Psalm 119:10-24 (NLT)
I have tried hard to find you—don’t let me wander from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. I praise you, O Lord; teach me your decrees. I have recited aloud all the regulations you have given us. I have rejoiced in your laws as much as in riches. I will study your commandments and reflect on your ways. I will delight in your decrees and not forget your word. Be good to your servant, that I may live and obey your word. Open my eyes to see the wonderful truths in your instructions. I am only a foreigner in the land. Don’t hide your commands from me! I am always overwhelmed with a desire for your regulations. You rebuke the arrogant; those who wander from your commands are cursed. Don’t let them scorn and insult me, for I have obeyed your laws. Even princes sit and speak against me, but I will meditate on your decrees. Your laws please me; they give me wise advice.
Here is a basic summary of my notes from John’s message. Sometimes things laid straight to the point are more profound without the added literary rambling.
Vision Statement: 1(of 4). Passionately seek a relationship with Jesus
How do we do that?
1. Have the closest possible walk with Jesus. Attend church service every time you can, including the most vital services like prayer. Read your Bible and some devotion daily. (Author’s Note: No, I won’t get my feelings hurt if you don’t read this one. My feelings will be hurt if you make no effort in your quiet time whatsoever.) Be consistent and constant in your prayers and alone time with God. Think of it like a dating relationship. When you first start dating your love, you want to spend all your time with them and want to know everything about them. Same with Jesus. Fellowship with other believers, who will encourage you further in your relationship with Jesus.
2. We are one body with many parts. Every body part compliments the others. If we’re not active then we’re hurting and hindering the rest of the body. Each part is accountable to the others. If, say, our foot is wounded, then the whole body is affected, having to run with a limp. We must maintain spiritual health, not only for ourselves, but for the good of the entire body.
3. We seek God with whatever means necessary. At work, at play, at family.
4. We act the same way both in and out of church. We must, in essence, be the church. We all must move together. Think of it like an octopus on roller skates. If the legs are all on the same page, everything is headed together in one direction. If not, chaos and wreckage.
In the words of the O.C. Supertones, “Today, I make my resolution!” Will you join with me?
Thursday, February 28, 2013
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Vision #4 - Making Our Resolution
Matthew 8:1-4 (NLT)
Large crowds followed Jesus as he came down the mountainside. Suddenly, a man with leprosy approached him and knelt before him. “Lord,” the man said, “if you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean.” Jesus reached out and touched him. “I am willing,” he said. “Be healed!” And instantly the leprosy disappeared. Then Jesus said to him, “Don’t tell anyone about this. Instead, go to the priest and let him examine you. Take along the offering required in the law of Moses for those who have been healed of leprosy. This will be a public testimony that you have been cleansed.”
Imagine this: It's Easter service or Christmas service or New Years service at church. A packed house. This is one of those times of the year when everyone goes to church. Even if it’s the only time all year. They have to bring in extra fold-out chairs there are so many people. Hopefully, you’ve been welcomed with open arms. But you may have also noticed others who ignored you or acted as if you didn’t exist. The pastor stands behind the pulpit, maybe shows a portion of "The Passion of the Christ" film or a Nativity clip and shares Jesus. Who He is and how he can radically change not only your life now, but the one to come. He relates how Jesus loves us just as we are, but that He also loves us too much to let us stay that way.
What you see and hear stirs something deep within your soul. The Holy Spirit- God’s Spirit- is wrapping you in love, calling out to you, drawing you to him. To an even deeper walk. Now you have an eternal choice to make. Are you:
1. Going to take a look over your shoulder. Witness a mass of people, many of which you may know. You don’t want to cause a scene or prolong the service. People are waiting to get on with their regular lives after all. What will your friends- especially your Christian ones- think? They know you’re messed up and will knit-pick your hypocrisy. What will John think? You’re a leader! You teach! You’re seen as an example!
So you sit quietly and do nothing…
-or are you:
2. Going to step out in faith. Out of your comfort zone. Allow the Lord to work in your life. Take a chance on Jesus. Run to the alter and hit your knees in prayer. Walk up to the pastor during the invitation not caring what anyone thinks or says. Listen as he guides you to Jesus. Buy into the vision. Go deeper. Seek with passion. To cry out to this Jesus, like the leper in our story today: “Lord, if you are willing, make me clean.” Or in our case, “Lord, take me deeper! Forget the world and the status quo! Who cares what people think!”
The leper sought Jesus badly enough where he didn’t care what the crowd thought. He wanted, no…needed, Jesus. He wanted to grow. Are we willing to do what it takes to grow?
Large crowds followed Jesus as he came down the mountainside. Suddenly, a man with leprosy approached him and knelt before him. “Lord,” the man said, “if you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean.” Jesus reached out and touched him. “I am willing,” he said. “Be healed!” And instantly the leprosy disappeared. Then Jesus said to him, “Don’t tell anyone about this. Instead, go to the priest and let him examine you. Take along the offering required in the law of Moses for those who have been healed of leprosy. This will be a public testimony that you have been cleansed.”
Imagine this: It's Easter service or Christmas service or New Years service at church. A packed house. This is one of those times of the year when everyone goes to church. Even if it’s the only time all year. They have to bring in extra fold-out chairs there are so many people. Hopefully, you’ve been welcomed with open arms. But you may have also noticed others who ignored you or acted as if you didn’t exist. The pastor stands behind the pulpit, maybe shows a portion of "The Passion of the Christ" film or a Nativity clip and shares Jesus. Who He is and how he can radically change not only your life now, but the one to come. He relates how Jesus loves us just as we are, but that He also loves us too much to let us stay that way.
What you see and hear stirs something deep within your soul. The Holy Spirit- God’s Spirit- is wrapping you in love, calling out to you, drawing you to him. To an even deeper walk. Now you have an eternal choice to make. Are you:
1. Going to take a look over your shoulder. Witness a mass of people, many of which you may know. You don’t want to cause a scene or prolong the service. People are waiting to get on with their regular lives after all. What will your friends- especially your Christian ones- think? They know you’re messed up and will knit-pick your hypocrisy. What will John think? You’re a leader! You teach! You’re seen as an example!
So you sit quietly and do nothing…
-or are you:
2. Going to step out in faith. Out of your comfort zone. Allow the Lord to work in your life. Take a chance on Jesus. Run to the alter and hit your knees in prayer. Walk up to the pastor during the invitation not caring what anyone thinks or says. Listen as he guides you to Jesus. Buy into the vision. Go deeper. Seek with passion. To cry out to this Jesus, like the leper in our story today: “Lord, if you are willing, make me clean.” Or in our case, “Lord, take me deeper! Forget the world and the status quo! Who cares what people think!”
The leper sought Jesus badly enough where he didn’t care what the crowd thought. He wanted, no…needed, Jesus. He wanted to grow. Are we willing to do what it takes to grow?
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Vision #3 - Growth Through The Wilderness
Matthew 4:1-11 (NLT)
Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted there by the devil. For forty days and forty nights he fasted and became very hungry. During that time the devil came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become loaves of bread.” But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” Then the devil took him to the holy city, Jerusalem, to the highest point of the Temple, and said, “If you are the Son of God, jump off! For the Scriptures say, ‘He will order his angels to protect you. And they will hold you up with their hands so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.’” Jesus responded, “The Scriptures also say, ‘You must not test the Lord your God.’” Next the devil took him to the peak of a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. “I will give it all to you,” he said, “if you will kneel down and worship me.” “Get out of here, Satan,” Jesus told him. “For the Scriptures say, ‘You must worship the Lord your God and serve only him.’" Then the devil went away, and angels came and took care of Jesus.
Lonely. Desolate. Harsh. Unforgiving.
The wilderness brings a variety of emotions to mind. Anybody who has spent any time there- whether in a literal, physical area or in a metaphorical, spiritual place can attest to the gut-wrenching difficulties. It breaks most people, paralyzing them with doubt and fear until they fold, pack up camp, and return to the comfort of their former life. For us, times of growth reflect periods in the wilderness. Our issues are the lack of water and overwhelming heat. But we don’t have to see the desert that way. When we change our perception of the wilderness, our lives will change also.
The Scripture uses the images of a literal and symbolic wilderness numerous times. Perhaps none so powerful as the Gospel account of Jesus and his time there. Allow me to put the story into perspective briefly.
Jesus had just come off a spiritual high. He had been announced as the Savior by John (the Baptist not the Pastor), humbled himself in baptism, and been affirmed by God the Father. Refusing to be content with the one experience, he focused further through 40 days of prayer and fasting. Then came the wilderness.
Little water. Heat. Sweat. Uncomfortable conditions. Tricks of the mind. Wild animals. Flies. Rashes. Satan shows up, offers easy ways out. Does all this sound familiar?
Sounds like us. We decide to buy into the Refuge vision. We’re high on the Holy Spirit. Then comes our wilderness, our opportunity to trust God and grow.
