a horrible straying into idolatry (of something, someone, or self) after a season of disobedience, or rebellion, or fear.

I believe that God also brings us down before He lifts us up...all for His glory. And with as much studying and analyzing, I still don't and won't fully understand.

Of course, I realize that I am not the boss, God is, and He's the only one that knows and directs what happens, how it happens, and when it happens. And I find rest and peace in trusting that it's all for my ultimate good (Rom. 8:28, Jer. 29:11).

Just fyi, the job search is on-going...but God provides, as the student becomes the teacher. If you're interested in finding out more, please just feel free to email me. :)

I am anxiously waiting for the next chapter to unfold in my life, just taking things little by little, surrendering to God's leading, making the most of every opportunity, and sharing this with whoever will be gracious enough to listen.

In the meantime, I'm just soaking in everything, savoring this time to learn more, grow more, and love more, so that I can be more like Christ in all that I do, think, say, and how I behave.

May you be filled to overflowing with joy in your heart and found content with the blessings God has given, even when you feel uncertain or face difficult circumstances!

Grace and peace to you.

Church family

Quick post today - what I'm learning - spiritual growth and what church "family" is all about...enjoy!

The following is a brief selection of excerpts from “9 Marks of a Healthy Church” by Mark Dever. Not only has it helped me to identify things to look for in the church I choose to attend, it has also helped me figure out where I, as an individual can fall short and how I need to take on some personal responsibility for my spiritual growth too…but more importantly, how “I” fit into the church community as a member, how God wants us to operate as a healthy family and body together.

A church full of growing Christians is the kind of church growth I want as a pastor. Some today seem to think that one can be a “baby Christian” for a whole lifetime. Growth is seen to be an optional extra for particularly zealous disciples. But be very careful about taking that line of thought. Growth is a sign of life. Growing trees are living trees, and growing animals are living animals. When something stops growing, it dies.

Growth may not mean that you negotiate this rapid in half the time you negotiated the last; it may simply mean that you are able to continue in the right direction as a Christian, regardless of the adverse circumstances. Remember, it is only things that are alive that swim upstream; the dead things all float along with the current.

Good influences in a covenanted community of believers can be tools in God’s hand for growing His people. As God’s people are built up and grow together in holiness and self-giving love, they should improve their ability to administer discipline and to encourage discipleship.

If we are to grow as individual believers and as churches, we must sit under the Word. We must pray for the Holy Spirit to plant and to weed the gardens of our hearts. This spiritual growth is not optional; it is vital, because spiritual growth indicates life. Things that are truly alive, grow.

There are only two types of people – those who serve Christ as LORD in their life, with Him on the throne, and then non-Christians. There are no “middle-category” carnal Christians – that would be an oxymoron like hot ice. It just doesn’t make sense. You can’t live your life in a manner that is different from what you profess.

Consider what it means to be a Christian. It’s not that you’re perfect, but that your heart does intend to seek the Lord. If you are a Christian, it is because GOD, by His own gracious actions in your life, has grown a desire in you to live a life that pleases Him more and more. Such growth is a sign of true spiritual life.

For an individual, this means that you are to take an ACTIVE part in your church, not simply by attending, by praying, and by giving (though you SHOULD do all those things); more than such things…

you should be ACTIVELY getting to know your church family, you should be praying through the list of those other people with whom you have covenanted to serve God.

You should listen as other members of the body tell about what God is doing in their lives or about their concerns – and then PRAY WITH THEM.

You must realize that part of your obligation and privilege as a member of the church is to get to know other believers and to make yourself known to them. Study God’s word together! Learn to think as a church about God’s Word! You should be growing in grace yourself, and in the knowledge of God’s Word, in the knowledge of your own heart and of the hearts of your brothers and sisters, and in awareness of the opportunities God is putting in front of your church!

I do pray that you're all finding yourselves immersed within a healthy, vibrant, loving church community. It's so sweet! Praise the Lord that we don't have to, can't go at it alone!

Grace and peace to you.

Now He who is able

I read this this morning and thought to myself how awesome our God is so I'd like to post and share it with you all. It's taken from "More Precious Than Gold" by Sam Storms:

We celebrate a God who is able, who works tirelessly and relentlessly on behalf of those who trust in Him.

This is important because:
1) Your spiritual growth is governed by the greatness of your God.
If your God is small, you will be too. If his power is limited, so is yours. It's important that we know and celebrate the God who is able, because your spiritual maturity and conformity to the likeness of Jesus himself will always be in proportion to the greatness of the God you know. Those who worship a diminutive deity will forever remain spiritual pygmies.

Henry Scougal once said, "The worth and excellency of a soul is to be measured by the object of its love." If you want to learn what's most important about a person, take note of what's most important to that person.

What does he most admire? Whom does she most cherish? What monopolizes his time and energy?

If our God, the only God, the God who is able, is the one for whom we seek, to whom we are passionately devoted, in whom we have invested our lives, the "excellency" of our souls will be known by all.

2) According to Daniel 11:32, "The people who know their God shall stand firm and take action."
The knowledge of this God who is able empowers the soul, energizes the heart, strengthens the will, exalts the mind, inflames the spirit, and moves our hands in ministry and mercy to others. Ignorance, on the other hand, immobilizes.

3) Finally, and most important of all, this is what you were created for.
We exist not simply to think about God or to sing about God or to obey or to fear God but to glorify Him by enjoying Him and rejoicing in Him forever. But your delight in God will be only as deep and intense as your knowledge is accurate. You cannot enjoy someone you don't know.

I pray that you will come to know and love this wonderful God more and more each day!

Grace and peace to you.

Sacrifice and surrender

Coming back from a retreat weekend can be an adjustment, as you ease (well, maybe not exactly the right word for some of you) back into work/school life and succumb to the grind and daily pressures/distractions/temptations of the "world".

But I'm very thankful for this brief time away for "meaty" spiritual growth and wonderful fellowship, as I'm reminded of some important life lessons:

1) That Jesus' suffering on the cross was BY CHOICE, an awesome outpouring of love and amazing grace for me:

"For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I received from my Father." - John 10:17-18

And I don't know about you, but that makes me love Him so much more, that He could have said "I quit, you're not worth it" but He DIDN'T.

2) That we are commanded to love each other as He loved us:

"You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. These things I command you, so that you will love one another." - John 15:16-17

And this love isn't natural and doesn't come easy; this love includes loving those who have hurt you, let you down, who have betrayed you, who are your enemies.

3) That our lives ought to be characterized and defined by surrender...DAILY:

"I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." - Rom. 12:1-2

Jesus paid the price, took on God's wrath for my sins, for which I could not do myself, and my reasonable service is to live my life for God's glory.

Let's work out our salvation with fear and trembling (Phil. 2:12), for the God we serve deserves our praise, honor, and obedience.

Grace and peace to you.