Side by Side Hand in Hand

Mark 10:24-27 The disciples were amazed at His words. But Jesus *answered again and *said to them, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” They were even more astonished and said to Him, “Then who can be saved?” Looking at them, Jesus *said, “With people it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God.”

Conundrum… I love this word! Not that I like puzzles, I only like them if I KNOW the answer – which – kind of defeats the word, right? But, to me, conundrum has the connotation of TOO MANY answers, so it is not only KNOWING the answer, but CHOOSING the BEST one!

Conundrum… a confusing and difficult problem or question… a question asked for amusement, typically one with a pun in its answer; a riddle… anything that puzzles. (from two dictionaries living on my computer)

Just the sound of this word… con – nun – drum, puts an image of much head shaking. The other half of the image is someone standing and impatiently, tapping a foot or pointing to the seconds on their watch, waiting for your decision… your answer.

To me, SALVATION is one of those “puzzles” and evidently the disciples of Jesus thought so too… they were even more astonished because camels going through the eye of a needle well… let me hear you say IMPOSSIBLE! And Jesus also said, “this would be easier than a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.“

Some have said that the “eye of the needle” is talking about a side gate to the principle entryway that people with beasts of burdens had to use to enter (maybe like our “deliveries made at the back door). Not necessarily impossible IF one was willing to do the work to unload the animal, carry the load through,  and reload in order to enter the destination.  BUT would it be possible for a rich man to be willing to unload all his earthly treasures? And, because it is the kingdom of God, there will be NO TAKING them with you or loading them back up. For some people dependent on their riches for the identity and necessity of their chosen life, this choice would be worst possible conundrum! 

Whether we are talking about a sewing needle or a very small opening to walk through… salvation does indeed fit the definition of a conundrum!

Like the disciples, I throw up my hands and shout… “Then who can be saved?”

Who… which of us… can and does the work necessary… NOT VERY MANY – IF ANY!

Tell us the solution!

And Jesus does. “With people it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God.” 

Whoa! The solution to our puzzle (predicament) is…???… GOD?

But I thought and have always heard that HE IS THE PUZZLE!

Conundrum… how do I SOLVE Him?

I know… I will put all the “right” things on my camel! “Strive to enter through the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. Once the head of the house gets up and shuts the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock on the door, saying, ‘Lord, open up to us!’ then He will answer and say to you, ‘I do not know where you are from.’ Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our streets’; and He will say, ‘I tell you, I do not know where you are from;’ (Luke 13:24-27)

Or… I will be His perfect child, the one He can’t/won’t find fault with! For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, (Romans 3:23)

Our conundrum just got serious – maybe not as confusing – but definitely NOT AMUSING! 

The narrow door… the narrowest of doors… there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12)

John 3:16-17 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.

The solution to our mystery… to our puzzle… to our PROBLEM… is not US at all…

John 14:23 Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him. The solution… the only truly possible solution… is JESUS!

Keep My word… confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes , resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. (Romans 10:9-11)

Impossible for us… But God… I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances. (Ezekiel 36:26-27)

ALL things are possible with God!

The only conundrum left is… the choice.

Not WHAT you will choose! WHO you will choose!

Is it still a conundrum… a puzzle… for you?

All the pieces to the puzzle are available. We just have to use our heart to study whether we will accept God’s solution to the puzzle of our salvation.

We can’t save ourselves… it is impossible for us to thread ourselves through this needle. However, if we want to be saved – living with God eternally, in His kingdom, we have to accept His terms. We MUST GIVE ourselves to Him AND ALLOW Him to thread us through the needle.

Revelation 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me. 

Threaded and fed with The Bread of Life! Conundrum solved!

**All Scripture quoted comes from the “Bible Gateway” app and is the NASB version of the Bible

 

Psalm 46:1-3 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefor we will not fear, though the earth should change and though the mountains slip into the heart of the sea; though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains quake at its swelling pride.

As our homes filled with water, our hearts cried out to Someone… Anyone… who could and would help!

And GUESS WHO showed up… God showed up! He showed up with His army of people and the resources He provided each of them for this very scenario. He showed up, NOT to take away our suffering but to LEAD US THROUGH… “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death”… the Lord IS our Shepherd (Psalm 23)

It was is AMAZING… We saw ourselves turn from “Ha! Bring it on Harvey! to “OMG, Why Me, Lord!” to “Brother/Sister, LET ME HELP!” We’ve experienced multiple stages of grief within in days hours minutes of realizing that this wasn’t the normal hurricane model we’ve become accustomed to. No, Hurricane Harvey had an agenda we’ve NEVER SEEN BEFORE!

Last week I wrote about “Wrestling with God”, never imagining He was preparing me/us for an UNFORGETTABLE training/muscle-building/life changing boot camp for His children.

It’s a learning curve for sure! It wasn’t isn’t pretty… it wasn’t isn’t fun… and we certainly didn’t ASK for it!

NONE of it is “punishment” or “deserved” or even “undeserved” as some of our enemy’s minions might have whispered (or shouted) in the midst of millions of gallons of water falling on us. *FYI* ONLY ENEMIES would accuse the brethren (Revelation 12:13) and God Himself of the hatred which he (Satan)is filled with.

