Thursday, 15 May, 2008 - Directions For Dilemas
"Put all your hope in God, not looking to your reason for support. In all your ways give ear to him, and he will make straight your footsteps." - Proverbs 3:5-6
Every heart needs these marvelous verses! How many times have you heard people say, "These are my favorite verses in the Bible?" However, many of us lean heavily on the last phrase, "He shall direct your paths."
Next time you get down on your knees to pray, with your Bible open in front of you, remind yourself what the Lord is saying here. Many of us are a believer in our heads, but we have issues when it comes to actually trusting the Lord. But think of this; Who else has all the answers? Who else has all the RIGHT answers? No one, except God!
Wouldn't it only make sense to let the one with all the right answers guide you and lead you in your walk and life? Lean on Him for all your understanding. Call out for the direction from God in your life.
Pray right now, that the Lord show you what He wants to show you. Confess that you want His perfect will for all your decisions. God will be faithful to His promise. He will give you the confidence to make the right choice. When you sincerely long for Gods direction, He will give it.
What's that? You don't get on your knees when you pray?
May 15, 2008 - Fear Not
"He will have no fear of evil news; his heart is fixed, for his hope is in the Lord." = Ps 112:7
What a thought to keep before us at all times. Good Morning!
I am going to have to change the time I get up in the morning. I am often up anyway, but really do not need to be up at 5am. 7 usually should do well, if I do not need to be at work till 8:45.
Slept ok last night. Just the relief from the news of the doctor. Even though my faith in the Lord is strong through everything, it still is scary to deal with the thought of cancer. The blessing truly is that the Lord saw fit to not include it in my trials. Thank you Lord Jesus. You are truly my redeemer and purify me from my sin and evil. I praise you this morning and worship your Holy Name.
May 13, 2008 - Consider It Joy
"And ye shall be witnesses unto Me". - Acts 1:8
In that we may learn to perform our duty as a Christian and be a witness for Jesus Christ, we need only look as far as His example. He was always witnessing: by the well in Samaria, or in the Temple of Jerusalem, by the lakes, on the hilltops, or in the towns. He would teach to few and to the multitudes. He witnessed night and day. He prayed constantly and mightily. His petitions were heard by God. He would witness under all circumstances and conditions.
The scribes and the Pharisees could not keep Him quiet. Even His witness to Pilate was a great testimony and confession. He spoke clearly and concisely, relying on the Holy Spirit to guide and direct His every word. There was not a single mistake in anything He said.
Make your life a clear testimony. Be a brook where you may see every stone at the bottom--not as the muddy creek, which you only see the surface. Be clear and transparent, so that your heart's love to God and man may be visible to all.
Do not hold to the need for saying, "I am true:" - instead just be true. Do not brag of your integrity, just be upright. Act so that your testimony be that which another man cannot help but see. Do not be afraid and think you are of little importance and withdraw your witness. Know and accept that your lips have been warmed with a coal from off the altar; let them speak as like heaven-touched lips should do. "In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand." Watch not the clouds, consult not the wind--in season and out of season witness for the Savior, and if it shall come to pass that for Christ's sake and the gospel's you shall endure suffering in any shape,
Do not withdraw from pain and trials. Rejoice in the honor that has been given to you by God Himself. You have been counted as worthy to suffer with your Lord. You have also been anointed with the Holy covenant to share in the joy of eternal life. Be glad in this too. Know always that your sufferings, your losses, and persecutions shall make you a platform, from which the more vigorously and with greater power you shall witness for Christ Jesus. Study your great Teacher, and be filled with His Spirit.
Remember that you need much teaching, much upholding, much grace, and much humility, if your witnessing is to be to your Master's glory.
May 11, 2008 - Wisdom
Do not keep back good from those who have a right to it, when it is in the power of your hand to do it." - Pr. 3:26
Many of you know that I have been embroiled in a divorce over the last year. It it has been a struggle to accept the reality of a loss of marriage. I have tried to maintain the commitment that I have in my marriage covenant with the Lord and my spouse. I continuously pray for the opportunity of reconciliation and rebuilding. I go forward with only a responsibility to effect change in those areas that I can be responsible for. But I am not seeing a light in that room at all. The acceptance of that grief is something I pain with daily.
