Ephesians 4:14 "that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting"
I remember the first and only time I ran away from home. I don't recall what I was unhappy about, but there was some injustice that had occurred that led my eight year-old mind to decide to run away. I was kind enough to go into the kitchen and announce to my mother my intention to leave home. Her reaction took me by surprise and helped me grow up some. I think I expected an apology, or perhaps her coercing me to stay. Instead my mother looked at me and said she would miss me, and was sorry I felt I couldn't stay under such harsh parenting. She then gave me a brown bag with some cookies and a kiss goodbye.
I felt determined never to return; spent the afternoon in a local field, ate my cookies, got cold, and went back home to find it was dinner time and there was a place at the table set for me. My mom welcomed me with a hug and never said anything about my rebellion in my attempt to run off. My mother didn't need to say anything, in her wisdom she knew there had been a lesson taught and her lecture would not have added to what was learned.
As an eight year-old I grew up some that day and learned I'm not always right, and I can't always get my way. I learned that I ought not manipulate or threaten to get my way. The wisdom of my loving mom broke a bit of pride, and that is always a good thing.
God does not want spoiled children. He wants us to grow up and mature and to toughen up, so we might stand for Him in a tough world. God loves us so much that He disciplines us, and He cares for us so much that He won't let us call the shots and get our own way all the time. If you are under God's loving discipline, rejoice and submit, He's growing you up for His good purposes and glory!
Monday, May 13, 2013
Monday, April 15, 2013
Ready To Forgive
Psalm 86:5 "For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, and abundant in mercy to all those who call upon You.
I can still see the nun standing in front of the chalk board, the board was green and the chalk she used was yellow. She was giving our fourth grade class a brief theology lesson on God's forgiveness. She drew a large circle on the board, then turned the yellow chalk stick flat on the board and quickly colored in the circle. The lesson had begun.
She described the filled in circle as our souls when we were born, dark and black (or yellow), from original sin. After we were baptized as babies original sin was washed away, and she took an eraser and wiped away the chalk from the circle. She picked up the chalk and began to name sins that would be typical of fourth graders, and with each sin named, she would put a large yellow dot in the circle soul. I remember a sort of collective cringe of conviction from the class with the naming of each sin, and very soon the soul was dark once again.
We were taught that we needed God's forgiveness, and that His forgiveness was conditional and depended upon works of penance. We were given a large number of things to do to earn forgiveness. The list included going to confession, saying the rosary, special prayers to saints, wearing medals, novenas, mass on first Fridays, and much more. If enough of these works of penance were accomplished, perhaps God might be ready to forgive. The nun's theology was off, and sadly it set us poor fourth graders on a treadmill of doing works that we could never ever do enough of, to earn forgiveness.
When I came to salvation in Christ, the liberty of living under God's grace was made so very clear to me in His word. What wonderful freedom once I began to understand that God is ready and willing to forgive me. Jesus has already completed the work needed for the forgiveness of sins, I just need to receive His gracious gift of salvation. What weight is lifted knowing that God's willingness to forgive is apart from any works that I do, because I know I could never do enough.
Please don't be separated from the Lord. I don't care how dark and yellow your soul might be, in Jesus you can be forgiven. There is no need for you to have to prove your worthiness or win His favor. Through Jesus God is ready to forgive.
I can still see the nun standing in front of the chalk board, the board was green and the chalk she used was yellow. She was giving our fourth grade class a brief theology lesson on God's forgiveness. She drew a large circle on the board, then turned the yellow chalk stick flat on the board and quickly colored in the circle. The lesson had begun.
She described the filled in circle as our souls when we were born, dark and black (or yellow), from original sin. After we were baptized as babies original sin was washed away, and she took an eraser and wiped away the chalk from the circle. She picked up the chalk and began to name sins that would be typical of fourth graders, and with each sin named, she would put a large yellow dot in the circle soul. I remember a sort of collective cringe of conviction from the class with the naming of each sin, and very soon the soul was dark once again.