God LOVES us and DOES NOT WISH for ANY to perish (2 Peter 3:9). But He also disciplines (TRAINS UP FOR GOOD) His children… he who withholds his rod (not for beating but for guiding/turning/saving from harm) hates his son, but he who loves him disciplines him diligently. Proverbs 13:24

Those who reject God’s loving TRAINING, and accuse Him of evil, are themselves filled with the lies of our enemy and their focus is on proving to themselves and others their foolishness, all the while thinking they are the one’s with truth and wisdom… REALITY CHECK… the roaring lion is prowling…seeking to devour! (1 Peter 5:8)

But I digress…

Hebrews 12:11-14 All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet those who have been trained by it, AFTERWARDS it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness… hands that are weak are strengthened – knees that are feeble and limbs that are lame are healed – paths are made straight for feet to walk well… peace between all men is pursued with passion.

Houston TEXAS… we don’t really have a problem… we have before us the greatest opportunity to KNOW GOD in ways we have never known Him before. We have the inspiration from our God to SHINE the light He has put within us (“This Little Light of Mine, I’m Gonna Let It Shine”).

Houston TEXAS, we are SHINING!

It’s our Texas Style Learning Curve! Let’s show ’em what we’ve got! We have Him… for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. (Philippians 2:13)

For those of you on the outside (and probably even some within) who are busy snarking and spouting all the woulda – shoulda – coulda critiques… talk to the hand cause we don’t have time to listen to your cr__p!

Or better yet… shut up!

There I said it… not the most encouraging words… forgive me – it’s a learning curve for me too! Texas Style!

**All Scripture quoted comes from the “Bible Gateway” app and is the NASB version of the Bible

 

 

 

Genesis 32:24-31 Then Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him until daybreak. 25 When he saw that he had not prevailed against him, he touched the socket of his thigh; so the socket of Jacob’s thigh was dislocated while he wrestled with him. 26 Then he said, “Let me go, for the dawn is breaking.” But he said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” 27 So he said to him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Jacob.” 28 He said, “Your name shall no longer be Jacob, but Israel; for you have striven with God and with men and have prevailed.” 29 Then Jacob asked him and said, “Please tell me your name.” But he said, “Why is it that you ask my name?” And he blessed him there. 30 So Jacob named the place Peniel, for he said, “I have seen God face to face, yet my life has been preserved.” 31 Now the sun rose upon him just as he crossed over Penuel, and he was limping on his thigh.

When we use the term wrestling, we define it in our heads as fighting with intent to harm and/or destroy. We do not think of the times we “wrestle” with friends, family or lovers, or the times we “wrestle” with ourselves to do the right thing – wrestling to SEIZE the day!

Strong’s Concordance uses the word grapple (get dusty) when defining this word in Genesis.

Ive always thought of it as “fighting”. When wrestling with my siblings or others, we were always told to STOP FIGHTING!  I used to be one of those people who would GASP at the idea of FIGHTING WITH GOD. I would never admit to any such aggressive feelings or actions toward someone so HOLY… that would be desecration and cause me to be put on the permanent path to hell! If anyone suggested that one could actually RELATE to God as a REAL PERSON who does not mind “getting it on” with one of His own, I would clutch my pearls in horror and run to the nearest church person who could possibly remove that visual from my brain.

For the purpose of truth-telling, there was also a phase in my life where I loved to passively “poke” God just to dare Him to discipline me for my un-Christian like behavior – with a smile on my face no doubt. Fortunately for me, He didn’t poke me back! But He did “wrestle” with me until I knew, like Jacob, I had seen God face to face.

A life-changing book my sisterhood people and I read and digested as we met for dinner and fellowship, “The Gospel According to Moses” by Athol Dickson, will forever be in my “Favorite – You Must Read” library.

Along with, as he says on the front cover, teaching me “what his Jewish friends taught him about Jesus”, I too learned and was changed by what Israel was trained in by God… trained to wrestle with Him (God) until daybreak.

Athol admits that he “became convinced that the Bible was filled with mistakes and half-baked truisms”. He reacted to the things he found that he could not tolerate in the Bible “by abandoning the faith of his childhood for a time, descending to a life of hedonism and destructive behavior.” Comparing his reaction to a medieval French rabbi’s reaction to finding similar if not the same “difficulties” to believing in the inerrancy of the Torah, Athol says, “Whereas I…, Rashi (Rabbi Shlomo ben Isaac) was trained to wrestle with God like Jacob at Bethel, to bargain with him like Abraham at the trees of Mamre, to argue with him like Moses at Mt. Sinai. Rashi’s people have an ancient tradition of questioning God “face to face, as a man speaks with his friend.”

Trained to wrestle… by whom? None other than God Himself!

Seems God loves a good wrestling match…

I HIGHLY recommend the WHOLE book because it does bring us back to our roots (we are GRAFTED IN) and encourages us to hear and feast on God’s Word across the ages, in content and context that we can’t even begin to imagine and understand, the voice and person of God unfettered by technology and immediate gratification, which temps us to believe we have actually accomplished what was tried with the Tower of Babel… “let us build for ourselves a city, and a tower whose top will reach into heaven (i.e. God’s throne), and let us make for ourselves a name (i.e. equal to/or above God’s name), otherwise we will be scattered abroad (i.e. against our wishes) over the far of the whole earth.” (Genesis 11:4)

Perfect story to bring me back to… wrestling with God… mankind trying to overthrow God and ascend the throne of ultimate power.