However, through it all has been the mystery and conflict of doing the right thing through it all. I have been a fool thinking that I could do this alone. I feel so ashamed in thinking there was anything I could do on my own. Battling with the flesh and it's anger and judgement has lasted this matter out for such a long time. I am weary and tired of conflict. I have contended with doing the right thing, yet usurp the Lord's responsibility for judgement and attempt to be a judge myself. I can not allow this battle to continue. It is a lost cause on my part. I can not determine a wrongdoer here. It is not my place, nor am I able to discern between my personal pain and grief - and that of my spouses feelings. All I can hope for is that I can remain in Jesus Christ through it all and let His bountiful blessings wisdom and love prevail.
In a particular matter I have fought with has been a matter of refinancing of the house. I am not going to detail the items contributing to the issue - but it comes down to my lacking the desire to sign off and be a part of a 30 year mortgage in a marriage that is going down the tubes. My spouse has no clue as to the means that I hold true in this matter. She simply sees that a reduction of the house payments would be of benefit to the family, even though I am not a benefactor of that benefit, directly.
As I read this verse in Proverbs, I see a couple of things. I see the wisdom and discernment that the Lord is attempting to show us. Reading the entire chapter, it focuses on wisdom itself. The ability to be wise in our choices, actions and behavior.(Prov, 3:6 assure us that by acknowledging Him in all things, will affect our relationships.) (Prov. 3:27-30) commands us to do what is right in the eyes of the Lord.")
"In all your ways give ear to him, and he will make straight your footsteps." (Prov. 3:6) The lesson continues with verses 27-30, "Do not keep back good from those who have a right to it, when it is in the power of your hand to do it. Say not to your neighbor, Go, and come again, and tomorrow I will give; when you have it by you at the time. Do not make evil designs against your neighbor, when he is living with you without fear."
The reality of the matter is this: I am still bound by the covenant of my marriage vows, even though it appears that my spouse does not hold that same view. I am still obligated to the Lord who sanctified those vows. They are Holy and good. I can not be a judge of right and wrong, good or bad. There is no room for who did what to whom, or who is the worst offender in the destruction of this marriage. I can only pray for the wisdom to do what is right before God. I can only hope that some day this marriage will be honored with God's Grace and Wisom. I pray that someday there will be a shared view and value of mutual commitment and sacrifice. But until that time comes, if it ever does, I can only proceed with what is right in the eyes of the Lord. That is the only thing I have been given power over.
Enabling this family to be allowed the benefit of a lower house payment is a good thing. My liability and commitment to signing the loan papers can be modified in any future divorce decree. However, at this point in time, I am still married. I am still responsible to this family where I can be. In light of the medical issues I currently contend with, including the prospects of cancer and more surgery of the knee, I can not hold them hostage for my burdens.
I can only pray that this choice is the "right thing to do". Prov, 3:13 tells us, "Happy is the man who makes discovery of wisdom, and he who gets knowledge." I just hope that the Lord will offer the same lesson of wisdom to my spouse.
Friday, May 09, 2008 - Wait on the Lord
"All the days of my appointed time will I wait". - Job 14:14
We battle continuously with trials, pains and afflictions while we are here on this earth. We wonder why it all happens. We ask for reprieve from it. Yet we understand little about the price we pay for the opportunity to make heaven a little more heavenly.
Nothing makes rest so sweet as working for it. Nothing causes security to be so pleasant as exposure to alarms. The bitterness of illness lends itself to make us more gracious to our good health. Our beleaguered armor and scarred flesh will illuminate more glorious our victory in the heavens.
We will welcome the seats of rest when we overcome this hotel earth. We can not expect full fellowship with Christ unless we have carried our cross below the heavens. Christ was born to a virgin so that he would suffer among men. We must allow the same for ourselves if we expect to share in His kingdom.
Fellowship with Jesus Christ is so honorable that the saddest sorrow is a light price to pay in order that we might walk with Him. Do not wish to enter heaven until our work is done here on earth. Our stay here is ordained to minister to the lost souls plagued with the loneliness of sin. Our purpose here is for God's glory.
