Waving A White Flag Now...

So, I entered a competition last night. It's one that given a night to think about and looking at all the facts I don't think I can win and yet, I am determined to win. I am just one of those people that was born with an excessively competitive spirit. Sometimes that spirit motivates me to succeed and sometimes that spirit keeps me from experiencing possibly wonderful things. How does it keep me from experienc? Well, having the competitive spirit that I do, I don't want to do anything that I don't think I will be good at because I have to excel...it's a necessity.

This life is competitive. We compete for careers, we compete for attention... we are taught from a young age that nobody ever remembers second place. There are several problems with this mindset.

Problem number one lies in the fact that, sometimes we get caught up in a race for the sake of the race, with no real goal.

Picture in your mind a man driving down a road and another man comes driving up behind him. As he sees the car gaining on him, he increases his speed. His mind, reeling, tells him to go faster, to not let this stranger catch up to him. Faster and faster he goes until the car behind him becomes a faint spot in the distance. Just then, he rounds the bend to find a bridge out and cannot stop in time. Perhaps that stranger was trying to catch up to him to issue a warning and backed off when he knew it was too late.

Problem number two lies in the fact that we are in the world but, not of it. Yes, the world is competitive but, we are called to surrender.

I hate that word. It is not in my nature. Me, surrender?

But then, I read my Bible and I find that this competitive nature of mine is part of Satan's lie. As contrary as it sounds, my competitive nature may full well impede my success and victory.

In the following verses, it is said that whoever seeks to save his life will lose it and whoever loses his life for God will find it;

John 12:25, Mark 8:35, Matthew 16:25, Matthew 10:39, Luke 9:24, Luke 17:33

I need to keep my competitive nature in check. I need to keep my eyes focused on my goal and not just run the race for the sake of running. I need to surrender... give up to God and not be caught up in the lie that I have to win here on earth because true victory comes after we leave this life.

Philippians 3:14 "I pursue, looking towards the goal, for the prize of the calling on high of God in Christ Jesus."

Although it goes against my very grain, I have the promise that in my weakness, I will be made strong.

2 Corinthians 12:9 "Each time he said, 'My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.' So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me."

Today, I am singing the words to the Lincoln Brewster chorus "All To You".

I'm living my life for You
And I'm giving everything to You
Not holding back, from every part
I'm giving it all to You

Not very competitive but, the sure way to victory.

Resurrected

This is something that I have felt led to write about for some time. I am not sure why I put it off for so long but, I am thankful I did because even now the full realization of the topic eludes me. I am soaking it in little bit by little bit.

As Christians, we have been taught that Jesus is to be the example of how we are to live life. His love, His kindness, His compassion, His long-suffering, His benevolence, His passion, etc. are all qualities we are to strive to attain. It's a tall order for most of us, yet we are to continue to strive towards that end and to grow in Him. There is another aspect of His life that I want to point you to today - His death. If He is our example, then we too have to die. Romans 6:4 "We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life."

I know it sounds like crazy talk but, remember what it says in Matthew 16:25, "For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it." Our death is a symbolic death... we must die to ourselves. Our old lives, the ones we knew prior to coming to know Jesus as our Savior must become a thing of the past. But, this is a process... let's look at how the process took place in the life and death of Jesus.

1. Jesus yielded to the will of the Father in His life. Luke 22:39 "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done."

2. Jesus came to calvary beaten, scorned, shamed, naked, in agonizing pain, alone, burdened by sin, stripped of all worldly possessions, the list could go on.

3. Jesus died by giving up His Spirit. Luke 23:46 "Then Jesus shouted, "Father, I entrust my spirit into your hands!" And with those words he breathed his last."

4. Jesus went directly into battle, entering hell and defeating satan. Matthew 12:40 "For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth."

5. Jesus was resurrected. Luke 24:5-7 " And while their faces were bent down to the earth in fear, these said to them, Why are you looking for the living among the dead? He is not here, he has come back to life: have in mind what he said to you when he was still in Galilee, saying, The Son of man will be given up into the hands of evil-doers, and be put to death on the cross, and on the third day he will come back to life."

In Jesus resurrection and through His defeat of death and satan He traded in;

A broken body for one healed and whole
Shame for honor
Nakedness for being clothed in glory
Separation from God for communion and being one with the Father
The burden of sin for righteousness
Death for eternal life
Defeat for victory

Are you getting excited? He is our example... through our death to self and subsequent resurrection in Christ, He showed us that these things are ours for the taking. Many churches and preachers teach that healing is available, provision is available, favor is available, etc. But, this is way past something being available. This is not like a mint in a tray next to a cash register. Jesus said to follow Him, follow His example... this means that these things are not just available...we are to take them in order to be like Him!

I hope I made this clear but just want to say this one last thing, one more thing to ponder on...

The definition of Christian is, "a follower of Christ". If you claim to be a Christian, then you are a follower and you must follow Him all the way through His life, death, burial AND through the resurrection. Too many people are suffering because they stop at the dying to self. They stop at death. Life is not a race to see who can suffer the most for Christ. We are more than conquerors. (Romans 8:37) Grab hold of the resurrection.

