Side by Side Hand in Hand

John 1:36 “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” 

It’s Passover… The beginning of the end of the destroyer…

Exodus 12:21-22 Then Moses called for all the elders of Israel and said to them, “Go and take for yourselves lambs according to your families, and slay the Passover lamb. You shall take a bunch of hyssop and dip it in the blood which is in the basin, and apply some of the blood that is in the basin to the lintel and the two doorposts; and none of you shall go outside the door of his house until morning. 

Exodus 12:23 For the Lord will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when He sees the blood on the lintel and on the two doorposts, the Lord will pass over the door and will not allow the destroyer to come in to your houses to smite you. 

Freedom from the slavery of Egypt and the foreshadow of freedom from sin (the  destroyer of life)… ALL have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23) … the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:23)

Exodus 12:24-27 And you shall observe this event as an ordinance for you and your children forever. When you enter the land which the Lord will give you, as He has promised, you shall observe this rite. And when your children say to you, ‘What does this rite mean to you?’ you shall say, ‘It is a Passover sacrifice to the Lord who passed over the houses of the sons of Israel in Egypt when He smote the Egyptians, but spared our homes.’” And the people bowed low and worshiped. 

Observe and Remember… Romans 11:26-27 and so all Israel will be saved; just as it is written, “The Deliverer will come from Zion, He will remove ungodliness from Jacob.” “This is My covenant with them, When I take away their sins.”

And then came the time to seek His “other” possessions…

Romans 11:17-18 But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive, were grafted in among them and became partaker with them of the rich root of the olive tree, do not be arrogant toward the branches; but if you are arrogant, remember that it is not you who supports the root, but the root supports you. 

Our roots are the same as Israel…

Romans 11:28-32 From the standpoint of the gospel they (Israel) are enemies for your sake, but from the standpoint of God’s choice they (Israel) are beloved for the sake of the fathers; for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. For just as you once were disobedient to God, but now have been shown mercy because of their disobedience, so these also now have been disobedient, that because of the mercy shown to you they also may now be shown mercy. For God has shut up all in disobedience so that He may show mercy to all. 

Mercy to all… THE PASSOVER LAMB… mercy for all!

 

Revelation 5:8-10 When He had taken the book, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each one holding a harp and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they *sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals; for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation. “You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth.”

For God so loved the world… “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)

Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world…

I celebrate the FACT that the tomb was empty (Easter Sunday in our vernacular). He is risen indeed!

However… when I became a Jesus Freak (I BELIEVED)… I entered the land which the Lord gave me (the Promised Land) and Exodus 12:24-27 tells me to observe the Passover event as an ordinance for you and your children forever.

(I) bowed low and worshiped. I celebrate the evidence death was defeated by the blood of the Lamb, But I worship and bow down to our Passover Lamb! I am indeed a COMPLETE Jesus Freak!

Revelation 5:11-14 Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne and the living creatures and the elders; and the number of them was myriads of myriads, and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing.” And every created thing which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all things in them, I heard saying, “To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever.” And the four living creatures kept saying, “Amen.” And the elders fell down and worshiped. 

Observe… our roots.

Remember… what God, the God of Israel, has done for us.

Behold… the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! 

And the people bowed low and worshiped. I pray, this Passover (and Easter) season, you will observe… remember… behold…

I pray you will become!

John 1:12-13 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. 

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

 

 

2 Corinthians 12: 7-9 Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me –  to keep me from exalting myself! 

Concerning this I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me. 

And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.”

Therefore…

I am well content with weakness, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12: 10)

Paul probably wouldn’t be today’s Super Star of the Church. No no, we want to SEE POWER! We want to see every mountain moved, every demon defeated and sent back to hell, every person fixed and fitted with ROBES OF SUCCESS.

We look at others with the eyes of a critic, looking for their flaws because we fancy ourselves as the hammer God uses to POUND the flesh into silver. I don’t know about you, but I have never seen God’s Scripture asking us for our help in molding His possession (His “fearfully and wonderfully made” possession) into our version of art.