We tend to be our weakest in this environment. Vulnerable to relapse. Jesus was no different from us- except that he refused to stay the same. He refused to be satisfied with an initial encounter with God. In his weakness, he reverted back to what he had put in his heart. The Word of God. When he was unable to face the wilderness on his own, he allowed God to move on his behalf. And he emerged from the wilderness stronger than ever before.
This is the vision John (the Pastor, not the Baptist) speaks of, a passionate pursuit of Christ. We can go through the wilderness and come out unchanged. And go right back to the comfort of the world. Or you can be like the Savior, Jesus Christ, who held the faith and used the wilderness experience as a time of incomparable growth.
The choice is yours- be pruned and grow…or stay the same and die.
Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted there by the devil. For forty days and forty nights he fasted and became very hungry. During that time the devil came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become loaves of bread.” But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” Then the devil took him to the holy city, Jerusalem, to the highest point of the Temple, and said, “If you are the Son of God, jump off! For the Scriptures say, ‘He will order his angels to protect you. And they will hold you up with their hands so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.’” Jesus responded, “The Scriptures also say, ‘You must not test the Lord your God.’” Next the devil took him to the peak of a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. “I will give it all to you,” he said, “if you will kneel down and worship me.” “Get out of here, Satan,” Jesus told him. “For the Scriptures say, ‘You must worship the Lord your God and serve only him.’" Then the devil went away, and angels came and took care of Jesus.
Lonely. Desolate. Harsh. Unforgiving.
The wilderness brings a variety of emotions to mind. Anybody who has spent any time there- whether in a literal, physical area or in a metaphorical, spiritual place can attest to the gut-wrenching difficulties. It breaks most people, paralyzing them with doubt and fear until they fold, pack up camp, and return to the comfort of their former life. For us, times of growth reflect periods in the wilderness. Our issues are the lack of water and overwhelming heat. But we don’t have to see the desert that way. When we change our perception of the wilderness, our lives will change also.
The Scripture uses the images of a literal and symbolic wilderness numerous times. Perhaps none so powerful as the Gospel account of Jesus and his time there. Allow me to put the story into perspective briefly.
Jesus had just come off a spiritual high. He had been announced as the Savior by John (the Baptist not the Pastor), humbled himself in baptism, and been affirmed by God the Father. Refusing to be content with the one experience, he focused further through 40 days of prayer and fasting. Then came the wilderness.
Little water. Heat. Sweat. Uncomfortable conditions. Tricks of the mind. Wild animals. Flies. Rashes. Satan shows up, offers easy ways out. Does all this sound familiar?
Sounds like us. We decide to buy into the Refuge vision. We’re high on the Holy Spirit. Then comes our wilderness, our opportunity to trust God and grow.
We tend to be our weakest in this environment. Vulnerable to relapse. Jesus was no different from us- except that he refused to stay the same. He refused to be satisfied with an initial encounter with God. In his weakness, he reverted back to what he had put in his heart. The Word of God. When he was unable to face the wilderness on his own, he allowed God to move on his behalf. And he emerged from the wilderness stronger than ever before.
This is the vision John (the Pastor, not the Baptist) speaks of, a passionate pursuit of Christ. We can go through the wilderness and come out unchanged. And go right back to the comfort of the world. Or you can be like the Savior, Jesus Christ, who held the faith and used the wilderness experience as a time of incomparable growth.
The choice is yours- be pruned and grow…or stay the same and die.
Monday, February 25, 2013
Vision #2 - Hitting Bottom / Spiritually Bankrupt
Matthew 5:1-10 (NLT)
One day as he saw the crowds gathering, Jesus went up on the mountainside and sat down. His disciples gathered around him, and he began to teach them. “God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs. God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted. God blesses those who are humble, for they will inherit the whole earth. God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice, for they will be satisfied. God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy. God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God. God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God. God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.
In order to seek and find Jesus Christ, we must first hit bottom. It’s a prerequisite to the seeking process. But as hard as this pill is to swallow, listen to this. Our bottom, and the excruciating pain accompanying it, is one of the greatest gifts from a loving God. For when we are there, we can witness our powerlessness and weakness. We are able to recognize our need for something, someone greater than ourselves. We see we need- for the first time or as a reminder-a Savior.
We passionately seek...
Enter Jesus Christ. He is not the Higher Power, but the Most High. Where we see a broken person (or our self), Jesus sees cracked and frail human pottery waiting to be restored with his healing hands. He has compassion on us, empathizing to the point of remembering his own humanness and longing to reach out in love. And many times, he uses us as his hand and feet, helping the others to see his love. And that leads us to the back to the vision.
If you’re sacrificing time for this devotion consistently, I’m going to assume you’re a Jesus Freak already. But even Jesus Freaks reach a point where they want to go even deeper. They’re not actually spiritually bankrupt, but that hunger we have as baby believers returns. We not only want to seek Jesus again, but with passion, with vigor, with desperation. We don’t want a good time, a good feeling, or a good life. We want Jesus, pure and unadulterated. That’s the premise behind these Beatitudes. It’s no mistake that this is Jesus’ first sermon (or at least the first recorded one). And perhaps the most beautiful part of all this are the promises to those who hit bottom and passionately seek God. They will be filled!
As if your being filled is not enough, when you passionately seek God it encourages others as well. I have this friend, who, for the sake of argument we’ll call Jason as well, who is an encouragement to me every time I visit with him. My encouragement stems from his passionate seeking of God, through questions, prayer, doubt, and honesty. There is no holding back. He is “poor in spirit” and “recognizes his need for God” (verse 1). He seeks answers to questions most of us dare not ask for fear of being cut off or being shoved from our comfort zone. He is discovering, like all of us who’ve strived to go deeper, a clearer picture of Jesus and his love for us.
You can experience this also. We must only first seek…with passion, with our whole heart.
One day as he saw the crowds gathering, Jesus went up on the mountainside and sat down. His disciples gathered around him, and he began to teach them. “God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs. God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted. God blesses those who are humble, for they will inherit the whole earth. God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice, for they will be satisfied. God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy. God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God. God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God. God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.
In order to seek and find Jesus Christ, we must first hit bottom. It’s a prerequisite to the seeking process. But as hard as this pill is to swallow, listen to this. Our bottom, and the excruciating pain accompanying it, is one of the greatest gifts from a loving God. For when we are there, we can witness our powerlessness and weakness. We are able to recognize our need for something, someone greater than ourselves. We see we need- for the first time or as a reminder-a Savior.
We passionately seek...
Enter Jesus Christ. He is not the Higher Power, but the Most High. Where we see a broken person (or our self), Jesus sees cracked and frail human pottery waiting to be restored with his healing hands. He has compassion on us, empathizing to the point of remembering his own humanness and longing to reach out in love. And many times, he uses us as his hand and feet, helping the others to see his love. And that leads us to the back to the vision.
If you’re sacrificing time for this devotion consistently, I’m going to assume you’re a Jesus Freak already. But even Jesus Freaks reach a point where they want to go even deeper. They’re not actually spiritually bankrupt, but that hunger we have as baby believers returns. We not only want to seek Jesus again, but with passion, with vigor, with desperation. We don’t want a good time, a good feeling, or a good life. We want Jesus, pure and unadulterated. That’s the premise behind these Beatitudes. It’s no mistake that this is Jesus’ first sermon (or at least the first recorded one). And perhaps the most beautiful part of all this are the promises to those who hit bottom and passionately seek God. They will be filled!
As if your being filled is not enough, when you passionately seek God it encourages others as well. I have this friend, who, for the sake of argument we’ll call Jason as well, who is an encouragement to me every time I visit with him. My encouragement stems from his passionate seeking of God, through questions, prayer, doubt, and honesty. There is no holding back. He is “poor in spirit” and “recognizes his need for God” (verse 1). He seeks answers to questions most of us dare not ask for fear of being cut off or being shoved from our comfort zone. He is discovering, like all of us who’ve strived to go deeper, a clearer picture of Jesus and his love for us.
You can experience this also. We must only first seek…with passion, with our whole heart.
Sunday, February 24, 2013
Vision #1 - Passionately Seeking God
Matthew 7:7-11 (NLT)
Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. You parents—if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead? Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not! So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him.
Not long ago, I waded through a devotional much like you are now, only dealing with the mystery of God. In one chapter, the author discusses the transforming power we experience when God answers our questions. Dr. Stevens went on to say, the questions themselves- and the search involved in them- is perhaps as powerful as the answer itself. I am inclined to side with him. Questions, more so than knowledge itself, are the greatest power in the world, short of love. Above all, questions help us realize that we are powerless and our need of Jesus (The Way, The Truth, The Life).