Something Real

So, I was thinking the other day that I felt like a greyhound on a track chasing the ever elusive rabbit. I thought to myself, "God, why can't you ever let me catch it?" Bemoaning what I want in my life and what I don't have. I have become the man in Haggai 1:6 "You planted a lot, but you harvested little. You eat, but you're never full. You drink, but you're still thirsty.?wine[ to drink but not enough to become drunk."> You wear clothing, but you never have enough to keep you warm. You spend money as fast as you earn it."

As I pined away at my not "catching the rabbit" God spoke to me and said, "if you catch the rabbit, you will find it was not real." Ahhh... the rabbit is mechanical, a deception. And even for the dog who wins the race, the winner's bounty is no real reward. He goes on to chase the fake rabbit the next weekend. These thoughts all lead me to question what it is that I am chasing. I was reminded of Ecclesiastes 2:11 "Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun."

What is it that I want in my life that I cannot seem to attain? Peace, love, financial security...I just want a reprieve from the pressure of my day to day life. But, I got off track... I started looking for these things instead of Him who provides all for my good. Seeking God first takes you off the track. Running the circle of life gets you nowhere. You will keep running until you die, never satisfied. Like it says in James 4:2 "You want something but don't get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God". We need fellowship with God, conversation, to make our requests known. The second part of the equation is found in Matthew 6:31-33"So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?'For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." We ask, then we seek Him. Such a simple equation and yet so easy to lose sight.

I am getting off the track now. I want to chase something real.

You Matter....

Today was "Sanctity of Life Sunday".... it rolls around once a year as a reminder that we need to hold the life that God gives us sacred. We were reminded of all the verses in the Bible that tell us that life begins before birth and were reminded how we rejoice at the news of the Haitians pulled out of the rubble, still alive after all this time because it is inherent in our nature to value life. It is only our society that teaches us to devalue life. I sat in my chair listening to my pastor speak and he read the usual verses, that I have heard time and time again.

I am going to digress here just a bit and tell a story about my sons Becher and Drew. When I was pregnant with Drew, Becher was just three years old and he used to ask me all the time when the baby was going to come live with us. He would come up and rub my big pregnant tummy and say, "I miss the baby.... when is the baby going to come?" Shortly after Drew was born, I attended a "Sanctity of Life Sunday" just like today and Becher heard mention of the word "abortion" in the service. He asked me after church what it was and I told him that some people don't want to have a baby and when the baby is still in their tummy, they kill it and have it taken out. He was astounded and asked how and why that could happen. I explained to him that it is because those people don't truly believe that it is a baby.... that they are confused and that they believe that it is just "tissue". Well, "tissue" in our house had a whole different meaning than how I used it that day and Becher replied, "oh mommy, when Drew was in your tummy, I missed the baby, I NEVER thought he was toilet paper." Even at his young age he knew the value of a life.

It's a story that makes me smile so, I wanted to share even though it is only by a large stretch that it connects to the rest of what I have to say. Now back to my original thought!

My pastor today read Jeremiah 1:5 "Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations." Now, we know that God was speaking to Jeremiah in this verse however, we also know that according to Acts 10:34 that God is no respecter of persons. This means that Jeremiah is no different from us.... God knew us before we were born and even before our conception.

I have read this verse dozens of times over my life and although it is a good verse, it never really stood out to me until today. Today I heard the verse and God spoke very clearly to me, "I have known your beginning to your end, I formed you, I planned you.... there is nothing you can do to disappoint me." Wow, that is so far removed from the way I was taught as a child and even into adulthood.

Think about how Satan uses our guilt to keep us from growing in the things of God. If he can make us feel unworthy then we may not even try to press in, to learn, to grow. We live hanging onto the hem of our salvation instead of living in the fullness of God.

I am in no way saying that this gives us free license to misbehave. What this knowledge does is invites us to be closer to God, to truly realize what He thinks of us and how much He loves us.

I want everyone who reads this to think a new thought.... every mistake....every sin....He knew. Grasp hold of that. Every one...He knew it not only before you did it but, before He even formed you! Yet, He made you anyway, He wanted you for Himself anyway, He longs for fellowship with you anyway and He died for you anyway. It wasn't some nebulous sin that He died for on the cross.... He died for yours knowing exactly what those sins would be. Despite your errs, you are His chosen one and you matter... more than anything.

I hope you know how much your are loved.

Never Full

I want to paint a picture in your mind.... picture a pitcher and there is water being poured into the pitcher from up above. Throughout the pitcher, there are small round holes and the water is running out as it is poured in. The pitcher is crying out, "I'm made for water, fill me" and yet, it can never be full.

This mental image is a picture of some Christians. They desperately want more, they believe, they know that we were made for fellowship with God and yet, they are never full. Some are believing for the promises of God... promises of peace, provision, health, etc. and yet, they never receive. In Christian circles for many years there were those who mistakenly judged those who did not receive what they were praying/believing for thinking that they must have a secret/hidden sin blocking their reception of the promise. Shame on anyone who judges another. God judges us by our heart condition. One man CAN NOT judge another man's heart condition from his outward state.