We consider weakness, or sickness, or being attacked by the enemy, a FLAW… something we have done wrong that needs to be corrected before we can SHINE for God.

Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations… To look at Paul and his life for Christ, one might assume the poor fellow needed more FAITH to declare himself healed. One might dare to advise him to find a renowned HEALER to pray over him. In today’s world, I daresay we would not lift him up as an apostle. He just would not be pretty enough! But, in God’s employment, Paul was shown unbelievable revelations about God – His way, His will, His kingdom… His heart!

When you look at things happening in your life, especially the ugly things happening, do you ever view them as the results of BEING A DISCIPLE of Christ? Do you gladly suffer for Christ if indeed this thing, this event, is and will bring you closer to your Lord and Savior? Would you gladly give up your health, wealth and wisdom to be GRACED by Christ? Would you walk with Him and beside Him on Holy Ground made so by His presence in your life?

I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me… implored!!!! Today Paul might be told he hasn’t prayed hard enough… or said the right words… or taken the authority over all things unacceptable in his life.

2 Corinthians 11:23 – 26 –far more labors, in far more imprisonments, beaten times without number, often in danger of death. Five times I received from the Jews (his peers) thirty-nine lashes. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent in the deep. I have been on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, dangers from robbers, danger from my countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers i the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers on the sea, dangers among false brethren;

There is not a doubt in my mind that Paul knew HOW TO PRAY and PRAYED UNCEASINGLY… under circumstances we would never have the courage and stamina begin much less continue a walk that entailed such things as regular occurrences!

It is natural to want an end to suffering. It is normal to cry out in pain. It is absolutely righteous to ask plead for mercy and help and healing. It is the heart of a child to run to his/her Abba for comfort!

But what if Abba says… “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.”

Do you TRUST your Daddy? Do you believe He loves you even when He doesn’t do things your way, in your time? Do you know… BEYOND A SHADOW OF DOUBT… that God – your Father – is for you and not against you? Do you walk so close to Him in your garden of prayer that you hear not just His words but you hear His heart and feel His hand in yours?

Paul was so sure of Him… so convinced of His presence in him… so dependent upon God that he BELIEVED! And he lived his belief… I am well content with weakness, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake.

Contentment doesn’t come easily. Trust doesn’t immerse itself in a puddle, it needs the full  ocean of experience to prove its foundation is built upon the Rock and not upon the sinking sand of healthy, wealthy and wise games of pretending. Contentment produces the blooms with the sweetest fragrance of courage which whispers the words… when I am weak, then I am strong.

“Most gladly, therefore, I will rather BOAST about my weaknesses, So THAT… the power of Christ may dwell in me!” (2 Corinthians 12:9)

No, Paul would not LOOK the part of the pastors and prophets of today… but then… neither did Jesus!

Isaiah 53:2-3 He has no stately form or majesty that we should look upon Him, nor appearance that we should be attracted to Him. He was despised and forsaken o men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and like one from whom men hide their face He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. Surely our griefs He Himself bore, and our sorrows He carried;… He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities;  the chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, and by His scourging we are healed.

Paul didn’t look at Jesus and see his ticket to fame and fortune. Paul didn’t entertain the notion that Jesus did all the hard work so I can build my kingdom with all the easy stuff. Paul didn’t set his mind on earthly things, he set his mind and body and soul on God and God’s call on his life. Paul saw Jesus and said, “I want to be JUST LIKE HIM!”

Paul knew it was not something that he could do for himself. Paul knew that, where there were thorns his life, he needed the Master Gardner… Paul knew he had no power of his own, no authority to declare himself healed, and no desire to be the hammer molding his own life into art.

Paul knew… he/we can do all things through Him who strengthens me ( Philippians 4:13)

When thorns beset us… don’t listen to the foolishness of unbelief. Look to One who made the thorns and the roses that bloom on the same stem…

 

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! Trust Him!

In the midst of the thorns, look for the roses! God is growing a field of them in you!

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

 

 

 

Galatians 5:13 For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.

Most of us are waiting for the “or else”… the punishment if we do not do as we should… the stick versus the carrot.