Before reading this book I envisioned God as the ultimate competitor for my allegiance and recipient of my sacrificial service. The obvious WINNER and HOLDER of our loosing debt – Slaves to The Higher Power!

The picture presented from the Jewish perspective, was a picture of a father/child, completely given over to training and practicing and planning EVERY play in this playbook called life on earth, with the future goal of preparing to receive and receiving the crown of inheritance of eternal life with Abba – Daddy God.

I saw Him on the sidelines of my biggest game, running down the sidelines, cheering me on with, “Well Done!” or “Remember To…!”

I felt Him lifting and carrying me and healing me when I fell or was hit with a fiery arrow from our enemy’s arrows.

I knew Him as the only One who never wanted me to fail but would always identify me as His, perfect in His eyes, child!

No matter how many times I read of Jacob and his dream of wrestling with God, I would read it as FIGHTING with God. Violently having to pursue God’s blessings and paying the high cost of His wounds to me, up to and including potential disability if He so chose.

No, no, not me, I REFUSE to wrestle! I will keep God FAR AWAY from any REAL ACTIVITY in my life!

But God… by using “The Gospel According to Moses”… opened my heart and my mind to a real life (with real words and the real voice of the Holy Spirit) conversation with my Abba.

Jacob… wrestled with him until daybreak… he (God) had not prevailed against him… he(God) said… “Let me go, for the dawn is breaking”… But he(Jacob) said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” 

It is possible to wrestle and quite frankly God likes it so much He initiates it. Jacob must not have minded too much either because he didn’t run away (or wake himself up to avoid it). And, what fearlessness to “demand” a blessing even after the hip thing which does not seem to make Jacob hate God.

So he(God) said to him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Jacob.” …“Your name shall no longer be Jacob, but Israel; for you have striven with God and with men and have prevailed.”  

God was so proud of His boy, He gave Him the name of His most prized possession – a nation He would create, build and protect, simply because He chose to.

Then Jacob asked him and said, “Please tell me your name.” But he(God) said, “Why is it that you ask my name?”

You KNOW Me, Jacob! And he blessed him there.

“I have seen God face to face, yet my life has been preserved.”  And changed…

With this one conversation with God, seeing it through the eyes of people He has personally took possession of and trained up before me, changed my VISION of God, forever changed my RELATIONSHIP with Him, and therefore, changed MY LIFE forever.

Unlike Jacob, God didn’t touch my hip socket, but He did touch my heart. My name was changed from Mary, enemy of a REAL RELATIONSHIP with the Most High God, to Mary, child of the Most High God, because, like Jacob, I had striven with God and had prevailed… NOT because I was so great at wrestling, but because God loved me enough to GRAPPLE and WIN!

I now wrestle with Abba EVERY CHANCE I GET (including Wednesdays when I write this blog)! I see God face to face!

Who knew? Just all of the Jewish branches of God’s vine, which I was grafted into AND of course our God, the Vinedresser! (John 15:1, Romans 11:17)

How about you? Are you grafted in to our Jewish heritage? Do you wrestle with God?

God always WINS but WE NEVER LOOSE! We are Touched and Changed Forever!

**All Scripture quoted comes from the “Bible Gateway” app and is the NASB version of the Bible

James 1:22-24 But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was.

This weekend I looked in the Word of God, stood in front of His mirror called Romans Chapter 12, and praised God for the great work He is doing in my life… where I’ve been – where I am – and where I’m going…

Then… I turned on the “news”… and immediately FORGOT the natural face God showed me in His mirror! The “news” out of Charlottesville allowed me to delude myself into thinking I was fortunate not to be like THOSE people! I’m soooooo much better… sooooo much nicer…. sooooo much more caring…. I actually LISTEN when God preaches!

Let me hear you say DELUDED, MUCH?!

Paul said this about himself but I KNOW he was talking about me!… the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want. (Romans 7:19)

I looked in the mirror of Romans and SAW the principle that evil is present in me, the one who wants to do good. For I joyfully concur with the law of God in the inner man, but I see a different law in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin which is in my members. (Romans 7:21-23)

The Bullies of Hate in Charlottesville… I wasn’t there but my flesh (my natural face – the law of sin residing in my OLD nature) was! Satan prepared the battlefield, provided his minions with the fiery arrows of violence that would indeed turn the attendees into raging pillars of fire, and then, dressed as the angel of light (social justice warrior that he is) called for VENGEANCE, thy name is NOW!

Those that were in the battle, put on the armor of retaliation and raised the flag of remembrance for every perceived threat and injustice in the history of mankind (except of course those perpetrated by friendly fire). Those of us not in Charlottesville, did our part by changing the meme… no longer would it be JUSTICE (right to assemble)… it would be JUDGEMENT of opinion (your wrong words make my need to hurt you my only option). Those of us on social media did our part by arguing the right or wrong  of violence – depending which side you were on – it became the “bad guys” versus the “good guys” with violence and intimidation being the ONLY OPTION!