Yet, questions usually get a negative reception. As a teacher, I’m amazed by the lack of questions in the classroom at school, in the meeting room at the shelter, even at church. I’m not so naive as to believe that we are such great teachers that there are no questions. Rather kids (like most of us) falsely believe asking questions will blemish our reputation. It’s not cool. It makes you look foolish, slow, or stupid. This is what they believe- even when they know others don’t understand either. Sadly, what I witness in the classroom isn't the exception to the rule. Rather, people in all walks of life tend to shun the attention shone upon anyone asking questions. Think even of those in the church who have dared to ask questions, or seek something deeper.
But, oh, how I long to ask question after question! And I’m not alone. I’m reminded of one story in particular. Warren (name changed to protect anonymity), one of the most memorable characters to come through our shelter program, was a questioner, a seeker. He was wise enough to know that he didn’t know everything and humble enough not to care what others thought of him. During the “Faith Like Children” section in our Life Recovery Devotional one early morning, Warren stopped us mid-thought with his raspy voice, a mix of gravel and phlegm, like he’d smoked too long.
"I don't want to interrupt or waste your time, but what the hell is this talking about? How can I be like a little kid again?"
I stopped and smiled. He, at first, thought I was laughing at him until I said, “Another wise man once asked Jesus how a man could be born again. (See John 3). So you’re in good company.”
And so is anyone who seeks the answers, whether they find them in this life…or the next.
Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. You parents—if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead? Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not! So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him.
Not long ago, I waded through a devotional much like you are now, only dealing with the mystery of God. In one chapter, the author discusses the transforming power we experience when God answers our questions. Dr. Stevens went on to say, the questions themselves- and the search involved in them- is perhaps as powerful as the answer itself. I am inclined to side with him. Questions, more so than knowledge itself, are the greatest power in the world, short of love. Above all, questions help us realize that we are powerless and our need of Jesus (The Way, The Truth, The Life).
Yet, questions usually get a negative reception. As a teacher, I’m amazed by the lack of questions in the classroom at school, in the meeting room at the shelter, even at church. I’m not so naive as to believe that we are such great teachers that there are no questions. Rather kids (like most of us) falsely believe asking questions will blemish our reputation. It’s not cool. It makes you look foolish, slow, or stupid. This is what they believe- even when they know others don’t understand either. Sadly, what I witness in the classroom isn't the exception to the rule. Rather, people in all walks of life tend to shun the attention shone upon anyone asking questions. Think even of those in the church who have dared to ask questions, or seek something deeper.
But, oh, how I long to ask question after question! And I’m not alone. I’m reminded of one story in particular. Warren (name changed to protect anonymity), one of the most memorable characters to come through our shelter program, was a questioner, a seeker. He was wise enough to know that he didn’t know everything and humble enough not to care what others thought of him. During the “Faith Like Children” section in our Life Recovery Devotional one early morning, Warren stopped us mid-thought with his raspy voice, a mix of gravel and phlegm, like he’d smoked too long.
"I don't want to interrupt or waste your time, but what the hell is this talking about? How can I be like a little kid again?"
I stopped and smiled. He, at first, thought I was laughing at him until I said, “Another wise man once asked Jesus how a man could be born again. (See John 3). So you’re in good company.”
And so is anyone who seeks the answers, whether they find them in this life…or the next.
Friday, February 22, 2013
Reflection
One question to reflect on this week:
What motivates you to serve God- selfishness, attention, expectations of others, love?
If you look at yourself honestly and say that it's not out of agape love, ask the Lord to begin the process of changing you from the inside out.
What motivates you to serve God- selfishness, attention, expectations of others, love?
If you look at yourself honestly and say that it's not out of agape love, ask the Lord to begin the process of changing you from the inside out.
Thursday, February 21, 2013
Questioning Motives #2 - The Light at the End of the Tunnel
Isaiah 64:6-8 (NLT)
We are all infected and impure with sin. When we display our righteous deeds, they are nothing but filthy rags. Like autumn leaves, we wither and fall, and our sins sweep us away like the wind. Yet no one calls on your name or pleads with you for mercy. Therefore, you have turned away from us and turned us over to our sins. And yet, O Lord, you are our Father. We are the clay, and you are the potter. We all are formed by your hand.
The continuing saga of my selfish motives-
“My first spontaneous thought is to call Major, confess my unpardonable discretion, and avoid any further involvement with the street ministry. If I wasn't to be transparently sincere, I want to be as far away as possible, so as to no longer contaminate it with my greed and pride. But just as Jesus touched my eyes and allowed the scales to drop from them like rain, His words, spoken by a man after my own heart, caress me with forgiveness and hope. “There is now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus.”
Wave after wave of the Savior’s love pummels the shores of my heart. Like the devastating combination of wind, rain, and waves interwoven in a hurricane, so is His love for me. It left me strong, clean, acceptable. My innocuous thoughts retreat beneath the onslaught of grace and a peace settles in, not the momentary lapse of violence like the eye of the storm, but a peace experienced when the storm has dispensed its load and moved on. The stillness, the clarity, the survival, the gratitude. Upon further prodding by the Holy Spirit, I forgive myself for condemning the same and I’m counseled not to relinquish the ministry. Rather, to take upon myself the attitude of Christ that the letter to the Philippians instructs: “Though He was God …did not think equality with God as something to cling to…giving up divine privileges…taking the humble position of a servant…humbled Himself to obedience and death.”
Instantly, my heart lifts and I passionately, fervently, desperately desire a heart like that. Despite my past, my shortcomings, my character flaws, I want to love the Lord with all my heart, mind, and soul. I want to love others with the same urgency with which I love myself. I want to reach out to the lost and hurting not out of a necessity of personal validation but because they’re simply lost and hurting. And because I have a testimony of how I was once like that, lost and hurting, but now have a story of hope and healing, not through any hollow thing I have done, but because of Jesus Christ.
This revelation, of the obstructive dam that prevented the undeterred flow of living water in my life, is life changing to say the least. Unbeknownst to me, it’s the cause of my unfulfilling spiritual walk at the time. Admittedly, I’m going through the motions, faking it until I make it, saying all the religiously correct answers. But this realization, should I have to create a list of top “Jesus Experiences” is easily a “Top 5.” It’s as if after being born again and crawling and stumbling spiritually, I’m now able to get a firm footing and really begin to walk. Not only this, my perceptions are also transforming and growing into spiritual maturity. I see God for who He is, the Eternal Entity of love. One who shows the way by leading, helping not hurting, lighting our path through the darkness. And I also see how ministry, particularly the street ministry of Arms of Mercy, isn’t only revealing my depravity but is enlightening my soul to the eternal significance of genuine, impassioned, agape love. From now on, I know I won’t see the people on the streets as someone to pity or use for my own self aggrandizement or to be the poster child for the least of these. I will truly see them through the eyes of Jesus Christ.”
As you can read, my motives were distorted until I realized that ministry, that church in general, that EVERYTHING is NOT about ME! It's all about Jesus. Question, and do away with, any motive not about Him. Ask God to transform your motives to agape love.
Shout His love to the top of your lungs! Then live it out!
We are all infected and impure with sin. When we display our righteous deeds, they are nothing but filthy rags. Like autumn leaves, we wither and fall, and our sins sweep us away like the wind. Yet no one calls on your name or pleads with you for mercy. Therefore, you have turned away from us and turned us over to our sins. And yet, O Lord, you are our Father. We are the clay, and you are the potter. We all are formed by your hand.
The continuing saga of my selfish motives-
“My first spontaneous thought is to call Major, confess my unpardonable discretion, and avoid any further involvement with the street ministry. If I wasn't to be transparently sincere, I want to be as far away as possible, so as to no longer contaminate it with my greed and pride. But just as Jesus touched my eyes and allowed the scales to drop from them like rain, His words, spoken by a man after my own heart, caress me with forgiveness and hope. “There is now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus.”
Wave after wave of the Savior’s love pummels the shores of my heart. Like the devastating combination of wind, rain, and waves interwoven in a hurricane, so is His love for me. It left me strong, clean, acceptable. My innocuous thoughts retreat beneath the onslaught of grace and a peace settles in, not the momentary lapse of violence like the eye of the storm, but a peace experienced when the storm has dispensed its load and moved on. The stillness, the clarity, the survival, the gratitude. Upon further prodding by the Holy Spirit, I forgive myself for condemning the same and I’m counseled not to relinquish the ministry. Rather, to take upon myself the attitude of Christ that the letter to the Philippians instructs: “Though He was God …did not think equality with God as something to cling to…giving up divine privileges…taking the humble position of a servant…humbled Himself to obedience and death.”
Instantly, my heart lifts and I passionately, fervently, desperately desire a heart like that. Despite my past, my shortcomings, my character flaws, I want to love the Lord with all my heart, mind, and soul. I want to love others with the same urgency with which I love myself. I want to reach out to the lost and hurting not out of a necessity of personal validation but because they’re simply lost and hurting. And because I have a testimony of how I was once like that, lost and hurting, but now have a story of hope and healing, not through any hollow thing I have done, but because of Jesus Christ.