We were taught that we needed God's forgiveness, and that His forgiveness was conditional and depended upon works of penance. We were given a large number of things to do to earn forgiveness. The list included going to confession, saying the rosary, special prayers to saints, wearing medals, novenas, mass on first Fridays, and much more. If enough of these works of penance were accomplished, perhaps God might be ready to forgive. The nun's theology was off, and sadly it set us poor fourth graders on a treadmill of doing works that we could never ever do enough of, to earn forgiveness.
When I came to salvation in Christ, the liberty of living under God's grace was made so very clear to me in His word. What wonderful freedom once I began to understand that God is ready and willing to forgive me. Jesus has already completed the work needed for the forgiveness of sins, I just need to receive His gracious gift of salvation. What weight is lifted knowing that God's willingness to forgive is apart from any works that I do, because I know I could never do enough.
Please don't be separated from the Lord. I don't care how dark and yellow your soul might be, in Jesus you can be forgiven. There is no need for you to have to prove your worthiness or win His favor. Through Jesus God is ready to forgive.
Saturday, March 30, 2013
Death Abolished
"but has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior, Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel" (II Timothy 1:10).
Through sin came death. By the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, death has been abolished. To abolish means to deprive of force, influence, or power, to render inactive or inoperative. Hallelujah! Jesus is alive and death is abolished!
I love it! Death, man's great enemy rendered inoperative by the Gospel of Jesus, what Easter joy! Without Christ, death ought to be feared. The world pictures death as a threatening figure in a black robe with skeleton hands holding a sickle, looking to harvest souls away from life. With Christ, everything changes, especially death. Matthew Henry described death as 'a kindly messenger coming to bid us to the Father'.
Have you received salvation in Jesus? Could there be a better day to receive eternal life than Resurrection Sunday? Why not bend your knee to His Lordship today? Happy Easter...Jesus is risen...death is abolished!
Through sin came death. By the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, death has been abolished. To abolish means to deprive of force, influence, or power, to render inactive or inoperative. Hallelujah! Jesus is alive and death is abolished!
I love it! Death, man's great enemy rendered inoperative by the Gospel of Jesus, what Easter joy! Without Christ, death ought to be feared. The world pictures death as a threatening figure in a black robe with skeleton hands holding a sickle, looking to harvest souls away from life. With Christ, everything changes, especially death. Matthew Henry described death as 'a kindly messenger coming to bid us to the Father'.
Have you received salvation in Jesus? Could there be a better day to receive eternal life than Resurrection Sunday? Why not bend your knee to His Lordship today? Happy Easter...Jesus is risen...death is abolished!
Friday, March 29, 2013
Honoring Our King
"And when they had mocked Him, they took the robe off Him, put His own clothes on Him, and led Him away to be crucified."
Jesus was mocked the day of His crucifixion, he was laughed at spat upon and scorned. The mocking of Jesus didn't stop on Good Friday, sadly it has continued even to this current generation.
The very sins that Jesus died for are today encouraged and openly paraded about. To speak out against these sins is considered legalistic or even hateful. Christians today are pressured into the false notion that to love the sinner is to accept their sin. It is unfortunate that much of the church has bought into this notion, believing it reflects love and grace, when in fact true love warns of sin, and acceptance of sin mocks the cross of Christ.
The cross was ugly, brutal, and fatal, because sin is ugly, brutal, and fatal. Our message of love to the world is to turn from the death of sin, to life in Christ. May our lives honor Jesus in the midst of a mocking world, as we stand for His truth.
Jesus was mocked the day of His crucifixion, he was laughed at spat upon and scorned. The mocking of Jesus didn't stop on Good Friday, sadly it has continued even to this current generation.
The very sins that Jesus died for are today encouraged and openly paraded about. To speak out against these sins is considered legalistic or even hateful. Christians today are pressured into the false notion that to love the sinner is to accept their sin. It is unfortunate that much of the church has bought into this notion, believing it reflects love and grace, when in fact true love warns of sin, and acceptance of sin mocks the cross of Christ.
The cross was ugly, brutal, and fatal, because sin is ugly, brutal, and fatal. Our message of love to the world is to turn from the death of sin, to life in Christ. May our lives honor Jesus in the midst of a mocking world, as we stand for His truth.