Satan trapped us… with anger inflamed, and swords made from of OUR TRUTH, we took up for and became partners with the very bullies on our side that we hate on the other. We spoke unimaginable curses onto those who had the audacity to call us out for our own hatred (justified!) and shut down any and all discussion by words/labels that separate and never unify. The EVIL of violence toward any/every human became unimportant in order to satisfy our desire for SOMEBODY… ANYBODY… to bear the pain and hatred  –  my flesh was demanding PAYMENT!

I/We turned from the mirror of God’s Word and immediately forgot what kind of person I/we were (lifetime member of Bullies Anonymous) before CHRIST paid my debt… OUR DEBT… on the cross! Remember Jesus, the One who knew no sin (innocent) became sin (the sacrifice demanded by those of the flesh who had no right to “throw the first stone”) and was violently nailed to the cross (with, by the way, agreement of some public opinion)… We were/are… every one of us… THE BULLY of HATE!

This weekend… my flesh got the best of me. The old playground manta, “sticks and stones can break my bones, but words can never hurt me!”, yeah well, NOT so much! Words… yours, mine and ours… inflamed the flesh in me and nearly tempted me to destroy treasured relationships being built with the blood, sweat and tears of love.

But God…

Before the true enemy (Satan) could declare victory, the Holy Spirit of God whispered, “I created you to be a DOER… before you hate all those OTHER BULLIES… DO MY WORD and therefore, become my SAINT OF LOVE.

He said…

Give Me your body to do with as I wish! Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. (Romans 12:1)

Oh – oh… I admit I engaged Him in some SERIOUS “Wrestling”… (Spoiler Alert!) He won! And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. (Romans 12:2)

What was my point of contention? … Who is the better bully? He trumped my cards with… Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good. (Romans 12:9)

Hated of evil (Ephesians 6:12)  – YES!

Hatred of people (even the ugly) – NEVER! Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality. (Romans 12:10-13)

But… BUT… BUT!!!!!!! He/She STARTED IT… Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. (Romans 12:14)

I just wanted the RIGHTEOUS to FINALLY WIN! Which of course requires my assessment of the who’s who of blame and who NEEDS/HAS TO fix…

The Holy Spirit reminded me that God’s job was to judge the living and the dead, it was my job to be among them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. (Romans 12:15)

Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation. (Romans 12:16) But remember… The SAME MIND is NOT the SAME THOUGHTS!

Finally…  Never… NEVER… NEVER!!!!!! Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men. (Romans 12:17) In fact… If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men. (Romans 12:18)

Always… ALWAYS… ALWAYS!!! Leave ROOM FOR GOD

Romans 12:19 Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. 

Mirror, Mirror on the Wall… Am I a JUST a hearer or am I a hearer and a doer?

Romans 12:20 “But if your enemy is hungry, feed him, and if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.”

Does my flesh delude me so well that I do not see the Bully of Hate in my own flesh?

Romans 12:21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. 

Mirror, Mirror on the Wall… I so wanna be God’s Saint of Love!

Wretched woman that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!…Romans 7:24…

Mirror Mirror on the wall… guess who is a WORK IN PROGRESS!!!!!

Mirror Mirror on the wall… I AM HIS… work in progress!!!!!!

**All Scripture quoted comes from the “Bible Gateway” app and is the NASB version of the Bible

 

 

Ephesians 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ

God blessed (endowed… *Strong’s Concordance) us with… Every spiritual (supernatural – not of earth…  *Strong’s Concordance) blessing (a beneficial thing – something that brings well-being… *Strong’s Concordance) found in the heavenly places… in Christ

Let me hear you say…

EVERY!

Every what?

SPIRITUAL BLESSING IN THE HEAVENLY PLACES!

God-given how?

IN CHRIST!

Yes, I am YELLING AT YOU… and at MYSELF.

Do we even begin to know what we have been given? Or have our eyes gone blurry and our ears gone deaf?

When I take inventory, is it an itemized list of all that I have? Or is it my insatiable list of all that I NEED  greedily want?

Do I SEE the “bling” of this earth and pursue its self-made prison of slavery?

Would I even KNOW a spiritual blessing if I knew I “HAD” one, or would I throw it in the corner of my closet because it didn’t fit or look like my style?

I have (I am embarrassed to say) in times past, thrown God’s gifts in a corner and happily clung to my prison cell. It’s door always seemed open so I imagined I could wander in and out as I liked… my enemy (Satan) made it appear very beautiful so that I wouldn’t want to leave. Any ugliness was covered with pretty scarfs and/or blamed on God “who, just doesn’t want my happy-healthy-wise self to enjoy life… like the Professional Party Planner of Hell does”.

But God… in my few and far between quiet times (Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ), dropped an ocean of His truth over my head. He flooded my life with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ…

Then He… revealed the heart – His heart by giving His blessings!