This revelation, of the obstructive dam that prevented the undeterred flow of living water in my life, is life changing to say the least. Unbeknownst to me, it’s the cause of my unfulfilling spiritual walk at the time. Admittedly, I’m going through the motions, faking it until I make it, saying all the religiously correct answers. But this realization, should I have to create a list of top “Jesus Experiences” is easily a “Top 5.” It’s as if after being born again and crawling and stumbling spiritually, I’m now able to get a firm footing and really begin to walk. Not only this, my perceptions are also transforming and growing into spiritual maturity. I see God for who He is, the Eternal Entity of love. One who shows the way by leading, helping not hurting, lighting our path through the darkness. And I also see how ministry, particularly the street ministry of Arms of Mercy, isn’t only revealing my depravity but is enlightening my soul to the eternal significance of genuine, impassioned, agape love. From now on, I know I won’t see the people on the streets as someone to pity or use for my own self aggrandizement or to be the poster child for the least of these. I will truly see them through the eyes of Jesus Christ.”
As you can read, my motives were distorted until I realized that ministry, that church in general, that EVERYTHING is NOT about ME! It's all about Jesus. Question, and do away with, any motive not about Him. Ask God to transform your motives to agape love.
Shout His love to the top of your lungs! Then live it out!
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Questioning Motives #1 - The Sad Truth
Jeremiah 17:9 (NLT)
The human heart is the most deceitful of all things and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is?
“Why do we pray for God to send us the least, lost, and hurting and then get angry or upset when He does it? What is your motive for loving people and being Christ’s church?”
As soon as John mentioned these questions, I thought back to my own “motive inventory” I took a few years ago. I include it here in the hope it helps you search your own motives and gives you the strength to be honest with yourself. Because of its length, I will split the excerpt from my book, less than the least, in two, finishing the devotional thought tomorrow. The following was written as I went through this process myself…
“…Because it’s nearest in my memory, I drift back to the street corner where we visited mere hours ago. Not long after, I concentrate on my motives, which have come to bother me more and more lately. If I’m completely honest with myself, I admit that ministry has become another addiction for me, something else to throw myself unflinchingly into, another fix to get, another way to seek and receive the comfort and attention I crave so blindly. Despite all my good intentions, the things which motivate me to ministry, particularly the Arms of Mercy, are so much more selfish than I realize. By the time Robert invited me to join with him in this endeavor, I’m already hooked on ministry. Like the cartoon character enveloped by a tornado, I erratically lurch and leap all over the ministerial landscape. I counsel and lead youth. Oversee worship and Bible study. Give sermons. Visit with my wheelchair patients when off duty, dragging my kids with me on numerous occasions. I go room to room at the nursing home with gifts and encouraging words. I relieve the sound man at church. I write novels and donate the proceeds to youth and missions funds. I sell some of my old musical equipment to beef up the church funds and give away more of it to those who need it to learn on. And on and on it goes. But something is missing in all this. And it’s the same thing that’s missing now in street ministry.
As I sit here, amongst the loving God and the peaceful pines and the sprinkling clouds, the Lord peels back the lids of my heart. It’s love I’m neglecting. Not love in the bland, watered-down, abused connotation it’s smeared with these days. But real love. God’s love. Agape, the pure love that gives and gives and gives and expects absolutely nothing in return. I’ve spent the vast majority of my life- ministry years included- longing for validation, attention, recognition, and reputation. My selfish, depraved flesh desperately flails for compliments about how great I am or how much good I am doing or what a unique individual I am. Granted, I don’t want to be this way. But I am nonetheless. Before finding the Lord, I yearned for people to witness and experience firsthand the pain and emptiness I felt, manipulate them into having pity on me, see me as the iconic image of tragedy and propel me into becoming the mouthpiece of my generation. I fed this voracious hunger with my literary and musical selections, both of which I was addicted to as much as, if not more than, drugs and alcohol. Much of my misguided motives, I’m realizing now, have continued on in the immaturity of my young walk with Christ. I simply substituted “ministry” for my previous “addiction.” These things I’m participating in for the Lord were disguised attempts for recapturing that fatal attention I need. In my heart, I need to be seen as a martyr, a demure picture of piety, the penitent making up for those wasted years. I seek the attention of people. I struggle with a Christ-complex.
I weep as the full extent of my sin and misunderstanding washes over me. How did I slip into such selfishness? How can I be sharing the love of Christ even as I reserved the glory of such a pronouncement for myself? How wretched I am and do I feel? I can’t believe my flesh has been able to lie so well and deceive my soul for so long.”
As difficult as it is to admit and share this once again, I was serving God to bring myself glory and affirmation, for applause and to feel good about myself. Thank God He opened my eyes and helped me realize that all of this- church, ministry, family, friends, everything is all about Him and His love for me. Have you endured a similar struggle? Can you take an honest inventory of your motives and now say that it's all about Christ?
We will complete these thoughts on the morrow.
The human heart is the most deceitful of all things and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is?
“Why do we pray for God to send us the least, lost, and hurting and then get angry or upset when He does it? What is your motive for loving people and being Christ’s church?”
As soon as John mentioned these questions, I thought back to my own “motive inventory” I took a few years ago. I include it here in the hope it helps you search your own motives and gives you the strength to be honest with yourself. Because of its length, I will split the excerpt from my book, less than the least, in two, finishing the devotional thought tomorrow. The following was written as I went through this process myself…
“…Because it’s nearest in my memory, I drift back to the street corner where we visited mere hours ago. Not long after, I concentrate on my motives, which have come to bother me more and more lately. If I’m completely honest with myself, I admit that ministry has become another addiction for me, something else to throw myself unflinchingly into, another fix to get, another way to seek and receive the comfort and attention I crave so blindly. Despite all my good intentions, the things which motivate me to ministry, particularly the Arms of Mercy, are so much more selfish than I realize. By the time Robert invited me to join with him in this endeavor, I’m already hooked on ministry. Like the cartoon character enveloped by a tornado, I erratically lurch and leap all over the ministerial landscape. I counsel and lead youth. Oversee worship and Bible study. Give sermons. Visit with my wheelchair patients when off duty, dragging my kids with me on numerous occasions. I go room to room at the nursing home with gifts and encouraging words. I relieve the sound man at church. I write novels and donate the proceeds to youth and missions funds. I sell some of my old musical equipment to beef up the church funds and give away more of it to those who need it to learn on. And on and on it goes. But something is missing in all this. And it’s the same thing that’s missing now in street ministry.
As I sit here, amongst the loving God and the peaceful pines and the sprinkling clouds, the Lord peels back the lids of my heart. It’s love I’m neglecting. Not love in the bland, watered-down, abused connotation it’s smeared with these days. But real love. God’s love. Agape, the pure love that gives and gives and gives and expects absolutely nothing in return. I’ve spent the vast majority of my life- ministry years included- longing for validation, attention, recognition, and reputation. My selfish, depraved flesh desperately flails for compliments about how great I am or how much good I am doing or what a unique individual I am. Granted, I don’t want to be this way. But I am nonetheless. Before finding the Lord, I yearned for people to witness and experience firsthand the pain and emptiness I felt, manipulate them into having pity on me, see me as the iconic image of tragedy and propel me into becoming the mouthpiece of my generation. I fed this voracious hunger with my literary and musical selections, both of which I was addicted to as much as, if not more than, drugs and alcohol. Much of my misguided motives, I’m realizing now, have continued on in the immaturity of my young walk with Christ. I simply substituted “ministry” for my previous “addiction.” These things I’m participating in for the Lord were disguised attempts for recapturing that fatal attention I need. In my heart, I need to be seen as a martyr, a demure picture of piety, the penitent making up for those wasted years. I seek the attention of people. I struggle with a Christ-complex.
I weep as the full extent of my sin and misunderstanding washes over me. How did I slip into such selfishness? How can I be sharing the love of Christ even as I reserved the glory of such a pronouncement for myself? How wretched I am and do I feel? I can’t believe my flesh has been able to lie so well and deceive my soul for so long.”
As difficult as it is to admit and share this once again, I was serving God to bring myself glory and affirmation, for applause and to feel good about myself. Thank God He opened my eyes and helped me realize that all of this- church, ministry, family, friends, everything is all about Him and His love for me. Have you endured a similar struggle? Can you take an honest inventory of your motives and now say that it's all about Christ?
We will complete these thoughts on the morrow.
Monday, February 18, 2013
A Thought Crushed My Mind
Romans 12:2 (NLT)
Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.