Monday, March 4, 2013
Thinking Of You
"....and Your thoughts toward us cannot be recounted to You in order; if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered." Psalm 40:5
The thought of someone thinking about you all the time could be good or bad, it could be really sweet or kind of creepy. If your spouse or boyfriend or girlfriend told you that they thought of you all the time, I'm sure you'd smile and feel warm and fuzzy. If someone you didn't know, or hardly knew, told you they thought about you all the time, I doubt you'd smile and most likely you'd be scared.
Of course the difference in how you might feel about someone thinking about you, would depend on who they are, and how well you know them.
In Psalm 40, David says that he can't even number the thoughts that God has about him, and it doesn't creep him out, in fact it brings him encouragement and comfort. There might be some who would panic in knowing that God was thinking about them all the time, but David rejoices in such knowledge. It speaks of the type of relationship he had with the Lord and how well he knew his God.
I'm with David, I love the fact that the Lord thinks about me all the time. I know Him, and in the cross He has proven His love for me, so I'm totally blessed that He thinks about me all the time.
In this rough and tumble world where we get bruised and battered, it's easy to feel forgotten. That is why it's important to stop and remember how much the Lord loves you. I doubt there are refrigerators in heaven, but if there were refrigerators in heaven, God would have one, and picture of you would be on it! He really does think about you all the time, and oh how much He loves you.
The thought of someone thinking about you all the time could be good or bad, it could be really sweet or kind of creepy. If your spouse or boyfriend or girlfriend told you that they thought of you all the time, I'm sure you'd smile and feel warm and fuzzy. If someone you didn't know, or hardly knew, told you they thought about you all the time, I doubt you'd smile and most likely you'd be scared.
Of course the difference in how you might feel about someone thinking about you, would depend on who they are, and how well you know them.
In Psalm 40, David says that he can't even number the thoughts that God has about him, and it doesn't creep him out, in fact it brings him encouragement and comfort. There might be some who would panic in knowing that God was thinking about them all the time, but David rejoices in such knowledge. It speaks of the type of relationship he had with the Lord and how well he knew his God.
I'm with David, I love the fact that the Lord thinks about me all the time. I know Him, and in the cross He has proven His love for me, so I'm totally blessed that He thinks about me all the time.
In this rough and tumble world where we get bruised and battered, it's easy to feel forgotten. That is why it's important to stop and remember how much the Lord loves you. I doubt there are refrigerators in heaven, but if there were refrigerators in heaven, God would have one, and picture of you would be on it! He really does think about you all the time, and oh how much He loves you.
Thursday, February 14, 2013
True Love
Romans 5:8 "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
So I got up early this morning to run out and get my sweetheart her favorite coffee and a bagel. I was hoping to give her breakfast in bed, but she was up before I got back! Anyway, on the way home from the bagel place I was listening to a radio station and the morning radio personalities were giving all kinds of Valentines Day statistics.
They were pretty much making fun of the day, and I wasn't paying real close attention as they were conversing about the most popular gifts, and how much chocolate is eaten. I'm not a big social media guy, but I found it interesting that apparently there is a 49% increase in relationship status changes on Valentines Day. One stat they gave as sort of a warning, and it did get me thinking. They didn't give any sources but they said, 10% of relationships that break up, do so on Valentines Day. Ouch, that seems cold!!
I guess Valentines Day might stir up some important questions, and make one wonder about key issues. Is he or she really my Valentine? Do I really love her, or does she really love me? If the stats I heard on the radio are correct, this day of romance causes a good number of folks to wonder about the reality of true love in their relationships.
This day may have you wondering too. You may be thinking about that one you love, or longing for a special someone to love, or according to statistics you might be breaking up with that not so special someone. If this day has stirred up some wondering about love, know that there is one love you need never wonder about, and that is the love that God has for you.
God has demonstrated His love for you in the cross, and that tremendous love for you has not wavered one bit, ever. On this day that love is celebrated, we of all people ought to be the most joyous, for in Jesus we have the assurance of the greatest love ever known.