Is freedom the carrot? Or is it the stick? Does it change its stripes for different people and places?

What is this thing we call free? Is it NO COST? If I want something, can I just take it?

What is this thing we call free? Is it NO LAW? No one can tell me what to do. “YOU’RE NOT THE BOSS OF ME!”

What is this thing we call free? Is it NO OBLIGATION? “I AM MY OWN PERSON! The only one I owe allegiance to is MY triune god – me… myself… and I!”

I have always imagined the human spirit as a pendulum and the human condition as motion generator. When it (we) gets wound up, it swings from extreme to extreme – PURSUING THE ISSUE OF IMPORTANCE. I don’t believe it will ever stop swinging nor do I think we should strive for complete stillness. That would mean we were DEAD! As long as there is breath in the body, a mind that can process information, and a soul that seeks to know and be known, we will always be SWINGING, so to speak.

I do believe the extremes become less extreme and the pendulum swing becomes less explosive when it hits the wall that will send it to the other side. In my younger days (many moons ago), I would hit the wall of YOU MUST ALWAYS with every intent to smash it to smithereens. With scars to show for the results, I don’t insist on hitting the wall anymore. I still swing into the territory of legalism and judgement (and maybe spend TOO MUCH time in the rarified air) but fortunately at my age there isn’t as much need to PROVE I’m THE ALPHA FEMALE.

On the other side, the side where i need no to tell me anything. I probably have just as many scars from pretending and insisting that I have NO… NADA… ZIP feeling of remorse for building my shiny temple to the god of “The Cake I can eat and Have It Too”! Hitting the wall of this extreme is not the same as smashing the wall of legalism. When this wall falls due to extreme violence, people and relationships are put to death with the possibility of never being resurrected.

Our spirit… the pendulum… though it swings both ways, chooses which side it longs for. Freedom is one of the “swinging pursuits” every man, woman and child has in their soul DNA.

We are CALLED to freedom… Let freedom swing!

But what is it?

Is it no cost – no law – no obligation – series of events that PROVE our independence?

Or is it the core of our being that CHOOSES to give up our independence in order to know and be known through COMMUNION?

Matthew 22:37-40 And He (Jesus) said to him (a lawyer), “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.”

Communion… fellowship NOT forced group think… desire NOT rules… connected NOT chained. Communion – to know and to be known by God and by our fellow mankind.

No cost? Jesus paid the price, yes (Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.) However, there WAS A COST! And yes the gift is free, there is nothing you do or can do to earn it, EXCEPT receive it! We can not buy God’s gift but we must surely take it and APPLY it to our lives for it to have any value to us.

No law? No obligation? Love doesn’t require an agenda – a list of do this/don’t do this – but love STRIVES to LIVE TOGETHER in peace, knowing and being known as lovers.

I believe freedom is the ABILITY to choose (we are no longer slaves to the selfish nature sin left us with). Freedom is the OPPORTUNITY to choose communion (rather than independent living). And freedom is the CHOICE to live in relationships of love.

Do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh… there is no stick waiting at the end of this statement. The apostle Paul is not going to give you all the gory details of the punishment for not following the rules of engagement. BUT… we must remember… there are CONSEQUENCES – cause and effect – of every choice.

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.

Once your choices have given your loyalty to a master… manna – the world – self… you become bound by the yoke of slavery. The worst master, the most unforgiving taskmaster, the least likely to turn you free is usually… wait for it… your SELF!!!!!!

There is slavery and it indeed has a yoke that allows for no physical freedom which was not instigated nor agreed to by any choice the person made. I am NOT minimizing NOR saying the victim of such slavery is in any way responsible for their horror.

I am talking of the slavery that comes from the treasure of our hearts. The slavery that damns us if we do – because it is NEVER ENOUGH. And the slavery that damns us if we don’t – because the OPPORTUNITY is LOST.

I am not talking of the freedom to do and say whatever we want to.  I am talking about the freedom of love – the freedom to TRULY LOVE…

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. (1 Corinthians 13:4-7)

Love does not not enslave us… IT NEVER FAILS! (1 Corinthians 13:8)

Pendulums Swing like Pendulums Do…

Me – Myself – I … or… Communionity of Love

To live independently …or… to know and to be known…

Ours is the FREEDOM TO CHOOSE!