I came across this not long ago. And it caused to stop reading and pray. May it do the same for you-
“You see, the secret is that we carry the unknown with us wherever we go. It comes up in the middle of a conversation with our mates, or when rappelling down a cliff, or a thousand other times during the day. If we avoid this edge and its unknown, our lives become filled with blind spots- times when we are anxiously waiting for the unknown to pass. Its then that we may turn on the television or drink alcohol or take drugs or read a book or do any one of a thousand things to avoid this unknown that makes up much of our lives…We can use anything to keep us out of the unknown, but if you want to know GOD fully, you must go there…Many religious people, evangelists, scholars, and mystics go to the edge, and then they use the Scriptures or their knowledge and concepts of GOD to keep them from going over the edge into the unknown GOD…But it is an act of faith, of true and deep love, to let go and fall into the face of GOD.”
-from Falling into the Face of God by William Elliott
Application: Fall…
Mindful meditation: Free yourself from all distractions and focus on GOD. Allow Him to love on you for a few minutes.
Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.
I came across this not long ago. And it caused to stop reading and pray. May it do the same for you-
“You see, the secret is that we carry the unknown with us wherever we go. It comes up in the middle of a conversation with our mates, or when rappelling down a cliff, or a thousand other times during the day. If we avoid this edge and its unknown, our lives become filled with blind spots- times when we are anxiously waiting for the unknown to pass. Its then that we may turn on the television or drink alcohol or take drugs or read a book or do any one of a thousand things to avoid this unknown that makes up much of our lives…We can use anything to keep us out of the unknown, but if you want to know GOD fully, you must go there…Many religious people, evangelists, scholars, and mystics go to the edge, and then they use the Scriptures or their knowledge and concepts of GOD to keep them from going over the edge into the unknown GOD…But it is an act of faith, of true and deep love, to let go and fall into the face of GOD.”
-from Falling into the Face of God by William Elliott
Application: Fall…
Mindful meditation: Free yourself from all distractions and focus on GOD. Allow Him to love on you for a few minutes.
Sunday, February 17, 2013
The Be-Attitudes #10 - Year To Live
Matthew 5:3-12 (NLT)
God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.
God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
God blesses those who are humble, for they will inherit the whole earth.
God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice, for they will be satisfied.
God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God.
God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God.
God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.
God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers.
Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted in the same way.
The other day I spoke of a spiritual exercise where you imagine you have but one year to live. Today, begin your list of things you'd do or change. Then get about chipping away at them.
God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.
God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
God blesses those who are humble, for they will inherit the whole earth.
God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice, for they will be satisfied.
God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God.
God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God.
God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.
God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers.
Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted in the same way.
The other day I spoke of a spiritual exercise where you imagine you have but one year to live. Today, begin your list of things you'd do or change. Then get about chipping away at them.
Friday, February 15, 2013
Reflection
1. Scriptures:
Reread the Bible passages used in this week’s LifeTogether. Which one of these meant the most to you personally? Why?
2. Devotions:
List three things that stuck out to you during the week. Why did these grab your attention?
3. Applications:
Which of the applications are you having the easiest time with? The most difficult?
4. Mindful Meditations:
Which of your meditations meant the most to you? Why?
5. Prayer:
Communicate (talk and listen) to the Savior of your soul. Air out anything you need to share. Then praise him for who he is and all he’s done for you this week.
Reread the Bible passages used in this week’s LifeTogether. Which one of these meant the most to you personally? Why?
2. Devotions:
List three things that stuck out to you during the week. Why did these grab your attention?
3. Applications:
Which of the applications are you having the easiest time with? The most difficult?
4. Mindful Meditations:
Which of your meditations meant the most to you? Why?
5. Prayer:
Communicate (talk and listen) to the Savior of your soul. Air out anything you need to share. Then praise him for who he is and all he’s done for you this week.
Thursday, February 14, 2013
The Be-Attitudes #9 - The Final Stanza
Matthew 5:11-12 (NLT)
God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about youand say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers. Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted in the same way.
Be the truth…
Application: Seek the meaning of the aforementioned phrase
Mindful Meditation: Today, dwell on this: I AM (Jesus) the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about youand say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers. Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted in the same way.
Be the truth…
Application: Seek the meaning of the aforementioned phrase
Mindful Meditation: Today, dwell on this: I AM (Jesus) the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
The Be-Attitudes #8 - Be Undeterred
Matthew 5:10 (NLT)
God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.
Ever had a bad day? Maybe everything didn’t go according your plan and you got out of sorts? I had one of those days not too long ago. That was until I read this…
REAL PERSECUTION
There's a cartoon that puts persecution in perspective. In the four panels, we see people praying--first a New Testament Christian: "Lord, give me the courage to face this accusing mob." Then a Reformation Christian: "Lord, help me declare Your truth despite the cost." A 20th Century believer from Soviet Russia: "Lord may we persevere faithfully under these burdens." Then finally, today's American Christian: "Lord, the Audi's been running rough lately."
From Robert Leroe's Sermon "Walking Fearlessly"
Now you may not own an Audi (or even know what it is) but you get the message. I know its Valentine’s Day and all but think about it for a few minutes.
Application: Question yourself. Are you focused on the earthly…or the eternal?
Mindful Meditation: Check the mindset of your prayers and conversations with GOD. Are you mentioning things that really matter or focusing on materialistic things GOD can give you.
God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.
Ever had a bad day? Maybe everything didn’t go according your plan and you got out of sorts? I had one of those days not too long ago. That was until I read this…
REAL PERSECUTION
There's a cartoon that puts persecution in perspective. In the four panels, we see people praying--first a New Testament Christian: "Lord, give me the courage to face this accusing mob." Then a Reformation Christian: "Lord, help me declare Your truth despite the cost." A 20th Century believer from Soviet Russia: "Lord may we persevere faithfully under these burdens." Then finally, today's American Christian: "Lord, the Audi's been running rough lately."
From Robert Leroe's Sermon "Walking Fearlessly"
Now you may not own an Audi (or even know what it is) but you get the message. I know its Valentine’s Day and all but think about it for a few minutes.
Application: Question yourself. Are you focused on the earthly…or the eternal?
Mindful Meditation: Check the mindset of your prayers and conversations with GOD. Are you mentioning things that really matter or focusing on materialistic things GOD can give you.
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
The Be-Attitudes #7 - Be Cooperative not Competitive
Matthew 5:9 (NLT)
God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God.
In roughly ten seconds you will tune me out but I’m going there anyway. Real Madrid and FC Barcalona are two of the biggest soccer clubs in the world, competing yearly for global and Spanish titles. They are such bitter rivals that its not uncommon for riots to break out both on and off the pitch (field) when they meet. The bitter rift bled into the Spanish national team as well, where players from both clubs would come together to play in such competitions as the World Cup and Euros (take my word for it, they’re huge tournaments).For years, they lost match after match and tournament after tournament because they wouldn’t pass the ball to one another or work as one unit. World class athletes who looked like a JV squad at a losing high school. They’d rather lose than allow a player from the other club to get the glory of scoring a goal. After decades of this, the two were unified under a new coach, who preached teamwork, about how two horses hitched together can pull more than double what they can separately. The painstaking process took time but the players began to buy into the vision. Now Spain is widely regarded as one of the best teams in the history of soccer, winning Euro 2008, World Cup 2010, and Euro 2012, the first team ever to win three prestigious tournaments in a row.
If you were able to stay with me, think of how this applies to our lives and the lives of those at Refuge (or your home church). What are your motives? What is your mind set? Are you concerned with reaching the lost for Jesus despite whether or not you receive the credit? Do you serve the church out of a love for GOD and others…or for yourself? Would you rather see your brothers and sisters succeed …or do you secretly wish they’d fail to make you feel better about yourself? Do you gossip about weaknesses and tear down people…or work toward a total transformation by encouraging and leaning on them? Answer honestly and see if you’re developing the mind of Christ.
Application: Make up your mind (and follow through with action) to be cooperative rather than competitive
Mindful Meditation: Dwell on your motives for a few minutes. Release any selfish motives to GOD and ask for his merciful forgiveness. Fill the void with the Be-Attitudes.
God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God.
In roughly ten seconds you will tune me out but I’m going there anyway. Real Madrid and FC Barcalona are two of the biggest soccer clubs in the world, competing yearly for global and Spanish titles. They are such bitter rivals that its not uncommon for riots to break out both on and off the pitch (field) when they meet. The bitter rift bled into the Spanish national team as well, where players from both clubs would come together to play in such competitions as the World Cup and Euros (take my word for it, they’re huge tournaments).For years, they lost match after match and tournament after tournament because they wouldn’t pass the ball to one another or work as one unit. World class athletes who looked like a JV squad at a losing high school. They’d rather lose than allow a player from the other club to get the glory of scoring a goal. After decades of this, the two were unified under a new coach, who preached teamwork, about how two horses hitched together can pull more than double what they can separately. The painstaking process took time but the players began to buy into the vision. Now Spain is widely regarded as one of the best teams in the history of soccer, winning Euro 2008, World Cup 2010, and Euro 2012, the first team ever to win three prestigious tournaments in a row.