Ephesians 1:4-12  HE CHOSE US  in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love HE PREDESTINED US TO ADOPTION AS SONS (and daughters) through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. In Him WE HAVE REDEMPTION  through His blood, THE FORGIVENESS OF OUR TRESPASSES, according to the riches of His grace which He lavished on us. In all wisdom and insight HE MADE KNOWN TO US THE MYSTERY OF HIS WILL, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him with a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth. IN HIM ALSO WE HAVE OBTAINED AN INHERITANCE, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will, to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ would be to the praise of His glory. 

To top it all of…

Ephesians 1:13-14 In Him, we also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, He SEALED (US) IN HIM WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT OF PROMISE, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory. 

Chosen… Predestined… Adopted… Redeemed… Forgiven… Known and Knowing… Made Heirs… Sealed by – for – and with Himself…

Let me hear you say EVERY SPIRITUAL BLESSING! 

I am still tempted occasionally, by the enemy, to look back and see the beautifully appointed (sarcasm!) life I used to pursue… for a moment, like Lot’s wife (Genesis 19:26), I am tempted to turn back, but my eyes have been opened and I SEE evil’s plan to turn me into his salt block, in order to break God’s heart. I SEE the prison doors that have been hidden from my earthly eyes… they are NOT OPEN… they are closed and locked!

For a moment I am paralyzed…

Until I TURN MY EYES ON JESUS… LOOK FULL in HIS wonderful face!… And the “bling” of earth grows strangely dim (where moth and rust destroy and thieves break in and steal – Matthew 6:19)… in the LIGHT of His glory and grace… where EVERY SPIRITUAL BLESSING is given and waiting to be put on and worn with the CROWN OF LIFE we have been given.

1 Corinthians 13:12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known. 

When your heart is grieving because of all you do not have or feel you have lost…

Let Me Hear You Say… GOD AND FATHER OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, WHO HAS BLESSED ME

When your eyes see only doom and gloom…

Let Me Hear You Say… WITH EVERY (even if you can only whisper it) SPIRITUAL BLESSING IN THE HEAVENLY PLACES.

When you wonder if it will ever be your turn…

Let Me Hear You Say… THROUGH JESUS CHRIST – THROUGH HIS BLOOD – ACCORDING TO THE RICHES OF HIS GRACE.

Am I the only one SHOUTING NOW? Let me HEAR YOU!

**All Scripture quoted comes from the “Bible Gateway” app and is the NASB version of the Bible

 

 

 

 

 

 

Matthew 7:12 “In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets.”

In a message on Shabbat, Rabbi Philip Lanning, reminded me of a word (thank you Rabbi Lanning) I hadn’t heard in “forever”…  Reciprocity!

The dictionary (on my Apple computer) gives a very unimpressive definition as “the practice of exchanging things with others for mutual benefit, especially privileges granted by one country or organization to another”

Yeah, very mundane. Not at all a clarion call to PRACTICE the life YOU WANT in exchange for LIVING the life with the community you’ve got.

When I think of law of reciprocity I think of the same volatile law described by Sir Isaac Newton in his laws of motion… “three fundamental laws of classical physics. The first states that a body continues in a state of rest or uniform motion in a straight line unless it is acted on by an external force. The second states that the rate of change of momentum of a moving body is proportional to the force acting to produce the change. The third states that if one body exerts a force on another, there is an equal and opposite force (or reaction) exerted by the second body on the first.” (copied from the dictionary on my Apple computer)

So, when I think of reciprocity, my vision is not just AN EXCHANGE, but more a FORCE to be reckoned with… the BACK AT YA force! Not a threat so much as a FACT OF LIFE. Whatever I GIVE to my world… my community… to my fellow creatures – created in the image of God and powered by His breath of life… I will RECEIVE “something” back.

There is no guarantee you will receive back only good and not evil. It’s not a tool for manipulating your own bag of candy! It is a guarantee that you WILL receive back from life.

It could be tricks from the likes of the witches in Macbeth Act 4, scene 1: “Double, double toil and trouble Fire burn, and cauldron bubble.”  …our world is like a cauldron bubbling with toil and trouble rather than a community. The fire of division and divisive words and actions causes double, triple and infinite multiplication of reaction upon reaction, triggering not love and encouragement but the bubbling mess of hate and revenge.

It is what it is… each day has enough trouble of its own (Matthew 6:34) What I want to know is… do we ever step back and assess OURSELVES and OUR MOTION as both the trigger and the bubbling mess? Do we ever take even a small portion of responsibility for the trouble (ours &/or someone else’s) in each day? (!ok off my soapbox and back on message point!)

Trick or Treat! It doesn’t matter.. our choice isn’t determined by the getting or giving (or at least it shouldn’t be – that would make us a slave to our an insatiable appetite).

Enter Jesus… Luke 6:31 “Treat others the same way you want them to treat you.”

Notice He isn’t talking about terms of the exchange, He’s talking about YOU.CHOOSING.ACTION/REACTION and about the person you are becoming.  Luke 6:32-34 If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. If you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners in order to receive back the same amount. BE DIFFERENT!

Notice He isn’t offering a reaction to someone or something. He’s offering THE WAY to live! Luke 6:35 But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men. Be “Like Father like son“… In other words don’t fall far the apple tree!

Notice He tells you it is up to you – the same way you want.

