I listen to a radio station that calls itself "uplifting and encouraging." For the most part, I would not disagree.
However, I don't understand how it is considered encouraging when a Christian who wins an award or some sort of recognition publicly offers praise to God. I don't find this encouraging because I think we would all do that -- "Everyone is watching, so I need to do what I know I should."
No, I am more encouraged by the unassuming, the unnoticed, the unadorned:
The stay at home mom who faithfully models the fruits of the Spirit to her children
The husband and father who walks with intergrity as he leads his family in a godly path
The Christian school teacher
The nursery worker at church
The conscientious neighbor who looks in on the elderly
These are the ones I find encouraging....
Because this is what, after nearly 20 years of walking with the Lord, I still fail to do. I would do it publicly; of course, I would!
But very few people get saved because a celebrity praises God. At best, seeing someone they admire for singing talent or atheticism give Jesus Christ a shout-out, a Seeker will find someone in his acquaintance who he thinks already knows God and he will start asking questions. It is most often the neighbors, the coworkers, the bowling buddies, who lead others to Christ.
The unadorned are like the witnesses in Hebrews 12 -- they have gone before. Not that they have died already, but that they have walked this path of integrity -- doing what you would do when everyone was looking even if no one is looking. They turn to us and beckon, "Come on, you can do it! See, we have. With God's help and grace, you can, too!"
That is why the unadorned are so encouraging.
Friday, May 25, 2012
Saturday, April 7, 2012
living in Saturday
Jesus died on Friday, the afternoon before the Sabbath began. The sky went dark and He said, "It is finished." By this we know our sins are forgiven.
Tomorrow we celebrate His resurrection and the promise of our own. One day we, too, will be holy and perfected, standing before God's throne.
But today....
Today is Saturday.
The day the tomb was not empty. The day Jesus' body was in its shroud in the hollowed out rock.
The day our sins were forgiven but glory had not yet come.
And that is where we are living. In Saturday. We have the promise of glory, but we are still waiting. We look at our lives and wonder when we will ever get it together. We look at the world around us and cry out over the pain and anguish and death.
Romans 7: 14-24
For we know that the Law is spiritual, but I am of flesh, sold into bondage to sin. For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate. But if I do the very thing I do not want to do, I agree with the Law, confessing that the Law is good. So now, no longer am I the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me. For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not. For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want. But if I am doing the very thing I do not want, I am no longer the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me.
I find then the principle that evil is present in me, the one who wants to do good. For I joyfully concur with the law of God in the inner man, but I see a different law in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin which is in my members. Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death?
Praise the Lord! Sunday is coming!
Romans 7: 25- 8: 3
Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, on the one hand I myself with my mind am serving the law of God, but on the other, with my flesh the law of sin. Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh
Or, the way I memorized vs. 3: For what the law was powerless to do, in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did!
I can't wait for Sunday!
Tomorrow we celebrate His resurrection and the promise of our own. One day we, too, will be holy and perfected, standing before God's throne.
But today....
Today is Saturday.
The day the tomb was not empty. The day Jesus' body was in its shroud in the hollowed out rock.
The day our sins were forgiven but glory had not yet come.
And that is where we are living. In Saturday. We have the promise of glory, but we are still waiting. We look at our lives and wonder when we will ever get it together. We look at the world around us and cry out over the pain and anguish and death.
Romans 7: 14-24
For we know that the Law is spiritual, but I am of flesh, sold into bondage to sin. For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate. But if I do the very thing I do not want to do, I agree with the Law, confessing that the Law is good. So now, no longer am I the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me. For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not. For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want. But if I am doing the very thing I do not want, I am no longer the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me.
I find then the principle that evil is present in me, the one who wants to do good. For I joyfully concur with the law of God in the inner man, but I see a different law in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin which is in my members. Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death?
Praise the Lord! Sunday is coming!
Romans 7: 25- 8: 3
Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, on the one hand I myself with my mind am serving the law of God, but on the other, with my flesh the law of sin. Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh
Or, the way I memorized vs. 3: For what the law was powerless to do, in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did!
I can't wait for Sunday!
Sunday, March 25, 2012
The Great Thoughts Become a String of Pearls
This week I have taken the chapter on Great Thoughts (Chip Ingram's Good to Great in God's Eyes) to heart. Or, rather, to mind. No -- to heart, for when we dwell on these thoughts, they needle into our counsciousness and become part of our character, like a speck of sand in an oyster.