So what is it that causes us to not be filled, to lose the Word we so desperately try and fill ourselves with? I believe these holes are portals into our life where we have unknowingly given Satan access and authority in our lives. Those times when we unknowingly let Satan in caused the holes and leaking of the vessel.

Let me give you some basic examples; reading your horoscope may seem innocent enough, after all, you don't really believe that stuff. Bottom line is that reading your horoscope is dabbling in Satan's lair and allowing him a portal into your spiritual being. Some other things that may have given Satan access; a spirit of rejection, soul ties, dabbling in the occult, allowing sacrilegious items in your home, etc.

We head the biblical warning to, "be on guard" but we are looking on the outside when it is quite possible the problem comes from within. We mistakenly think that once we have given our lives to God that we are protected from spirits but if we have given spirits free access.... they have no intention of leaving until we recognize them and call them out!

The Bible says that the kingdom of God is within you (Luke 17:21) and says that the kingdom of heaven suffers violence and the violent take it by force (Matthew 11:12). We have to take it back from Satan and his minions. Ephesians 6:12 says, "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." These are not some nebulous external forces and we need to learn how to fight this war. War is won on the offense, not on the defense. We need to identify our enemy and take back what is rightfully ours. Trust in the healing and restoration of God to seal off those portals!

Remember the parable of the sower who sows the Word? He sowed some on the path and the birds came and ate the seed. These are hard hearts that are not ready to hear and receive the word. Then he sowed on shallow ground and the seed immediately took root but withered and died because it had no root. Then he sowed on ground consumed with thorns and the thorns choked the seed. Then he sowed on fertile ground and the seed grew and bare fruit.

This parable never made any sense to me. If the Bible says that the Word is alive and powerful and does not return void.... why didn't the seed take root? The Bible says in Matthew 13:20 "The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy." He wanted the Word, he joyously received the Word and the Word doesn't return void! Like the pitcher, he joyously received the Word yet it was his internal condition that prevented the Word from taking root.

You can have victory, you can seal up these unseen portals that have been bleeding you dry and sucking your faith away from you. Acts 5:16 says that everyone brought to Jesus was healed and delivered. John 14:12 says, "I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father." You have the authority but as Hosea 4:6 says, "You are destroyed for a lack of knowledge." It's time to expose these devils for what they are and drive them out once and for all!

Selective Salt

Have you ever gone to the grocery and purchased salt and then brought it home and some days it was salty and on other days you could shake and shake the container and it just didn't have any flavor? Of course not.... what a silly question!!
Jesus says that we are the "salt of the world" (Matthew 5:13) yet we tend to want to be selectively salty. Flavoring our conversation with the good news of the gospel only when it is convenient and comfortable. Far be it from me to judge your Christian walk but, I would like to challenge you to really look at your life.... if you are being selectively salty, I dare say that perhaps you are not salt at all.
James 3:11 & 12 say, "Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water." In the old testament we read in 2 Chronicles, Leviticus and Numbers about a "covenant of salt". Just as salt is a preservative, this covenant of salt refers to perpetuity. Salt is constant, salt is perpetual, salt preserves or it is not salt at all.
I have come to the realization that it is not enough to be a good example. It is not enough to be kind and loving to those around me. If there is one person whose life I have been a part of who is not given the opportunity to accept Jesus as his/her Savior... I have failed. I must be the salt that God says I am every day, in every moment to all people. Luke 14:35 tells us that if salt loses it's saltiness it is worthless and not even fit for the manure pile.
I am all the more convinced of this truth as I look back on my life and recognize the depravity that I have been saved from. The Word tells us in Luke 12:48 that to whom much is given, much is expected. We seem to read these words and focus on either great talent or material possessions. To the outside world, it would appear that I have not been given much but, I know what God saved me from. I know the extent of the grace and mercy that have been shown to me and I know that I owe God more than most. I am choosing from this day on to no longer be selectively salty.

I'm Not Afraid Anymore.....

Just a quick thought that I fancied sharing.....

My kids were watching "Home Alone" yesterday on the television and I happened to walk in the living room and sit down, cuddling with my five year old for a bit, catching some of the movie. I came in as the two bumbling burglars tried to access the house and the little boy turned on all the lights and then ran upstairs and hid under the bed. After being under the bed for a while he said to himself, "I can't stay under here forever". He then walked outside and announced, "I'm not afraid anymore! Do you hear me? I said, I'm not afraid anymore!" About that time when he was feeling empowered as he announced his new found courage, he came face to face with his neighbor looking ominous and holding a shovel, to which he turned and ran screaming back to the bed.

Isn't this analogous to many of our spiritual walks? We learn something about the character of God and we step out in new found faith and courage only to have Satan come at us with his shovel, scaring us back into our old ways and habits.

I didn't watch the whole movie but I remember when I watched it years ago that the old man that scared Kevin so badly at the begining of the movie ended up helping him defeat the bad guys in the end.

Just for the record, I want to say that I am truly not afraid anymore. I know the end of the story. I know that those things that Satan means for my harm, God will turn and use for my good. I know that I am victorious.