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

 

 

 

 

Matthew 18:21-22 Then Peter came and said to Him, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.

We’re like Peter, aren’t we?

“OK! I’ll let this one go… BUT this is the LAST time!” I’m sure many of us would’ve praised Peter for his thoughtfulness and effort be a “good” disciple. Although, he doesn’t give specifics on the sin, he does set the boundary toward friends and family (brother).

Like most of our words, we have turned this word (forgiveness) into pabulum so that we can swallow it more easily. The truth is that the work of RELATIONSHIP is challenging and tough in most areas of life.

Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? (Luke 6:41-42). We would much rather deal with specs (like versus love… forget versus forgive…  proof versus faith… good versus righteous), than deal with our own logs that stand in the way of real relationships.

Forgiveness is one of those logs! We spend a great deal of time, like Peter, defining it so as to turn a Redwood tree into toothpick, so that we might be more able to meet its requirements and at the same time deny the true pain and hurt we are suffering.

IT’S NOT EASY and IT’S ALWAYS PAINFUL!

What does forgiveness look like? Jesus gave us a strong picture…

Matthew 18:23-27 “For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves. When he had begun to settle them, one who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him. But since he did not have the means to repay, his lord commanded him to be sold, along with his wife and children and all that he had, and repayment to be made. So the slave fell to the ground and prostrated himself before him, saying, ‘Have patience with me and I will repay you everything.’ And the lord of that slave felt compassion and released him and forgave him the debt.

It’s a TWO way street! A king with accounts to settled… 

Not JUST a family affair! Master versus slave…

Not a little sin! One who owed him ten thousand talents… (Strong’s Concordance says one talent could’ve easily weighed about 100 pounds and a talent of gold, about 200 pounds – depending on the times and place)

Perfectly LEGAL to ask for payment, whether payment could be made or not! He did not have the means to repay…

There CHOICE was in the hands of the slave to sin, but the consequences of being caught in sin is the CHOICE of the master! His lord commanded him to be sold, along with his wife and children and all that he had, and repayment to be made. (Did you notice how sin effected EVERYONE in his family? So much for “It didn’t hurt anyone!”)

And now for the HARDEST of all parts! The king’s choice…

Forgiveness, on the part of the “king”, the one sinned against, requires compassion… release of punishment… wiping out the debt…

Will we JUDGE the king? The spec in his eye was should’ve, would’ve could’ve. Obviously he was in the position to “fix” the problem. He had both the means and the authority to make this poor man’s problem go away!

Much like we do with God, we could very easily decide that the greater responsibility for forgiveness lies with the one who committed NO sin but can and therefore should pay the price of the punishment for the sin. It is always SO EASY to SPEND someone else’s graciousness..

Social Justice is our version today… we tend to identify with the emotions of PAYING the debt (that was indeed incurred!). The identity of the sin is unimportant as well as the fact that for every action, there is a reaction called… wait for it… CONSEQUENCES!

Did the “slave” NOT know that he was indeed a slave? Did the “slave” NOT know that he was incurring a debt of millions of dollars? And what slave do you know that is given such access to use of the master’s money?

Even if the Social Justice Warriors came out in masses, causing chaos and damage to the truly innocent, this “slave” KNEW he was in trouble but he also KNEW his master’s heart. Unlike our SJW(s),who would never bow in repentance and/or gratitude for mercy, the slave fell to the ground and prostrated himself before him, saying, “Have patience with me and I will repay you everything.”

In our world today, we don’t want to THINK about sin much less TALK about it –  especially OUR SIN! We want God to not just forgive us, we want Him to make sin GO AWAY! How can we be held accountable for evil when we really didn’t mean to BE EVIL! And… those who did and do mean evil… YOU MADE THEM THAT WAY!

Like telling the king his riches were the cause of the slave’s actions…

We don’t fall to the ground and prostrate ourselves… No No! We stand and throw the biggest hissy fit we can produce. Don’t change us… change the debt – or better yet, change the action… TAKE AWAY EVIL!