Very often the Great Thoughts that twirl around my mind like a beautiful ballerina are inspired by a song. I love listening to KLove, which is a Chrisitan music radio station that plays around the country (and I shamelessly and without reservation encourage you to find the station in your area where they broadcast). The lyrics of these songs resonate with my soul.
Spoken For by MercyMe is no exception.
I don't know the rules of linking from a blog to another website, and I don't want to plagerize or anything, so I won't link but simply quote the lyrics as I would a line from a book. There are two images that come to my mind as I listen to the chorus:
Covered by your love devine
Child of the Risen Lord,
To hear you say, "This one's mine."
My heart is spoken for
"This one's mine" brings to mind a Western on a grand and epic scale. The back story involves a homesteader whose wife and child are killed by a thief. After burying his family, he goes after the man who killed them. Meanwhile, that thief has joined a gang that is worse than he has ever imagined, and though he wants out, he is stuck, tethered to their leader by fear and despiration, and the evil they perpetrate is much worse than simple thievery and accidental killing. Soon a posse is after them. The homesteader joins the posse for one purpose only -- to be there when they finally catch up with the gang. When they do, and the posse is preparing to hang them all from the nearest tree, the homesteader says, "This one's mine." He takes the thief and rides away. Fade to black.
As they approach the homestead, the man leading the thief's horse because the thief's hands are tied, he says, "I forgive you. You can stay here and work for me, be the son to whom I will leave everything, or you can high-tail it for Mexico. Your choice."
I am afraid my words don't convey the full feeling of what my mind has envisioned this week. "This one's mine -- hands off -- I'll deal out her punishment." And then God turns around and forgives. And gives us the opportunity to be heirs, part of the family. To hear you say, "This one's mine." My breath catches in my throat, knowing the punishment I deserve is one breath away, and then being offered full forgiveness in the next instant brings utter relief.
That leads to the next thought.
Covered by your love devine
Child of the Risen Lord,
To hear you say, "This one's mine."
My heart is spoken for
Spoken for. I am the beautiful belle of the ball, more beautiful than Cinderella could ever hope to be. A nice looking gentleman approaches, "May I have this dance?"
"I am honored, sir. But no, thank you. I am spoken for."
For now.
And for all eternity.
Spoken for.
These are the thoughts swirling through my mind this week. These thoughts provide me with such security and joy that they become another pearl on my string. The string of pearls that my Daddy gives me to let me know I am loved. I am chosen. I am spoken for.
Very often the Great Thoughts that twirl around my mind like a beautiful ballerina are inspired by a song. I love listening to KLove, which is a Chrisitan music radio station that plays around the country (and I shamelessly and without reservation encourage you to find the station in your area where they broadcast). The lyrics of these songs resonate with my soul.
Spoken For by MercyMe is no exception.
I don't know the rules of linking from a blog to another website, and I don't want to plagerize or anything, so I won't link but simply quote the lyrics as I would a line from a book. There are two images that come to my mind as I listen to the chorus:
Covered by your love devine
Child of the Risen Lord,
To hear you say, "This one's mine."
My heart is spoken for
"This one's mine" brings to mind a Western on a grand and epic scale. The back story involves a homesteader whose wife and child are killed by a thief. After burying his family, he goes after the man who killed them. Meanwhile, that thief has joined a gang that is worse than he has ever imagined, and though he wants out, he is stuck, tethered to their leader by fear and despiration, and the evil they perpetrate is much worse than simple thievery and accidental killing. Soon a posse is after them. The homesteader joins the posse for one purpose only -- to be there when they finally catch up with the gang. When they do, and the posse is preparing to hang them all from the nearest tree, the homesteader says, "This one's mine." He takes the thief and rides away. Fade to black.
As they approach the homestead, the man leading the thief's horse because the thief's hands are tied, he says, "I forgive you. You can stay here and work for me, be the son to whom I will leave everything, or you can high-tail it for Mexico. Your choice."
I am afraid my words don't convey the full feeling of what my mind has envisioned this week. "This one's mine -- hands off -- I'll deal out her punishment." And then God turns around and forgives. And gives us the opportunity to be heirs, part of the family. To hear you say, "This one's mine." My breath catches in my throat, knowing the punishment I deserve is one breath away, and then being offered full forgiveness in the next instant brings utter relief.
That leads to the next thought.
Covered by your love devine
Child of the Risen Lord,
To hear you say, "This one's mine."
My heart is spoken for
Spoken for. I am the beautiful belle of the ball, more beautiful than Cinderella could ever hope to be. A nice looking gentleman approaches, "May I have this dance?"