Choose for yourselves today (Joshua 24:15) What kind of world… community… fellowship… relationship… do YOU want to live in. LIVE IT!

Trick or Treat…

Nope, there is NO GUARANTEE that you will GET the response you wish for. The principle of reciprocity does not promise a “fair” or “desired” exchange. But it does promise an exchange… Luke 6:38 Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure—pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return.”

I’ve always used this as a positive blessing. But then, with Rabbi Lanning’s Holy Spirit inspired counsel, I realized Jesus stated this in conjunction with actions/reactions – “Do not judge, and you will not be judged; and do not condemn, and you will not be condemned; pardon, and you will be pardoned. (Luke 6:37) – not so much a blessing as an example of the physical principle of reciprocity.

No, the exchange does not guarantee the desired outcome – that might provide a tool of manipulation but not a foundation for building YOUR WORLD i.e. the Reason for the Season of choosing well the gifts you give in exchange?

You We are building the world – the community – we live in! We choose the design… by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return.” We choose the size and shape… pressed down, shaken together, and running over.

Do we want to live in a world (community) of Trick or Treat? Always blaming (judging someone else), always complaining (condemning the imperfect exchange), always threatening to destroy the enemy of our happiness (killing relationship opportunity).

Let’s take off our witch’s mask… let’s stop cooking the witch’s brew… Let’s not just go for the bag of treats…

Let’s choose for ourselves today TO BE the way WE WANT others to be…

Matthew 5:14 You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden (they will know you by your light/darkness); nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lamp stand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.

YOU ARE… the light of the world… Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

YOU WILL RECEIVE… poured into your lap a good measure—pressed down, shaken together, and running over.

What do YOU have in your wallet of wishes?

May we all remember the principle of reciprocity the next time we decide to berate someone for their opinion… the next time we slander someone we do not know… the next time we are ungrateful for the service offered to “we the people”… the next time we praise evil and laugh at his victim…the next time we are tempted to retaliate with a TRICK because we believe someone REALLY REALLY deserves it.

Trick or Treat! The next time… may we think of it as OUR OWN BAG of “candy” being POURED OVER US…

The principle of Back at Ya!… pressed down, shaken together, and running over!

**All Scripture quoted comes from the “Bible Gateway” app and is the NASB version of the Bible

 

2 Peter 3:8 But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day.

Plenty of time! Not one moment too soon and not a moment too late …not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9). 

But the day of the Lord will come!

…like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up. (2 Peter 3:10)

We are so funny… On the one hand we procrastinate (believing we have all the time in the world) about everything – especially with God.

If we believe God IS, we assume He will “understand” and be willing to give us OUR way – on HIS day –  RIGHT NOW! If we don’t believe God IS, we assume we ARE and time only becomes relevant when it (and our desires within our time frame that are left undone) is “stolen” from us.

But, whether we believe in God or not, His day –  the day of the Lord will come! 

For believers in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, the Lord AND the day of the Lord is HERE! John 17:22-23 The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one; I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me. 

Are we looking for Him in our day? Do we look forward to His day being our day? What are we doing to insure our plan for the day is straight out of His Day Planner? Is He welcomed and celebrated by you, or are you caught unaware by life and it’s labor pains (all creation groans – Romans 8:22), a victim of  choosing the wrong focus of your life?

2 Peter 3:14-16 Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless, and regard the patience of our Lord as salvation; … some things hard to understand, which the untaught and unstable distort, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction. 

I hope we want to be found by Him in peace…

Spotless and blameless in our determination to place Him on the throne of our life…

Celebrating every moment the patience of our Lord has given to us, as an opportunity for salvation and salvation’s fruit.

2 Peter 3:17-18 You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, be on your guard so that you are not carried away by the error of unprincipled men and fall from your own steadfastness, but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 

Instead of counting the minutes we have left to fill with our ways, let us turn our eyes on Him and His ways!

2 Peter 1:2-3 Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord; seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. 

Let us become PARTAKERS of His divine nature!

2 Peter 1:4 For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.

Partakers of His divine nature! This is the day the Lord has made! (Psalm 118:24) let us rejoice and be glad in it… applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. (2 Peter 1:5-7)

Useful and Fruitful Partakers… For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these qualities is blind or short-sighted, having forgotten his purification from his former sins. (2 Peter 1:8-9) 

 

Surefooted Partakers… Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble; in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you. (2 Peter 1:10-11)

Practice… Practice… Practice… 

We look with eyes that say WHY PRACTICE we got this made! 

But the day… the final day… of the Lord will come! 

The day we enter into His eternal kingdom.

Do we want to be “stumbling” or “dancing”… in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you. 

We’re talking about The Lord’s Day… HIS day… I think we might want our focus to be on the question… which would He prefer to see when His saints come marching in?

Let us not procrastinate – Let us seize the day! Let us seize His day TODAY!!

**All Scripture quoted comes from the “Bible Gateway” app and is the NASB version of the Bible

1 Thessalonians 4:13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope.

Last Thursday brought news of the death of my beloved brother-in-law, also known as Ron Eppley – also known as “Chief” though I never called him that!

