I am going through financial situations and hoping to secure full time employment. I think often of Joseph (one of my heroes). Joseph had favor in his father’s eyes. Because of this, his brothers sold him into slavery. Yet he succeeded despite all the difficulties he faced. I want to have a better attitude and remain in peace with God.
I read Genesis 39-41 to see how Joseph handled his challenges. Reading these chapters, I couldn’t find any notice of Joseph’s attitude expect that he refused to sin with his master’s wife. This landed him in prison. What I did read is that the Lord was with Joseph, and Joseph prospered in all that he did.
Gen 39:2-The LORD was with Joseph and he prospered, and he lived in the house of his Egyptian master. When his master saw that the LORD was with him and that the LORD gave him success in everything he did, Joseph found favor in his eyes and became his attendant.
Gen 39:20-But while Joseph was there in the prison, the LORD was with him; he showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden. So the warden put Joseph in charge of all those held in the prison, and he was made responsible for all that was done there. The warden paid no attention to anything under Joseph’s care, because the LORD was with Joseph and gave him success in whatever he did.
As I meditated on this, I accepted that the Lord is with me. I will succeed in everything that I do in accordance with the will of God. I remembered (I heard this the other day listening to Joyce Meyer) that even though everyone ignored David, even though his father did not consider him for king, and his brothers thought little of David, God remembered David. God was with David and chose him as king.
I will remember the Lord my God.
Monday, July 1, 2013
Sunday, June 30, 2013
How the Holy Spirit helps Christians
The Holy Spirit is sent as a comforter to help Christians live in God's abundance and endure life's challenges. I believe that the filling of the Holy Spirit is a separate experience following salvation. Jesus promised the disciples He would not leave them alone. “When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, he will testify about me. And you also must testify, for you have been with me from the beginning. (John 15:26-27). In another translation, Jesus refers to the Holy Spirit as the comforter. The Holy Spirit engages our spirits and gives us understanding.
John the Baptist said: “I baptize you with£ water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” (Matt 3:11). John was referring to Jesus.
God created us, Jesus died for us, and the Holy Spirit enables us to communicate with God in a deep and personal way. I understand that some believe that the Holy Spirit comes with salvation, when we accept Jesus as Lord and Savior, and there is truth in this. However, Jesus made a promise to the apostles that He would send them a comforter and counselor.
“When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.” (Acts 2:1-4)
As I read the Word, I understand that God is my creator, and He sent His son, Jesus, to be the fulfilling sacrifice to enable us to reconcile with God. God sent the Holy Spirit to the apostles to encourage them, remind them, shirr them up, and enable them to carry the truth to all people. I am grateful to God for opening my eyes to the truth. When I learned about the Holy Spirit, I opened myself willing to God. The Holy Spirit is a gift from God, and how can I turn that down.
John the Baptist said: “I baptize you with£ water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” (Matt 3:11). John was referring to Jesus.
God created us, Jesus died for us, and the Holy Spirit enables us to communicate with God in a deep and personal way. I understand that some believe that the Holy Spirit comes with salvation, when we accept Jesus as Lord and Savior, and there is truth in this. However, Jesus made a promise to the apostles that He would send them a comforter and counselor.
“When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.” (Acts 2:1-4)
As I read the Word, I understand that God is my creator, and He sent His son, Jesus, to be the fulfilling sacrifice to enable us to reconcile with God. God sent the Holy Spirit to the apostles to encourage them, remind them, shirr them up, and enable them to carry the truth to all people. I am grateful to God for opening my eyes to the truth. When I learned about the Holy Spirit, I opened myself willing to God. The Holy Spirit is a gift from God, and how can I turn that down.
Saturday, May 18, 2013
What it's like to be born again
I was praying for a friend this morning. God showed me an example of what it is to be born again.
My dachshund gave birth to seven puppies. During the birthing, one of the puppies was very large, and Gretchen (my dachshund) was very tired. The puppy couldn’t get through the birth canal. I had to gently reach pull the puppy into the world. The puppy was encased in a thin transparent sack. I pulled the membrane away so that the pup could breathe, and begin his new life.
Our hearts can become encased in a film of protection, pride, and fear. We strive to find meaning, happiness, and purpose in life. When a person is born again, accepting Jesus as Lord, the Holy Spirit gently removed the membrane surrounding the heart. The newborn believer can breathe, see, and feel for the first time in the newness of life livable without the binding and blindness that comes with life apart from God.