In order to do that, God would have to take away anyone who DOES EVIL, or at the very least take away the freedom of an individual to choose the path he/she will take. BUT BUT… it is my inalienable RIGHT do and keep on doing anything and everything I want to do.

Well then… God… change the value of the action. Don’t call it sin – call it a mistake. Don’t call it illegal – call it an act of desperation.

And HERE IS OUR LOG… We exchange the TRUTH for the LIE and believe we’ve solved our dilemma.

But… eye meet log – log meet eye.

Truth CANNOT be changed! No matter how many times we tell ourselves and others the lie, or how eloquently we speak it, or even how many believe and agree with you, TRUTH cannot be changed.

The lie and the resulting actions taken, will be judged and a value of resulting consequences assigned (Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death).

The value of these consequences can be mitigated through forgiveness. But the FACT that a person committed the sin can never be magically removed from reality. Whether we KNOW someone did such and such or NOT, does not change the fact that IT was done.

Like God, if indeed He wants to save and not destroy His creation, there is only one recourse open to the judge… compassion… release of punishment… wiping out the debt…

As we see later in the example, once will never be enough! This action of the judge will have to be accomplished over and over and over again… Seven Times Seventy!

Now that we know the SIN cannot be removed, let’s go back and look at the event through the eyes of suffered unjustly…

And not just through the eyes – but as though the king IS you… the loss to you IS irreplaceable… your mind seeks justice… but your heart begs to give mercy… Seven Times Seventy… 

How many times can your heart suffer the pain and loss through injustice? Seven Times Seventy… 

How many times can you forgive those who are not as deserving as you?Seven Times Seventy… 

Before, like Peter, we puff up the possibility of our righteousness in comparison to the king… seven times is MORE THAN ENOUGH… Let’s see ourselves through the eyes of the guilty slave. Putting aside our bias of OUR SPECIALNESS… Do we DESERVE mercy? Should we EXPECT leniency? Is it REALISTIC to imagine that everyone we have injured will be as COMPASSIONATE?

Yet without it… forgiveness… WHERE will we end up?

The slave in our story immediately forgot what he had been given… he went out and found one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii (silver coin which appears to be .1375 ounces and probably was an ordinary day’s wage); and he seized him and began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay back what you owe.’ (Matthew 18:28) 

Our slave did not remember his own FACE PLANT…

Matthew 18:29-30 So his fellow slave fell to the ground and began to plead with him, saying, ‘Have patience with me and I will repay you.’ But he was unwilling (unlike his master) and went and threw him in prison until he should pay back what was owed. 

His master found out the slave’s sincerity was only useful for himself…

Then summoning him, his lord *said to him, ‘You wicked slave, I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. Should you not also have had mercy on your fellow slave, in the same way that I had mercy on you?’ And his lord, moved with anger, handed him over to the torturers until he should repay all that was owed him. (Matthew 18:32-35)

How often should we forgive? We deserve prison (in fact prison would be more merciful than death) as much and as often as any other man/woman.

Un-forgiveness sentences us to joining with the sinner who sinned against us. Given all the time available in prison for thoughts of hate and bitterness, un-forgiveness hands us over to the torturers also.

How often?

Just Six More Times and Counting…

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

Matthew 6:9-11 Pray, then, in this way: Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

Have you ever considered what you are asking for when you pray the prayer that Jesus taught us?

Give us… comes easy enough. We are adept at asking (mostly demanding) especially when we realize we are hungry!

This day… what’s on our menu today? SURELY it will be only and all my favorite foods!

Our… mmm, it’s sooooo good, EVERYONE should try it!

Daily Bread… oops! We pray… then we proceed to “bake” and “gorge” ourselves on our own recipe!

Did you mean to ask for every morsel of the day? Did you count on the portion that includes the body building elixirs? Did you ask for the vitamins and minerals for strength and healthy muscles? Did you ask for the bitter herbs and cleansing drinks that search out and destroy the fungus of worldliness?