If you were able to stay with me, think of how this applies to our lives and the lives of those at Refuge (or your home church). What are your motives? What is your mind set? Are you concerned with reaching the lost for Jesus despite whether or not you receive the credit? Do you serve the church out of a love for GOD and others…or for yourself? Would you rather see your brothers and sisters succeed …or do you secretly wish they’d fail to make you feel better about yourself? Do you gossip about weaknesses and tear down people…or work toward a total transformation by encouraging and leaning on them? Answer honestly and see if you’re developing the mind of Christ.
Application: Make up your mind (and follow through with action) to be cooperative rather than competitive
Mindful Meditation: Dwell on your motives for a few minutes. Release any selfish motives to GOD and ask for his merciful forgiveness. Fill the void with the Be-Attitudes.
Monday, February 11, 2013
The Be-Attitudes #6 - Be Changed From the Inside Out
Matthew 5:8 (NLT)
God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God.
The Message puts it this way:
You’re blessed when you get your inside world- your mind and heart- put right. Then you can see GOD in the outside world.
We all have four types of “sight”: physical, spiritual, emotional, and mental. Let’s call the mental, the mind’s eye. And our mind’s eyes are different as well, depending upon our level of understanding. Allow me to use Psalm 23 as an example. Some read this portion and get absolutely nothing. Some find it a catchy poem. Some draw comfort from it. Some realize the meaning of the images portrayed. But some, some see the message of the Good Shepherd and desire relationship like that.
How we “see” anything depends upon the condition of our heart and mind. To have a pure mind we must be radically changed by devoting our imagination, intelligence, and thinking to Jesus. We must be willing to put into practice the Be-Attitudes we’ve been discussing daily. If not, the mind’s eye needs to be plucked out (see Matthew 5:22-29). You see where I’m going with this (pun intended). Our inward vision must change before there is to be any sort of real change on the outside. It better to pluck out the disease of the inner eye before the physical eyes really get us in trouble and we’re acting out what’s in our minds.
Application: Guard your mind, knowing that the filth on the inside will come out unless we eradicate it quickly.
Mindful Meditation: Search your thoughts. When you find unpure thoughts, pray the Lord remove them from you. Replace those thoughts with prayer, Scripture verses, or ways to help others.
God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God.
The Message puts it this way:
You’re blessed when you get your inside world- your mind and heart- put right. Then you can see GOD in the outside world.
We all have four types of “sight”: physical, spiritual, emotional, and mental. Let’s call the mental, the mind’s eye. And our mind’s eyes are different as well, depending upon our level of understanding. Allow me to use Psalm 23 as an example. Some read this portion and get absolutely nothing. Some find it a catchy poem. Some draw comfort from it. Some realize the meaning of the images portrayed. But some, some see the message of the Good Shepherd and desire relationship like that.
How we “see” anything depends upon the condition of our heart and mind. To have a pure mind we must be radically changed by devoting our imagination, intelligence, and thinking to Jesus. We must be willing to put into practice the Be-Attitudes we’ve been discussing daily. If not, the mind’s eye needs to be plucked out (see Matthew 5:22-29). You see where I’m going with this (pun intended). Our inward vision must change before there is to be any sort of real change on the outside. It better to pluck out the disease of the inner eye before the physical eyes really get us in trouble and we’re acting out what’s in our minds.
Application: Guard your mind, knowing that the filth on the inside will come out unless we eradicate it quickly.
Mindful Meditation: Search your thoughts. When you find unpure thoughts, pray the Lord remove them from you. Replace those thoughts with prayer, Scripture verses, or ways to help others.
Sunday, February 10, 2013
The Be-Attitudes #5 - Be Compassionate
Matthew 5:7 (NLT)
God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
Years ago, I attended a Christian rock festival. On the third day (no pun intended), a speaker filled the silence between bands. He related an experience that shaped his life more than any other- meeting Mother Theresa. It wasn't at all the way he’d imagined it however.
His group flew to India and ventured into the slums of Calcutta, hoping to meet and be inspired by the seasoned saint. For several hours they stood on the sidelines, avoiding the broken bodies, poverty, and hopelessness there. Then finally, the iconic servant arrived. They swarmed her and offered their gratitude and praise for her work here and what an inspiration it had been for them. Angrily, Mother Theresa snapped and scolded them. “ I've looked in on you for several hours and you've done absolutely nothing! Learn compassion. Here is an endless supply of people to love, bodies to wash, spirits to mend, rags to change, water to distribute, wounds to clean, disease to fight. The best way you could serve is getting back on the plane and leaving.”
The point was made. Things changed. Over the remainder of the week, they learned compassion and what it was all about. They learned the difference between simply caring for someone and having compassion on them. The word compassion itself means caring for someone so much that you hurt for them in your gut. To continue our journey to the mind of Christ, we must inherit his compassion, this gut wrenching compassion, for people.
Be compassionate…
Application: As the opportunity presents itself today, be compassionate. To the stranger off the street, the irritating co-worker, the rebellious kid, or the spouse you take for granted.
Mindful Meditation: Visualize the compassionate acts of Jesus (both in the Bible and those you've seen). Pray and ask him for the transforming of your mind so you can practice such compassion.
God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
Years ago, I attended a Christian rock festival. On the third day (no pun intended), a speaker filled the silence between bands. He related an experience that shaped his life more than any other- meeting Mother Theresa. It wasn't at all the way he’d imagined it however.
His group flew to India and ventured into the slums of Calcutta, hoping to meet and be inspired by the seasoned saint. For several hours they stood on the sidelines, avoiding the broken bodies, poverty, and hopelessness there. Then finally, the iconic servant arrived. They swarmed her and offered their gratitude and praise for her work here and what an inspiration it had been for them. Angrily, Mother Theresa snapped and scolded them. “ I've looked in on you for several hours and you've done absolutely nothing! Learn compassion. Here is an endless supply of people to love, bodies to wash, spirits to mend, rags to change, water to distribute, wounds to clean, disease to fight. The best way you could serve is getting back on the plane and leaving.”
The point was made. Things changed. Over the remainder of the week, they learned compassion and what it was all about. They learned the difference between simply caring for someone and having compassion on them. The word compassion itself means caring for someone so much that you hurt for them in your gut. To continue our journey to the mind of Christ, we must inherit his compassion, this gut wrenching compassion, for people.
Be compassionate…
Application: As the opportunity presents itself today, be compassionate. To the stranger off the street, the irritating co-worker, the rebellious kid, or the spouse you take for granted.
Mindful Meditation: Visualize the compassionate acts of Jesus (both in the Bible and those you've seen). Pray and ask him for the transforming of your mind so you can practice such compassion.
Friday, February 8, 2013
Reflection
1. Scriptures:
Reread the Bible passages used in this week’s LifeTogether. Which one of these meant the most to you personally? Why?
2. Devotions:
List three things that stuck out to you during the week. Why did these grab your attention?
3. Applications:
Which of the applications are you having the easiest time with? The most difficult?
4. Mindful Meditations:
Which of your meditations meant the most to you? Why?
5. Prayer:
Communicate (talk and listen) to the Savior of your soul. Air out anything you need to share. Then praise him for who he is and all he’s done for you this week.
Reread the Bible passages used in this week’s LifeTogether. Which one of these meant the most to you personally? Why?
2. Devotions:
List three things that stuck out to you during the week. Why did these grab your attention?
3. Applications:
Which of the applications are you having the easiest time with? The most difficult?
4. Mindful Meditations:
Which of your meditations meant the most to you? Why?
5. Prayer:
Communicate (talk and listen) to the Savior of your soul. Air out anything you need to share. Then praise him for who he is and all he’s done for you this week.
Thursday, February 7, 2013
The Be-Attitudes #4 - Be Hungry and Thirsty
Matthew 5:6 (NLT)
God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice, for they will be satisfied.
The hunger and thirst of imagination.
Our mind is a powerful entity, conjuring up countless images. And these images eventually come true, at least those that we dwell the most on. I came across this in my quiet time not long ago and find it relevant to our study today.
“To imagine is to form mental images on the screen of our minds. It means to create in our thinking what we want created in our living. One’s time, talents, and all other resources become organized and dedicated to the purpose of making real the objects of his imagination.” (from "God’s Psychiatry" by Charles Allen)
By reading this excerpt (and our Bibles), we witness why its so important that our minds align with that of Christ. That what we hunger and thirst foor mentally are those things from the mind of Christ. (Friday’s devotion, Phil. 2:5-8).
As Jesus said when he roamed physically on the earth, “It’s not what goes into people that pollutes them, but what comes out.” We all struggle with keeping our hearts and minds on the things of GOD. Erotic fantasies, fairy tales, envious desires, vengeful plots, gossiping fodder, and many other things plague us. And if allow such things to make pour a foundation and start building a home, they will inevitably go from imagination into reality. Because its what we’re hungering and thirsting for.