Only God can tear away the encasement of the heart. Pray for your friends, your loved one, and your family. Ask God to have mercy, and to show these loved ones the grace that was shown to you. Pray that Jesus will reveal Himself to your friends, and provide the grace so they will allow the Holy Spirit to free their hearts to be born again.
My dachshund gave birth to seven puppies. During the birthing, one of the puppies was very large, and Gretchen (my dachshund) was very tired. The puppy couldn’t get through the birth canal. I had to gently reach pull the puppy into the world. The puppy was encased in a thin transparent sack. I pulled the membrane away so that the pup could breathe, and begin his new life.
Our hearts can become encased in a film of protection, pride, and fear. We strive to find meaning, happiness, and purpose in life. When a person is born again, accepting Jesus as Lord, the Holy Spirit gently removed the membrane surrounding the heart. The newborn believer can breathe, see, and feel for the first time in the newness of life livable without the binding and blindness that comes with life apart from God.
Only God can tear away the encasement of the heart. Pray for your friends, your loved one, and your family. Ask God to have mercy, and to show these loved ones the grace that was shown to you. Pray that Jesus will reveal Himself to your friends, and provide the grace so they will allow the Holy Spirit to free their hearts to be born again.
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
St Louis is fascinating
I was writing an article for CBS Local on railroad adventures in St. Louis. I was doing research and was reminded how fascinating it is to live in St. Louis. Most people do not know how rich the history is, and what incredible treasures are everywhere. When I was younger, I had some friends who lived off Dorsett Road, when Dorsett was just a two-lane road and Westport Plaza was only a plan. My friend’s house sat on a large piece of land that is now a subdivision. There was (and probably still is) a large creek that ran through the property. I was walking along the creek bank and found the old Creve Coeur Trolley tracks. The Creve Coeur Trolley once ran from the Delmar Loop along what is now Midland and ended at Creve Coeur Park. The power station still stands in Creve Coeur Park.
The neighborhood I live in used to be a large lake. The spring that fed the lake still runs through the neighborhood. As I walk my dogs, I can “see” the curvatures of the lake still in the landscape. In fact, when walking my dogs, I actually walk uphill from my house and back to my house.
St Louis is a very old city. Looking at the architecture of the buildings and houses in the city, one might not guess this. The city was destroyed several times-once from a riverboat fire that burned most of the area near the Mississippi River, once by the strongest tornado every recorded, and once by an earthquake that was so intense the Mississippi River ran backwards. But if you are aware, you can find remnants of history still standing, or laying around.
The neighborhood I live in used to be a large lake. The spring that fed the lake still runs through the neighborhood. As I walk my dogs, I can “see” the curvatures of the lake still in the landscape. In fact, when walking my dogs, I actually walk uphill from my house and back to my house.
St Louis is a very old city. Looking at the architecture of the buildings and houses in the city, one might not guess this. The city was destroyed several times-once from a riverboat fire that burned most of the area near the Mississippi River, once by the strongest tornado every recorded, and once by an earthquake that was so intense the Mississippi River ran backwards. But if you are aware, you can find remnants of history still standing, or laying around.
Friday, April 26, 2013
God will supply all our needs
My God will supply all my needs according to His riches in glory. (Phil 4:19) He will give His angels charge over me, Jehovah Jira cares for me.
I have been thinking on this for a few days. I have been thinking about needs. Needs encompass all aspects of our being, from food and shelter to realizing our potential. How often I have limited to God in my prayers to a particular request that I perceived as a “need”. But God cares about us in our entirety, and desires us to become all that we can be.
In college, I studied Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. The hierarchy of needs is presented in a pyramid, the lowest layer composed of basic human survival needs and the highest composed of “self-actualization”, our realization that God loves us perfectly and wants the best for us in spite of ourselves. At the highest level, we accept the grace of God, accept that God loves us as we are, and learn to accept and love ourselves.
The hierarchy of needs is presented here, from one to five, with additional subsets added to the pyramid in later years. Although Maslow’s hierarchy of needs is attributes to humanism, it is really just borrowed from the Word of God.
1. Biological and Physiological needs - air, food, drink, shelter, warmth, sex, sleep.
• God gave manna to the Israelites. Jesus fed the multitude. God fed Elijah, the widow and her son.