A true and tried saint is a jewel in the crown of the King. Nothing deserves more honor than the worker worker who sweats from the trials of his work. We are God's workmanship, in whom we He will be glorified by our afflictions. It is for the honor of Jesus we endure the trials of our faith with joy and praise. Surrender yourself to lying in the dust of struggles. If this is what is required to elevate our Lord - then let us pray for us to lie with the pots of the earth.
If to live on earth forever would make our Lord more glorious, it should be heaven to be shut out of heaven, Our time is already determined and fixed by eternal decree. Do not be anxious for it to be sooner than destined. Have patience and wait. The gates will be open for us soon enough.
-- inspired by Spurgeon
Friday, May 08, 2008 - Word of Truth / Part 2
I had a late breakfast with a friend from church. he is a deacon at NW Bible Church. We discussed this topic. I think what he said is appropriate for consideration. He stated that as evidence of the statement that was made in the "statement of faith:, maybe I took IT out of context.
He did not feel that the statement was intended to mean - or that it even said, that they desire to take scripture OUT OF CONTEXT, It was merely a statement that considers the time period, the culture, the time frame according to the Law, and the Grace of God, when the Word was written.
He did not think that the intention of the church is to dilute or to water down the Word's intent and purpose. Through understanding of the application in which the scriptures were written and the culture and time they were written - merely enhances what we are to take away from our study.
Anything that stretches or manipulates the scripture to dilute the truth or to alter its meaning is wrong. We are just trying to understand scripture and apply it to our life today. I understand this. Repeatedly we must ask - 'what does this mean to us in our every day living today'. How can I apply what I just read to my daily walk with Jesus Christ?
First we must understand that the Old Testament was written under the Law. We live now under Grace. There are two distinctions right there. We must understand that - when we interpret the meaning of scripture. I think that the way that the church approached this particular portion of their statement of faith may not have been written to the best interest of what they were trying to say.
I am constantly reading the Word and wonder what it means to me now. One must allow for the time period it was written, who it was written to, and the circumstances as to why it was written. Only then can we adapt it to our journey with Jesus Christ. By filtering the scripture though the cleansing blood of Jesus Christ, we can adapt it to what He wishes us to take away from it.
We are not allowed to change or alter the truth. That would not make it TRUTH, would it. We are to allow the interpretation that God would
have for us, taking into account the fact that Jesus Christ died on the cross - to pay our price for sin. In the old testament, Jesus had
not done that yet. So the "rules of engagement" (so to speak were different). We must take that into account when we study.
Did this make any sense at all?
Friday, May 07, 2008 - Word of Truth
Some people think that I "think" too much. Maybe I do. But until such time as the Lord takes away the ability to wonder, ponder and learn, I will be plagued by the burden of "thinking". I also accept the responsibility of that struggle and will allow God to answer the many questions I do have.
One recent battle I have been allowed to endure is that of knowing what the "right thing" to do exactly is. Under the pretext that the Bible is the only resource I need, I search it for answers. I do not always find a black and white solution to my quest for peace. Instead I find that God's Word has addressed a particular situation with His people and through His inspired breath has revealed certain truths to His prophets and soldiers of the faith.
I do not believe we have the right or need to reinterpret the Word to suit our needs. I do believe that the context and culture of the words that God has placed before us in the Bible must be studied with the filter of Grace, the Law and the Love that it was intended. But in no way do we add or detract from the simple truth that the Word of God is unchangeable and must be used for truth.
"Give me life in your mercy; so that I may be ruled by the unchanging word of your mouth. For ever, O Lord, your word is fixed in heaven.
Your faith is unchanging from generation to generation: you have put the earth in its place, and it is not moved."- Psalms 119:88-90
God's Word is God's Word. It is final, conclusive and totally worthy of basing our lives on. We can not adapt, adjust or take out of
context the Scriptures to suit our personal needs at the moment. If the context of the Scripture is not suitable for our needs, in parts,
because of context, then who are we to judge what is right?
One of the items in a church's statement of faith recently alarmed me. It says:
"We believe in the dispensationalism view of Bible interpretation. We believe in interpreting Scripture with consideration given to the
context of a verse, it's grammar, and the time in history in which it was written. Though all scripture is profitable, we make a distinction
between the ages of Law, Grace (also called the Church Age), and and Kingdom.
What do you think?