If you get hungry, you find something to eat. If you get thirsty, you find something to drink. If something is on your mind, you will bring it to fruition. So what is your mind hungry and thirsty for?
Application: Guard your thoughts today. If one comes in that shouldn’t be there, waste no time in evicting it.
Mindful Meditation: After removing any unpure thoughts, dwell on the pure things of GOD- love, hope, faith-in-action. Think of ways to help others out, knowing that the more you think about something, the more likely it is to come to fruition.
God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice, for they will be satisfied.
The hunger and thirst of imagination.
Our mind is a powerful entity, conjuring up countless images. And these images eventually come true, at least those that we dwell the most on. I came across this in my quiet time not long ago and find it relevant to our study today.
“To imagine is to form mental images on the screen of our minds. It means to create in our thinking what we want created in our living. One’s time, talents, and all other resources become organized and dedicated to the purpose of making real the objects of his imagination.” (from "God’s Psychiatry" by Charles Allen)
By reading this excerpt (and our Bibles), we witness why its so important that our minds align with that of Christ. That what we hunger and thirst foor mentally are those things from the mind of Christ. (Friday’s devotion, Phil. 2:5-8).
As Jesus said when he roamed physically on the earth, “It’s not what goes into people that pollutes them, but what comes out.” We all struggle with keeping our hearts and minds on the things of GOD. Erotic fantasies, fairy tales, envious desires, vengeful plots, gossiping fodder, and many other things plague us. And if allow such things to make pour a foundation and start building a home, they will inevitably go from imagination into reality. Because its what we’re hungering and thirsting for.
If you get hungry, you find something to eat. If you get thirsty, you find something to drink. If something is on your mind, you will bring it to fruition. So what is your mind hungry and thirsty for?
Application: Guard your thoughts today. If one comes in that shouldn’t be there, waste no time in evicting it.
Mindful Meditation: After removing any unpure thoughts, dwell on the pure things of GOD- love, hope, faith-in-action. Think of ways to help others out, knowing that the more you think about something, the more likely it is to come to fruition.
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
The Be-Attitudes #3 - Be Molded by Submission
Matthew 5:5 (NLT)
God blesses those who are humble, for they will inherit the whole earth.
Most people have no idea what the word “meek” really means. And most people, rather than looking up the word, simply read on. To do so, however, would do us a grave disservice. (Don’t be one of those people. Go look it up now!)
I never understood it either until I went searching. The word “meek” comes from the Greek word proas which means “to submit.” (Of course you already know this because you went and found the word in the dictionary a moment ago).
Submission is one of those difficult things for us humans. And perhaps the biggest reason for that is we have a false understanding of what is really is. When most of us think of submission we think weakness…a wife who has to bow at the feet of her husband because of that one (misinterpreted) Bible verse or the UFC fighter who is being beaten to a pulp by a superior mixed martial artist. Instead, we should equate submission with humility. Submission is nothing more than realizing that we’re unable to do anything on our own and “tapout” to GOD and his ways, trusting that his hands will mold our minds (thoughts, imagination, intelligence) into wholeness.
Since we tend to learn best through pain (see yesterday’s devotion), allow me to continue in that vein. My dad and I took a father-son trip out west several years ago where we attended a UFC fight. During the final match of the evening, two champions stood toe to toe for round after round. Finally, one locked the other into an arm bar, a submission lock on the arm which is usually followed by a tapout. Usually…For some prideful reason, the captured fighter refused to give up. Unwilling to release his opponent’s arm without a tapout, the aggresor continued to bend his opponent’s arm unnaturally at the elbow until their was this sickening pop you could hear all over the audotorioam. And still he stubbornly refused to give up. The referee has to step in and stop the damage.
Like helpless, restrained fighter, we all struggle with submitting our will, thinking, imaginations, and other parts of the mind to GOD. As Rich Mullins said, “We’d rather fight for something we don’t really want than take what He gives and we need.” However, when we find the strength to simply give up, we win JESUS. And we win in the long run. Remember in GOD’s kingdom, the first will be last and the last first.
Translation: the losers become winners!
Be a loser…and be molded by submission…
Application: Change your perception of submission. See it as you being humble before GOD not as a sign of physical or mental weakness.
Mindful Meditation: Practice submission. Clear your mind of everything. Lay it at the feet of JESUS. Allow him to have your thoughts for the next 10 minutes. Listen (not with your ears).
God blesses those who are humble, for they will inherit the whole earth.
Most people have no idea what the word “meek” really means. And most people, rather than looking up the word, simply read on. To do so, however, would do us a grave disservice. (Don’t be one of those people. Go look it up now!)
I never understood it either until I went searching. The word “meek” comes from the Greek word proas which means “to submit.” (Of course you already know this because you went and found the word in the dictionary a moment ago).
Submission is one of those difficult things for us humans. And perhaps the biggest reason for that is we have a false understanding of what is really is. When most of us think of submission we think weakness…a wife who has to bow at the feet of her husband because of that one (misinterpreted) Bible verse or the UFC fighter who is being beaten to a pulp by a superior mixed martial artist. Instead, we should equate submission with humility. Submission is nothing more than realizing that we’re unable to do anything on our own and “tapout” to GOD and his ways, trusting that his hands will mold our minds (thoughts, imagination, intelligence) into wholeness.
Since we tend to learn best through pain (see yesterday’s devotion), allow me to continue in that vein. My dad and I took a father-son trip out west several years ago where we attended a UFC fight. During the final match of the evening, two champions stood toe to toe for round after round. Finally, one locked the other into an arm bar, a submission lock on the arm which is usually followed by a tapout. Usually…For some prideful reason, the captured fighter refused to give up. Unwilling to release his opponent’s arm without a tapout, the aggresor continued to bend his opponent’s arm unnaturally at the elbow until their was this sickening pop you could hear all over the audotorioam. And still he stubbornly refused to give up. The referee has to step in and stop the damage.
Like helpless, restrained fighter, we all struggle with submitting our will, thinking, imaginations, and other parts of the mind to GOD. As Rich Mullins said, “We’d rather fight for something we don’t really want than take what He gives and we need.” However, when we find the strength to simply give up, we win JESUS. And we win in the long run. Remember in GOD’s kingdom, the first will be last and the last first.
Translation: the losers become winners!
Be a loser…and be molded by submission…
Application: Change your perception of submission. See it as you being humble before GOD not as a sign of physical or mental weakness.
Mindful Meditation: Practice submission. Clear your mind of everything. Lay it at the feet of JESUS. Allow him to have your thoughts for the next 10 minutes. Listen (not with your ears).
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
The Be-Attitudes #2 - Be Purged
Matthew 5:4 (NLT)
God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
“Today we want GOD’s blessings without the pain of GOD’s purging.” - Charles Allen
After a gruesome work accident years ago, I almost found myself without a toe. Numerous surgeries allowed me to keep the toe, but ultimately I lost my nail for good. Unsure if it wouldn’t come back in grown time after time, they burned the nail bed with some sort of chemical or laser (I was reading a book at the time so I’m not sure which). On the follow up visit, the doctor examined it and said my mangled appendige was healing well. As I prepared to dismount the table, he withdrew this wicked looking toothbrush with wire bristles.
“We’ll just get your scrapping done and you can head out?”
“I’m sorry? Scraping? Why on earth would you take a wire brush to my tender foot?”
“You must slough off or scrape a burn wound to prevent the thing from becoming infected. Or you could end up losing the toe.”
What followed was the worst physical pain I’ve endured. As the horrific toothbrush peeled away the dried blood, dead cells, and a host of other bodily fluids and such, I took deep breaths and tried to find my happy place. Two more treatments followed, each ever so slightly easier than the one before. And each time, the scaring and searing pain became less and less until it finally healed.
My mind (thinking) experiences similar pain in my walk with JESUS. As we grow closer and closer to him, he purges our mind of the junk there- shame, guilt, the past, our lusts and jealousies, our passions and paranoia, our sick imaginations and filthy recollections, our ambitions and our need for significance. With his own wire brush, he scrapes our minds of the sinful infection and brings healing. Despite the unbearable pain involved initially, his loving and compassionate hands are freeing us from what we think is good to what is good. Because it comes from Him. His purging will not only spare your mind, but your soul as well.
Be purged…
Application: Know that GOD speaks through the pain of the valley as much as the peace of the mountain top.
Mindful Meditation: Focus on a painful thought. Now release it to JESUS. If it’s a pain brought about by your own pride or stubbornness, take action to resolve it.