2. Safety needs - protection from elements, security, order, law, limits, stability.
• God protected the Israelites from Pharaoh. God released Paul from jail. Jesus disappeared from the Pharisees who meant Him harm.
3. Belongingness and Love needs - work group, family, affection, relationships.
• Though your mother and father forsake you, I will not forsake you (Ps 27:10)
• For the Lord will not forsake His people, He will never forsake His inheritance. (Ps 94:14)
4. Esteem needs - self-esteem, achievement, mastery, independence, status, dominance, prestige, managerial responsibility.
• The Lord promoted Joseph to a high rank no matter how low he was cast down by others.
• For God is a shield for me, my glory and the lifter of my head (Ps 3:3)
• God took a shepherd and made him a king.
4 a. Cognitive needs - knowledge, meaning, etc.
• The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple. (Ps 119:130)
4 b. Aesthetic needs - appreciation and search for beauty, balance, form, etc.
• As Christians, our eyes are opened to the breathtaking beauty in the world. We understand and see the world not only as it is, but also how it could be.
5. Self-Actualization needs - realizing personal potential, self-fulfillment, seeking personal growth and peak experiences.
• Although Christians were persecuted on all sides, Christians survived the Roman Empire and survive today.
5 a. Transcendence needs - helping others to achieve self actualization.
• A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. (John 13:34-35)
”One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple. For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle and set me high upon a rock. Then my head will be exalted above the enemies who surround me; at his tabernacle will I sacrifice with shouts of joy; I will sing and make music to the Lord.” (Ps 27:4-6) David’s hierarchy of needs.
I have been thinking on this for a few days. I have been thinking about needs. Needs encompass all aspects of our being, from food and shelter to realizing our potential. How often I have limited to God in my prayers to a particular request that I perceived as a “need”. But God cares about us in our entirety, and desires us to become all that we can be.
1. Biological and Physiological needs - air, food, drink, shelter, warmth, sex, sleep.
• God gave manna to the Israelites. Jesus fed the multitude. God fed Elijah, the widow and her son.
2. Safety needs - protection from elements, security, order, law, limits, stability.
• God protected the Israelites from Pharaoh. God released Paul from jail. Jesus disappeared from the Pharisees who meant Him harm.
3. Belongingness and Love needs - work group, family, affection, relationships.
• Though your mother and father forsake you, I will not forsake you (Ps 27:10)
• For the Lord will not forsake His people, He will never forsake His inheritance. (Ps 94:14)
4. Esteem needs - self-esteem, achievement, mastery, independence, status, dominance, prestige, managerial responsibility.
• The Lord promoted Joseph to a high rank no matter how low he was cast down by others.
• For God is a shield for me, my glory and the lifter of my head (Ps 3:3)
• God took a shepherd and made him a king.
4 a. Cognitive needs - knowledge, meaning, etc.
• The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple. (Ps 119:130)
4 b. Aesthetic needs - appreciation and search for beauty, balance, form, etc.
• As Christians, our eyes are opened to the breathtaking beauty in the world. We understand and see the world not only as it is, but also how it could be.
5. Self-Actualization needs - realizing personal potential, self-fulfillment, seeking personal growth and peak experiences.
• Although Christians were persecuted on all sides, Christians survived the Roman Empire and survive today.
5 a. Transcendence needs - helping others to achieve self actualization.
• A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. (John 13:34-35)
”One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple. For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle and set me high upon a rock. Then my head will be exalted above the enemies who surround me; at his tabernacle will I sacrifice with shouts of joy; I will sing and make music to the Lord.” (Ps 27:4-6) David’s hierarchy of needs.
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
God’s medicine for sadness and depression
The Bible contains so much timely information. I read the Bible to understand how to handle life’s situations, how to be a better woman, a servant, a disciple, and a friend. I heard something the other day “the Bible is God’s medicine”.
As I thought about this, I realized how many hours I spend reading the Psalms, and how supportive and healing these words are. I am an introspective person; it is hard for me to see only one way, one solution, or one meaning of a word. I internalize the word of God, and apply it to situations in my life.
There are times when situations upset and confuse me. My heart races, I develop a headache, and I cannot think straight. This happened today in a work situation. I was involved with a person I don’t know well, and have learned is difficult to work with. The person approached me for my input into a situation. The person had done this once before, and then turned around and created a situation in which I was rebuked, purporting that I brought up the subject and wanted the particular solution.