Happy Valentines Day!
So I got up early this morning to run out and get my sweetheart her favorite coffee and a bagel. I was hoping to give her breakfast in bed, but she was up before I got back! Anyway, on the way home from the bagel place I was listening to a radio station and the morning radio personalities were giving all kinds of Valentines Day statistics.
They were pretty much making fun of the day, and I wasn't paying real close attention as they were conversing about the most popular gifts, and how much chocolate is eaten. I'm not a big social media guy, but I found it interesting that apparently there is a 49% increase in relationship status changes on Valentines Day. One stat they gave as sort of a warning, and it did get me thinking. They didn't give any sources but they said, 10% of relationships that break up, do so on Valentines Day. Ouch, that seems cold!!
I guess Valentines Day might stir up some important questions, and make one wonder about key issues. Is he or she really my Valentine? Do I really love her, or does she really love me? If the stats I heard on the radio are correct, this day of romance causes a good number of folks to wonder about the reality of true love in their relationships.
This day may have you wondering too. You may be thinking about that one you love, or longing for a special someone to love, or according to statistics you might be breaking up with that not so special someone. If this day has stirred up some wondering about love, know that there is one love you need never wonder about, and that is the love that God has for you.
God has demonstrated His love for you in the cross, and that tremendous love for you has not wavered one bit, ever. On this day that love is celebrated, we of all people ought to be the most joyous, for in Jesus we have the assurance of the greatest love ever known.
Happy Valentines Day!
Monday, January 28, 2013
Be Faithful
"My soul is greatly troubled; but You, O Lord, how long? Psalm 6:3
There is a constant in life that we are all aware of, life will have its share of hurts and pains and sorrows. Whenever the hurt or pain or sorrow come we accept it as part of life, but we also want to know something very important....how long?
I have always thought it was funny that we classify our miserable flu bugs by hours, but it does help us bear the agony to know how long. Of course when it comes to how long, we will always choose the shorter rather than the longer. I don't think anyone if given a choice would select the 24 hour flu over the 12 hour flu.
Through my years of walking with the Lord I have grown in trusting Him, even in the seasons of suffering. There is one area I have struggled a bit in trusting the Lord, and that is in the area of timing. It seems His timing and my timing never seem to line up, and of course He always seems to choose the longer time, while I pray for the shorter.
I believe the key in endurance for us, is not to focus on the how long, but to focus on remaining faithful in the moment. If I focus on the clock or the calendar, counting hours and days, I am sure to lose heart. If my focus is on pleasing the Lord through the hurts, pains, and sorrows, He will give the daily grace and strength to see me through.
In reality our how long in not that long. The Lord requires of us that we are faithful to Him today, and not to worry about tomorrow. So if you are in a season that has you asking how long, the answer is today....you be faithful to the Lord today, and let Him take care of the results.
There is a constant in life that we are all aware of, life will have its share of hurts and pains and sorrows. Whenever the hurt or pain or sorrow come we accept it as part of life, but we also want to know something very important....how long?
I have always thought it was funny that we classify our miserable flu bugs by hours, but it does help us bear the agony to know how long. Of course when it comes to how long, we will always choose the shorter rather than the longer. I don't think anyone if given a choice would select the 24 hour flu over the 12 hour flu.
Through my years of walking with the Lord I have grown in trusting Him, even in the seasons of suffering. There is one area I have struggled a bit in trusting the Lord, and that is in the area of timing. It seems His timing and my timing never seem to line up, and of course He always seems to choose the longer time, while I pray for the shorter.
I believe the key in endurance for us, is not to focus on the how long, but to focus on remaining faithful in the moment. If I focus on the clock or the calendar, counting hours and days, I am sure to lose heart. If my focus is on pleasing the Lord through the hurts, pains, and sorrows, He will give the daily grace and strength to see me through.
In reality our how long in not that long. The Lord requires of us that we are faithful to Him today, and not to worry about tomorrow. So if you are in a season that has you asking how long, the answer is today....you be faithful to the Lord today, and let Him take care of the results.
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