"I am honored, sir. But no, thank you. I am spoken for."
For now.
And for all eternity.
Spoken for.
These are the thoughts swirling through my mind this week. These thoughts provide me with such security and joy that they become another pearl on my string. The string of pearls that my Daddy gives me to let me know I am loved. I am chosen. I am spoken for.
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
"The Actions of men are the best indicators of thought.'
That is a quote from John Locke that Chip Ingram uses to open the chapter in Good to Great in God's Eyes entitled "Think Great Thoughts."
Later in the chapter, Ingram writes, "The thoughts we entertain in our minds become the thoughts that guide our lives."
I know this is true. Having spent several years in addiction, I can say that what I thought about -- always, always desiring that next "fix"-- is what led me to seek that next fix. Not just the random thought that pops into my head -- I can't help those. But the "entertaining" of thoughts, the dwelling on, the mulling over and over, like sucking on a cough drop to get all the sweet medicine out of it and immediately reaching for another when my throat becomes scratchy again -- that is what leads to the wrong behavior. My behavior is in direct coorolation to my thought life.
So when I whine about my complacency (as I did in my last post), the solution is obvious: think about the object of my affection that seems to only produce complacency in me. As I think about and learn about and read about and pray to God, my complacency leaves me. It does not dissolve away but rather runs, full tilt, leaving behind it the full-fleded desire to spend even more time in God's presence.
Philippians 4: 8 - 9
Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.
Later in the chapter, Ingram writes, "The thoughts we entertain in our minds become the thoughts that guide our lives."
I know this is true. Having spent several years in addiction, I can say that what I thought about -- always, always desiring that next "fix"-- is what led me to seek that next fix. Not just the random thought that pops into my head -- I can't help those. But the "entertaining" of thoughts, the dwelling on, the mulling over and over, like sucking on a cough drop to get all the sweet medicine out of it and immediately reaching for another when my throat becomes scratchy again -- that is what leads to the wrong behavior. My behavior is in direct coorolation to my thought life.
So when I whine about my complacency (as I did in my last post), the solution is obvious: think about the object of my affection that seems to only produce complacency in me. As I think about and learn about and read about and pray to God, my complacency leaves me. It does not dissolve away but rather runs, full tilt, leaving behind it the full-fleded desire to spend even more time in God's presence.
Philippians 4: 8 - 9
Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Good to Great IN GOD'S EYES
"In God's Eyes" ~~ What does God see when He looks at me? Does He see the complacency that poisons the well-spring of my heart? Does He see the impure thoughts? Does He see my self-centeredness, where the most-oft asked question is "How will this affect me?"
The answer is: yes, He does.
But praise the Lord! That's not all He sees!
He also sees the righteousness of Christ, as I stand behind the Son, bathed in His blood. He sees a daughter, a co-heir, one who will inherit His infinite riches in glory. He sees one who has been bought back -- at a great price -- and therefore is so very valuable!
As I read through Chip Ingram's book, I have a quotation on a plain piece of paper as my marker. It is a quote by John Wooden:
"Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are."
Seeking to be more...
In God's eyes.
The answer is: yes, He does.
But praise the Lord! That's not all He sees!
He also sees the righteousness of Christ, as I stand behind the Son, bathed in His blood. He sees a daughter, a co-heir, one who will inherit His infinite riches in glory. He sees one who has been bought back -- at a great price -- and therefore is so very valuable!
As I read through Chip Ingram's book, I have a quotation on a plain piece of paper as my marker. It is a quote by John Wooden:
"Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are."
Seeking to be more...
In God's eyes.
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Again
Once again I have allowed complacency to rule my life. I never thought of myself as someone who takes the easy way, but my actions regarding sin prove time and again that I absolutely do.
I was reminded last night, the gentle prodding of the Spirit, that walking with God is not a passive activity but an active one.
Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Matthew 6:33
He has shown you, O Man, what is good, and what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. Micah 6:8
God wants me to actively pursue him.
And isn't that what He did when He sent Jesus to die for my sin? He crossed the chasm and ran after me.
And He is still running.
I was reminded last night, the gentle prodding of the Spirit, that walking with God is not a passive activity but an active one.
Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Matthew 6:33
He has shown you, O Man, what is good, and what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. Micah 6:8
God wants me to actively pursue him.
And isn't that what He did when He sent Jesus to die for my sin? He crossed the chasm and ran after me.
And He is still running.
Friday, December 16, 2011
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