I paused to pray, asking God why I had these reactions, and how was I to handle my reaction. God led me to Psalm 27 “The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear”. As I read, I was reminded that God is in control of all situations, was always on my side, and always looking out for my best.
Psalm 27 contains my favorite passage. “What would have become of me if I had not believed I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living?” What a beacon of hope.
For those who battle panic, depression, and sorrow, read the Psalms every day. David was an introspective man, sometimes sad, maybe depressed, but he wrote “why are you downcast, oh my soul?” He reminded himself that the Lord is mighty, worthy, and always a shelter filled with wisdom.
As I thought about this, I realized how many hours I spend reading the Psalms, and how supportive and healing these words are. I am an introspective person; it is hard for me to see only one way, one solution, or one meaning of a word. I internalize the word of God, and apply it to situations in my life.
There are times when situations upset and confuse me. My heart races, I develop a headache, and I cannot think straight. This happened today in a work situation. I was involved with a person I don’t know well, and have learned is difficult to work with. The person approached me for my input into a situation. The person had done this once before, and then turned around and created a situation in which I was rebuked, purporting that I brought up the subject and wanted the particular solution.
I paused to pray, asking God why I had these reactions, and how was I to handle my reaction. God led me to Psalm 27 “The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear”. As I read, I was reminded that God is in control of all situations, was always on my side, and always looking out for my best.
Psalm 27 contains my favorite passage. “What would have become of me if I had not believed I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living?” What a beacon of hope.
For those who battle panic, depression, and sorrow, read the Psalms every day. David was an introspective man, sometimes sad, maybe depressed, but he wrote “why are you downcast, oh my soul?” He reminded himself that the Lord is mighty, worthy, and always a shelter filled with wisdom.
Thursday, April 18, 2013
Help promote God's love and stop Westboro Baptist from demonstrating in Boston
“BAN THE WESTBORO BAPTIST CHURCH FROM ENTERING BOSTON AND PICKETING THE FUNERALS OF THOSE WHO DIED DURING THE BOMBING
The Westboro Baptist church is planning on coming to Boston to picket the funerals of the two people killed during the Boston Marathon bombing on April 15th, 2013. It's sickening to know that the WBC will be picketing the funerals of two innocent people, one of which is only an 8 year old child. We can't let them get into Boston and do this. This is a petition to stop the WBC from getting into Boston, or worse, picketing the funerals of two innocent people. There is no excuse for this kind of behavior.”
Please visit http://wh.gov/eIud to prevent these folks from representing Christians to the world. Show your love to the world by preventing Westboro’s false presentation of God’s love.
The Westboro Baptist church is planning on coming to Boston to picket the funerals of the two people killed during the Boston Marathon bombing on April 15th, 2013. It's sickening to know that the WBC will be picketing the funerals of two innocent people, one of which is only an 8 year old child. We can't let them get into Boston and do this. This is a petition to stop the WBC from getting into Boston, or worse, picketing the funerals of two innocent people. There is no excuse for this kind of behavior.”
Please visit http://wh.gov/eIud to prevent these folks from representing Christians to the world. Show your love to the world by preventing Westboro’s false presentation of God’s love.
Friday, March 8, 2013
What is grace
I was talking with a friend who is struggling with the concept of grace. I have been thinking about grace throughout the day, which made the day very pleasant. To me, grace is shelter, like a warm blanket; grace is a cool drink given to the thirsty, and food to the starving. Grace is everything.
I was thinking about Abraham. God made a covenant with Abraham. Abraham would be fruitful, become the father of many nations, and have a son. Abraham’s part in the covenant was to make sure all the male descendents were circumcised. God gave a lot asking little in return. Abraham believed God and did have a son, Isaac. Sometime later, God asked Abraham to sacrifice his son as an offering. Abraham set out the next morning with Isaac to the place God wanted Abraham to go.
Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. As the two of them went on together, Isaac spoke up and said to his father Abraham, “Father?” “Yes, my son?” Abraham replied.
“The fire and wood are here,” Isaac said, “but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?”
Abraham answered, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” And the two of them went on together. When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. But the angel of the LORD called out to him from heaven, “Abraham! Abraham!” “Here I am,” he replied.