God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
“Today we want GOD’s blessings without the pain of GOD’s purging.” - Charles Allen
After a gruesome work accident years ago, I almost found myself without a toe. Numerous surgeries allowed me to keep the toe, but ultimately I lost my nail for good. Unsure if it wouldn’t come back in grown time after time, they burned the nail bed with some sort of chemical or laser (I was reading a book at the time so I’m not sure which). On the follow up visit, the doctor examined it and said my mangled appendige was healing well. As I prepared to dismount the table, he withdrew this wicked looking toothbrush with wire bristles.
“We’ll just get your scrapping done and you can head out?”
“I’m sorry? Scraping? Why on earth would you take a wire brush to my tender foot?”
“You must slough off or scrape a burn wound to prevent the thing from becoming infected. Or you could end up losing the toe.”
What followed was the worst physical pain I’ve endured. As the horrific toothbrush peeled away the dried blood, dead cells, and a host of other bodily fluids and such, I took deep breaths and tried to find my happy place. Two more treatments followed, each ever so slightly easier than the one before. And each time, the scaring and searing pain became less and less until it finally healed.
My mind (thinking) experiences similar pain in my walk with JESUS. As we grow closer and closer to him, he purges our mind of the junk there- shame, guilt, the past, our lusts and jealousies, our passions and paranoia, our sick imaginations and filthy recollections, our ambitions and our need for significance. With his own wire brush, he scrapes our minds of the sinful infection and brings healing. Despite the unbearable pain involved initially, his loving and compassionate hands are freeing us from what we think is good to what is good. Because it comes from Him. His purging will not only spare your mind, but your soul as well.
Be purged…
Application: Know that GOD speaks through the pain of the valley as much as the peace of the mountain top.
Mindful Meditation: Focus on a painful thought. Now release it to JESUS. If it’s a pain brought about by your own pride or stubbornness, take action to resolve it.
Monday, February 4, 2013
The Be-Attitudes #1 - Be Desperate
Matthew 5:3 (NLT)
God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.
With my distorted mind, I used to think I was alone. Alone in my search for significance. Alone in my emptiness and depression. Alone in my desire for truth, inner peace, or meaning. Alone in my conflicting emotions, suicidal tendencies, and disillusionment with GOD. Alone in the human condition. Alone in my depraved, sinful heart. Alone in desperation…
Over the course of the last decade though, I’ve discovered I’m not alone. And furthermore, that desperation is quite possibly the most profound thought to grace our minds. Why? Because as the New Living Translation begins, “Blessed are those who recognize their need for GOD” and the Message paraphrase end, “…with less of us, there is more of GOD.”
Allow me a story to punctuate the thought:
There was once a young man who approached renowned teacher Siddharthama Gattama (better known as the Buddha). He desired to know the way to life and deliverance. The Buddha led him down to a river, where the young man assumed he’d be “purified.” As they waded into the water, however, his dream transformed into a nightmare. The Buddha snatched his head, dunked it under the water, and refused to allow him to surface. Finally, as the young man flailed pitifully, the Buddha released his grip, permitting him to gasp for air.
The Buddha then quipped, “When you thought you were drowning, what did you desire most?”
“Air,” the young man sputtered.
To which the Buddha replied, “When you want salvation as much as you wanted air, you’ll find it.”
Allow me to borrow (and edit) the final line. “When you become as desperate for the mind of Christ as much as you’re desperate for air, you’ll be gifted with it.”
Be desperate…
Application: Check your desperation level. Do you long for GOD as much as your body longs for air?
Mindful Meditation: Review your life. Look at where you used to be compared to where GOD has brought you. Make sure you say thank you.
God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.
With my distorted mind, I used to think I was alone. Alone in my search for significance. Alone in my emptiness and depression. Alone in my desire for truth, inner peace, or meaning. Alone in my conflicting emotions, suicidal tendencies, and disillusionment with GOD. Alone in the human condition. Alone in my depraved, sinful heart. Alone in desperation…
Over the course of the last decade though, I’ve discovered I’m not alone. And furthermore, that desperation is quite possibly the most profound thought to grace our minds. Why? Because as the New Living Translation begins, “Blessed are those who recognize their need for GOD” and the Message paraphrase end, “…with less of us, there is more of GOD.”
Allow me a story to punctuate the thought:
There was once a young man who approached renowned teacher Siddharthama Gattama (better known as the Buddha). He desired to know the way to life and deliverance. The Buddha led him down to a river, where the young man assumed he’d be “purified.” As they waded into the water, however, his dream transformed into a nightmare. The Buddha snatched his head, dunked it under the water, and refused to allow him to surface. Finally, as the young man flailed pitifully, the Buddha released his grip, permitting him to gasp for air.
The Buddha then quipped, “When you thought you were drowning, what did you desire most?”
“Air,” the young man sputtered.
To which the Buddha replied, “When you want salvation as much as you wanted air, you’ll find it.”
Allow me to borrow (and edit) the final line. “When you become as desperate for the mind of Christ as much as you’re desperate for air, you’ll be gifted with it.”
Be desperate…
Application: Check your desperation level. Do you long for GOD as much as your body longs for air?
Mindful Meditation: Review your life. Look at where you used to be compared to where GOD has brought you. Make sure you say thank you.
Sunday, February 3, 2013
Experiencing the Mind of Christ
Matthew 5-7 (Yes, the whole thing!)
Upon becoming a Christ follower and JESUS Freak a decade ago, I surrounded myself with like-minded people. One such person became my mentor. It was he that put me on the road to recovery, not by using 12 steps or even the seven Scriptural principles. He prescribed Matthew chapters 5-7, also known as the Sermon on the Mount. As he related, within the confines of this teaching was everything I needed to begin (and continue) a relationship with JESUS. The thing that got me into trouble the most back then was my thinking. YAHWEH, in his infinite mercy and grace, radically changed my way of thinking just by trying to live out the first 12 verses of chapter 5.Its now my duty to pass them on to you.
Today’s devotion is purposefully short. This is because I really want you to read these three chapters today. Like eating for the physical body, chew on chapter 5 for breakfast, six for lunch, and seven for supper.
By the way, as you read, keep this in mind. When it says, “Blessed…”, don’t just think of the word as meaning “happiness.” When translated from its original language, it refers to a oneness with GOD. So rather than it reading , “Happy are the poor in spirit”, think “One with GOD are the poor in spirit.”
Application: start today allowing your mind to dwell on what you’re reading. Pick one thing JESUS mentioned and adopt it into your thinking.
Mindful Meditation: Pick one verse that hit you hardest from today. Without worrying about the time or any other distractions, focus on it. Break it down word by word. Ask GOD to help you understand what it really means and how you can apply it to your life.
Upon becoming a Christ follower and JESUS Freak a decade ago, I surrounded myself with like-minded people. One such person became my mentor. It was he that put me on the road to recovery, not by using 12 steps or even the seven Scriptural principles. He prescribed Matthew chapters 5-7, also known as the Sermon on the Mount. As he related, within the confines of this teaching was everything I needed to begin (and continue) a relationship with JESUS. The thing that got me into trouble the most back then was my thinking. YAHWEH, in his infinite mercy and grace, radically changed my way of thinking just by trying to live out the first 12 verses of chapter 5.Its now my duty to pass them on to you.
Today’s devotion is purposefully short. This is because I really want you to read these three chapters today. Like eating for the physical body, chew on chapter 5 for breakfast, six for lunch, and seven for supper.
By the way, as you read, keep this in mind. When it says, “Blessed…”, don’t just think of the word as meaning “happiness.” When translated from its original language, it refers to a oneness with GOD. So rather than it reading , “Happy are the poor in spirit”, think “One with GOD are the poor in spirit.”
Application: start today allowing your mind to dwell on what you’re reading. Pick one thing JESUS mentioned and adopt it into your thinking.
Mindful Meditation: Pick one verse that hit you hardest from today. Without worrying about the time or any other distractions, focus on it. Break it down word by word. Ask GOD to help you understand what it really means and how you can apply it to your life.
Friday, February 1, 2013
Reflection
1. Scriptures:
Reread the Bible passages used in this week’s LifeTogether. Which one of these meant the most to you personally? Why?
2. Devotions:
List three things that stuck out to you during the week. Why did these grab your attention?
3. Applications:
Which of the applications are you having the easiest time with? The most difficult?
4. Mindful Meditations:
Which of your meditations meant the most to you? Why?
5. Prayer:
Communicate (talk and listen) to the Savior of your soul. Air out anything you need to share. Then praise him for who he is and all he’s done for you this week.
Reread the Bible passages used in this week’s LifeTogether. Which one of these meant the most to you personally? Why?
2. Devotions:
List three things that stuck out to you during the week. Why did these grab your attention?
3. Applications:
Which of the applications are you having the easiest time with? The most difficult?
4. Mindful Meditations:
Which of your meditations meant the most to you? Why?
5. Prayer:
Communicate (talk and listen) to the Savior of your soul. Air out anything you need to share. Then praise him for who he is and all he’s done for you this week.
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