We knew it was going to happen, he had fought a valiant fight against odds that would have made me give up long, long before he did. He was indeed a man of courage!

He was also ONE OF THOSE whom you depended on to bring a smile to your face whenever you were around him. He loved life and packed it full of GOING and DOING. More importantly he loved people. I don’t think this man ever met a stranger that he didn’t turn into a friend.

He wasn’t one to brag nor judge. He didn’t talk much about his beliefs, yet he wore them with honor.

James 2:18 But someone may well say, “You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works.”

But, it’s not just about his works – we KNOW that works alone won’t get anyone into heaven –  Ron professed his faith in God and His Son Jesus Christ. And I know he loves his Master… Jesus Christ.

One can’t love his neighbor like Ron did without the love of Christ living within him!

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 

Yep… this is Ron’s brand of “Play Ball!”. Not perfect (although he IS now) but definitely always “in the game”. His family wrote on his memory page… “He is remembered, especially by Air Force friends, with the motto “you prepare, you do, and you put away.”  Ron preferred “no big deal” to be his final thought.”

I WILL be stealing (using) the motto… but…

No big deal… I can only imagine!

I’m sure the first words he heard from Jesus were, “Well done, good and faithful servant!” (Matthew 25:21)

And then I imagine He said… “You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; (you see there is a reason he was known as “chief”) enter into the joy of your Master.”

“When the Saints Go Marching In”… I can only imagine that Ron Eppley is definitely marching in – maybe even leading the troops!

1 Corinthians 2:9 but just as it is written, “Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, and which have not entered the heart of man, all that God has prepared for those who love Him.”

So, we are off this weekend to CELEBRATE a LIFE well lived. (You knew I’d come back around!)

As a Jesus Freak, I don’t grieve like someone with no hope. To some, death is the end because they cannot see beyond the physical. For those who know Jesus, we KNOW God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. (John 3:16-17). 

Saved for eternal life… LIFE with God… We can only imagine what Ron is up to now!

Though there is still grief – real, painful, and long-lasting – there is also the comfort of knowing that when it is our turn (not one minute too soon and not one minute too late), when our ordained day (in Your book were written the days that were ordained for me, when as yet there was not one of them Psalm 139:16) is done, we too will be partaking of all that God has prepared for those who love Him.

In the meantime… I can only imagine AND celebrate the LIFE not death of our beloved Ron Eppley. I know some (most) of you never got the chance to meet Ron and have not had the privilege I have had… but I’m sure he will introduce himself when the music starts and we go marching in.

Once again I have shamelessly used this blog to SHOWCASE someone I love… but… Praise God… the Holy Spirit still uses it (the blog) and me to make His point. 

It’s enough to make this Jesus Freak SHOUT FOR JOY and say THANK YOU!

Imagine THAT!

**All Scripture quoted comes from the “Bible Gateway” app and is the NASB version of the Bible

James 4:2-3 You lust and do not have. You are envious and cannot obtain;… You do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures.

I suppose someone will now begin to yell at me about ask (and you will find) seek (and you will be given) knock (and it will be opened) Matthew 7:7-12.

Or “mountain moving faith” (faith the size of a mustard seed will move a mountain from here to there – NOTHING will be impossible for you) Matthew 17:19-21.

Let us not forget the whatever prayer  (“Whatever you ask in My name, that I will do.”) John 14:14.

Yes, I have heard all of these quoted, most of them in VERY LOUD voices as if God needs our version of a hearing aid. But I rarely hear the verse above all verses, especially in the context of getting what I want…

John 14:15 “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.”

I’m just sayin…

Some of us only want the power to name it and claim it, which, when given to a child will always be used (at least attempted to be used) to rule over the parent.

That is until they (all of us untrained brats) are TRAINED UP (Proverbs 22:6)!

Trained up by our Trainer-in-Chief!

John 16:7-8 “But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you.”

I truly do believe that God does give His power to heal, move mountains, and generally speak miracles into being… BUT… I do not believe He gives us His POSITION as God… Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price: (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)

I myself have spent a great deal of time in my walk, trying to discover the “magic words” of prayer. Who doesn’t want God to give what we seriously believe  we “NEED”? I have agonized over not having the “miracle gift” of the Spirit (the name it and claim it one). I have repented – practiced – fasted (somewhat) – pretended – and boldly proclaimed! In fact, I have (I’m embarrassed to say) even given up on prayer because “it doesn’t work for me”.

And then I got God’s invitation… a dinner date with Jesus.

Revelation 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me. 

And what, pray tell, do we talk about at these dinner dates? Jesus speaks into my life about our RELATIONSHIP… NOT the genie in the bottle meme… but my Abba/child, ADOPTION by the Triune God of the Universe. A Bible study on asking, seeking and knocking on our Father’s door… Matthew 7:7-11 Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened, Or what man is there among you who, when his son asks for a loaf, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for fish, he will not give him a snake, will he? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him! 

I once had someone tell me that Scripture tends to indicate that we don’t HAVE TO pray for anything because God supplies all of our needs WITHOUT OUR ASKING. Indeed… sounds like Satan talking again (Eve, Did God REALLY say_______). If God is so good why would He make you ASK? 