“Do not lay a hand on the boy,” he said. “Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.” (Gen 22:6-12)
This is grace. I imagined Abraham walking with his son, remembering that God promised Abraham he would be the father of many nations. Now Abraham was giving up his only son. I imagined the internal struggle of the flesh within Abraham. However, Abraham, of his free will, chose to believe God, knowing that God is faithful. I am sure that Abraham did not understand what was happening, he only knew that God asked him to do this. When Isaac asked Abraham about the sacrifice, I think he looked upon the boy with sad eyes. “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” Abraham knew that God had provided Isaac as his son, and now Abraham’s son was the sacrifice. This is Abraham’s grace towards God.
When God sent Jesus to become the perfect sacrifice, it was God’s grace towards humankind. Jesus died, and His blood became a covering of grace to those who, of their own free will, chose to believe that Jesus is Lord, that Jesus raised from the dead, and that Jesus was the perfect sacrifice of grace to cover them.
When we lay aside our logic, our reasoning, ourselves, and step into the covering, God sees us as perfect. We step into the covering of a spiritual reality, become perfect in God’s sight, but, alas, we are dragging our flesh with us. The Holy Spirit begins to help us clean up the flesh, and bring the spiritual knowledge we have into the earthly reality where we reside. This is grace.
I have known believers who are concerned about this concept of grace. “Well, how can a person be saved if he/she still has sin.” There is a tendency to become the sin police. However, we are all sinners, and it is more than external stuff, it can be envy, impatience, self-importance, or pride. The nature of man is opposed to the nature of God. That is why God gave us the covering of grace. God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are perfectly capable of supporting the changes that will come about in our lives.
Jesus said “a new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:34). Jesus did not mean Christians loving Christians. It is God’s desire that we love others. As we draw close to God, He will teach us what this means. But obviously, this means that as God loves us, we should love others. That is grace.
One verse I really love is when Jesus turned to Peter and said, “What is that to you? You must follow me.” (John 21:22). Whenever I get my back up, wondering why or what or how come, I hear the Lord speak these words to me.
When I am tempted to be a policeman, I remember that God is in control. I will speak to God and see if He wants me to do anything in the situation. Proverbs 9:8 reads “Do not rebuke a mocker or he will hate you; rebuke a wise man and he will love you.” If God wants me to respond, I still wait on God’s timing. Sometimes I am ready to speak, and God says, “What is that to you?” Other times, God creates the setting so that what He has allowed me to say heard through ears of grace. Proverbs 25: 11-14 helps me wait patiently. “A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver. Like an earring of gold or an ornament of fine gold is a wise man’s rebuke to a listening ear. Like the coolness of snow at harvest time is a trustworthy messenger to those who send him; he refreshes the spirit of his masters.” That is grace.
I was thinking about Abraham. God made a covenant with Abraham. Abraham would be fruitful, become the father of many nations, and have a son. Abraham’s part in the covenant was to make sure all the male descendents were circumcised. God gave a lot asking little in return. Abraham believed God and did have a son, Isaac. Sometime later, God asked Abraham to sacrifice his son as an offering. Abraham set out the next morning with Isaac to the place God wanted Abraham to go.
Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. As the two of them went on together, Isaac spoke up and said to his father Abraham, “Father?” “Yes, my son?” Abraham replied.
“The fire and wood are here,” Isaac said, “but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?”
Abraham answered, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” And the two of them went on together. When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. But the angel of the LORD called out to him from heaven, “Abraham! Abraham!” “Here I am,” he replied.
“Do not lay a hand on the boy,” he said. “Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.” (Gen 22:6-12)
This is grace. I imagined Abraham walking with his son, remembering that God promised Abraham he would be the father of many nations. Now Abraham was giving up his only son. I imagined the internal struggle of the flesh within Abraham. However, Abraham, of his free will, chose to believe God, knowing that God is faithful. I am sure that Abraham did not understand what was happening, he only knew that God asked him to do this. When Isaac asked Abraham about the sacrifice, I think he looked upon the boy with sad eyes. “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” Abraham knew that God had provided Isaac as his son, and now Abraham’s son was the sacrifice. This is Abraham’s grace towards God.
When God sent Jesus to become the perfect sacrifice, it was God’s grace towards humankind. Jesus died, and His blood became a covering of grace to those who, of their own free will, chose to believe that Jesus is Lord, that Jesus raised from the dead, and that Jesus was the perfect sacrifice of grace to cover them.