We may not HAVE TO… after all God gave us free will. But why would we not?

Why would a child of the Triune God of the universe not run to Daddy with EVERYTHING?

Prayer IS, at its core, a request for God’s provision and submission to His Will, by His child who knows Him intimately. Opposition to prayer, at its core, is really the desire to demand and control our own life… Genesis 4:7  sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it.”

God KNOWS all of our needs – we don’t! We know what we WANT – He knows what we have to have…

Jeremiah 29:11-13 For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.

God is good, all the time! And all the time, God is good!

As far as I am concerned… God can CLAIM my future and NAME my hope!

His wish is HIS COMMAND!

I pray His command might become my wish.

**All Scripture quoted comes from the “Bible Gateway” app and is the NASB version of the Bible

 

Genesis 4:6 the Lord said to CainMary, “Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen?

Was it just two weeks ago I wrote the blog around my brother Cain?

Yeah, little did I know (sarcasm) God’s Word was not going to return void from MY life. I thought Part 2 would be the end of Friendly Fire for this year, but my “old” woman must have wanted to use up the leftover fireworks display I have stored hoarded, for a time I could show off my own fiery stuff. How appropriate on the day before we proclaim our freedom with loud, noisy, sometimes colorful, always dangerous (if used incorrectly) explosions, I light up my old fireworks to display my PROCLAMATION of MARY IS NOT HAPPY (healthy – maybe, wise – rarely)!

Stop… Genesis 4:7 If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it.”

I’m on the stationary bike (riding to nowhere) with my planner (the bike conveniently has a desk attachment) I use to record prayers as I ride. I’m not smiling and I really don’t feel like talking about it…

BUT GOD!…

“What are you going to pray about this morning, My daughter, My heiress, My little one?”

“Um…” My Attitude…

Drop… It was HARD to draw the star I use to highlight the person, place &/or thing I lay on God’s altar – in God’s Throne Room. It was even HARDER to not dress it up as righteous irritability.

“Um… it SUCKS!”

ROCK & ROLL… The HARDEST of all… waiting for Abba’s response.

Galatians 5:1 It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.

I didn’t deserve grace. I deserved, at the very least, my hands slapped. No I didn’t “murder” anyone like my brother Cain did – or – did I?

Christ died because of and for MY sins so that I would never need to be yoked to the slavery of catering to and pleasing my very old and impossible-to-please sinful nature.

Christ died and paid my price… for the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23)… and He paid it in full… the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Let Freedom ring!

But my attitude still sucked… I’m still riding my bike wondering what my ROCK must think about that.

You see, apart from the grace I didn’t deserve but received, apart from the freedom gained by my debt being paid in full, apart from my destiny being assured…

I love my Abba… I love my Daddy… I love the full on – nothing can separate us – relationship He has with me. I looked in His face with the fear of finding disappointment in His eyes!

Know what I found?

The Friendliest Fire of all! God’s HOLY FIRE of LOVE!

Instead of hanging my head in shame because I have nothing to show from my own faith walk with God… instead of hiding behind the glib, arrogant cliché of “Do as I say, not as I do”… instead of quickly moving on to a much brighter topic…

I have REAL TIME experience and evidence of God’s FREEDOM FESTIVITIES… Let Freedom Ring!

After I stopped at the sound of His voice… If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up?

After I dropped my pretentious ways and spoke the truth (with REAL TEARS)… my attitude completely SUCKED!

My ROCK – ROLLED me up in His love, and sang, and danced with me!

Zephaniah 3:17 (I love the Tree of Life version!) Adonai your God is in your midst – a mighty Savior! He will delight over you with joy. He will quiet you with His love. He will dance for joy over you with singing.

I wasn’t disciplined with a hand slap though I shudder to think what would have been necessary had I not CONFESSED and REPENTED while KNOWING my attitude was allowing my enemy to crouch at my door.

I cringe at what it might have taken to open my foolish heart and smash the rebellion keeping me from fellowship with Papa.

Whatever it took, God would have accomplished because He loves me more than I love myself!

Praise God it didn’t take a wack on my backside (this time)… because I Stopped, Dropped and Rolled with my Rock… He filled my spirit with His song…

“What A Friend We Have In Jesus” sung by the Newsboys

“It Is Well with My Soul” sung by the Newsboys

“Psalm 91” by Sonic Flood

“You Love Me Anyway” by Sidewalk Prophets

“What Love Looks Like” by Dara Maclean

“Field of Grace” by Big Daddy Weave

“Me Without You” by tobyMac

“Just Give Me Jesus” by Jeremy Camp

“Words” by Hawk Nelson

“How Great Thou Art” sung by Carrie Underwood

“Your Love Never Fails” by Newsboys

“Who You Say You Are” by Britt Nicole

Just a “shuffle” and He – my God – picked the songs from my Prayer Warrior  Playlist…

Once again I was changed… I was healed… I was cleansed in Daddy’s Throne Room! Go figure… Stop – Drop – Rock & Roll… Let Freedom Ring!!

Mary says, “Amen and Amen!”

**All Scripture (except the one from Zephaniah) quoted comes from the “Bible Gateway” app and is the NASB version of the Bible