When we lay aside our logic, our reasoning, ourselves, and step into the covering, God sees us as perfect. We step into the covering of a spiritual reality, become perfect in God’s sight, but, alas, we are dragging our flesh with us. The Holy Spirit begins to help us clean up the flesh, and bring the spiritual knowledge we have into the earthly reality where we reside. This is grace.
I have known believers who are concerned about this concept of grace. “Well, how can a person be saved if he/she still has sin.” There is a tendency to become the sin police. However, we are all sinners, and it is more than external stuff, it can be envy, impatience, self-importance, or pride. The nature of man is opposed to the nature of God. That is why God gave us the covering of grace. God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are perfectly capable of supporting the changes that will come about in our lives.
Jesus said “a new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:34). Jesus did not mean Christians loving Christians. It is God’s desire that we love others. As we draw close to God, He will teach us what this means. But obviously, this means that as God loves us, we should love others. That is grace.
One verse I really love is when Jesus turned to Peter and said, “What is that to you? You must follow me.” (John 21:22). Whenever I get my back up, wondering why or what or how come, I hear the Lord speak these words to me.
When I am tempted to be a policeman, I remember that God is in control. I will speak to God and see if He wants me to do anything in the situation. Proverbs 9:8 reads “Do not rebuke a mocker or he will hate you; rebuke a wise man and he will love you.” If God wants me to respond, I still wait on God’s timing. Sometimes I am ready to speak, and God says, “What is that to you?” Other times, God creates the setting so that what He has allowed me to say heard through ears of grace. Proverbs 25: 11-14 helps me wait patiently. “A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver. Like an earring of gold or an ornament of fine gold is a wise man’s rebuke to a listening ear. Like the coolness of snow at harvest time is a trustworthy messenger to those who send him; he refreshes the spirit of his masters.” That is grace.
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
How to be righteous
Righteous is such a large word, mentally evoking pictures of grandeur and power. So how can you be righteous? It’s simple.
When you accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior, let down your guard and let God have control of your life. Present yourself as you are, acknowledge your shortcomings, and ask God to create in you the person He desires you to be.
Then go to work, play with your kids, wash the dishes, in short, move forward with your life. When you accept Jesus as your Lord, you will want to read the Bible, especially the New Testament, to become acquainted with Jesus. You will want to learn about Him.
When you accept the Lord, a light will go off on the inside and you will be filled with a desire for more light. The brighter the light becomes, the more light you will want. Give your problems to God, humble yourself before Him. This doesn’t mean lying protrate on the ground or demeaning yourself. Humbling yourself before God means you realize that you cannot achieve change on your own. You need God’s help.
When you accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior, let down your guard and let God have control of your life. Present yourself as you are, acknowledge your shortcomings, and ask God to create in you the person He desires you to be.
Then go to work, play with your kids, wash the dishes, in short, move forward with your life. When you accept Jesus as your Lord, you will want to read the Bible, especially the New Testament, to become acquainted with Jesus. You will want to learn about Him.
When you accept the Lord, a light will go off on the inside and you will be filled with a desire for more light. The brighter the light becomes, the more light you will want. Give your problems to God, humble yourself before Him. This doesn’t mean lying protrate on the ground or demeaning yourself. Humbling yourself before God means you realize that you cannot achieve change on your own. You need God’s help.
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
Goodness of the Lord
What would have become of me if I had not believed I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living? Honestly, the Lord did not intend for us to ‘suffer’ through this earthly life. God wants us to enjoy the life He has given us. However, just watching the news scares me, and I’m fearless.
Being an adult, a parent, an individual, is hard work. We struggle to keep jobs, put food on the table, pay bills, and we are at times disturbed by our own attitudes and beliefs. We deal with difficult people at work. Sometimes our own kids and spouses are difficult.
The good thing is that we have the promise of the Lord, that we will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. So I look for it, wait for it, embrace each small step. And I have seen it myself: in the death of a loved one, the loss of a job, and in my successes. It’s not all grief and sorrow. There is much joy in life.
Being an adult, a parent, an individual, is hard work. We struggle to keep jobs, put food on the table, pay bills, and we are at times disturbed by our own attitudes and beliefs. We deal with difficult people at work. Sometimes our own kids and spouses are difficult.
The good thing is that we have the promise of the Lord, that we will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. So I look for it, wait for it, embrace each small step. And I have seen it myself: in the death of a loved one, the loss of a job, and in my successes. It’s not all grief and sorrow. There is much joy in life.
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