No? Me neither… Most times I prefer that God just give me sweet treats. In fact I assume that He would NEVER want His little girl eat anything that did not please her! Soooo… when it is time for the dose of Cod Liver Oil… I clamp my lips shut, shake my head to avoid the spoon, and spit it back in God’s face when I get the chance.

But God… is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure (Philippians 2:13)

Being the “Good, Good, Father” that He is, His good pleasure is perfect in every way for the child of the King!

Psalm 118:24 This is the day which the Lord has made; Let us rejoice and be glad in it. 

The WHOLE day… not just the pleasing parts! EVERY day… not just the special days of awe and wonder!

His eyes have seen my unformed substance; and in His book were all written the days that were ordained for me, when as yet there was not one of them. (Psalm 139:16)

ALL the days… ORDAINED for me… these are the day(s) the Lord has made!

Now WHAT will I do with them?

Some people take what the Lord gives and ADD their own FLAIR and SERVING SIZE to their plate.

They’re not alone… from the dawn of time, to the new nation of Israel, to all the nations of today, men have asked for their daily portion (and received it)…

Exodus 16:18-21 When they measured it with an omer, he who had gathered much had no excess, and he who had gathered little had no lack; every man gathered as much as he should eat.

From the dawn of time, to the new nation of Israel (our forefathers!), to all the nations of today, we then proceed to ignore God and gather what was NOT FOR US, FOR TODAY!

Moses said to them, “Let no man leave any of it until morning.”

Because of course, we KNOW OURSELVES best! If this is good, MORE is always BETTER, right? (The war cry of our world!)

But they did not listen to Moses, and some left part of it until morning, and it bred worms and became foul; 

So, I have to ask… myself and you.

If our life is full of worms?… is there is a foul stench?…

What “daily bread” additives have we hidden under our bed?

Good works that would be wonderful to share?

Ministry opportunities that would use our gifts, talents and knowledge?

People who are depending on us to “fix” their lives?

We all have great intentions. Most of us would never plan to fail. We really do just want to do all we can to live the abundant life God has indeed given us, but all our righteous deed are like a filthy garment (Isaiah 64:6)

Unfortunately, there is none righteous, not even one; there is none who understands, there is none who seeks for God; (Romans 3:10-12). Since sin entered our nature, our nature seeks itself! What we deem as acceptable for service to God, is still a desire to satisfy ourselves.

Matthew 19:23-26 And Jesus said to His disciples, “Truly I say to you, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I say to you, 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.”  

Maybe the true problem is our definition of RICH. When the disciples heard this, they were very astonished and said, “Then who can be saved?” (If you have the breath of life, you ARE rich!)

And looking at them Jesus said to them, “With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

Matthew 6:21 for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Is our treasure in God’s Kingdom?

Is our assurance that His perfect Will being done, guarantees His daily blessings – pressed down, shaken, full, and overflowing – poured out on all of His creation?

If heaven is our example of all that is perfect, how can we not rejoice at our fortune?

Give us this day our daily bread. We pray for it…

in His book were all written the days that were ordained for me. He gives us each day… (one at a time!)

He who had gathered much had no excess, and he who had gathered little had no lack. Perfect in every way…

THIS IS THE DAY which the Lord has made; what shall we do with it? Add our own worms and smells? NO!!!!

Let us rejoice and be glad in it. (Psalm 118:24)

“God is good all the time! And all the time, God is good!” If God is for us, who is against us? (Romans 8:31)

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

 

 

 

 

Isaiah 49:16-17 “Behold, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands; Your walls are continually before Me. “Your builders hurry; Your destroyers and devastators Will depart from you. 

A covenant is an agreement between two or more persons. It begins and ends in a relationship/commitment to join resources and mindset together toward a common activity and/or goal. In God’s case, His covenant to love His creation is an agreement written and made within Himself.

Most humans need a reciprocal action in order to count a covenant worthy of their participation, but God counts worthiness according to Himself. He also counts the covenant’s importance by His own intention toward its fulfillment.

We, on the other hand, make and destroy covenants at the whimsy of the moment.

Whereas the term covenant should convey an impossible connection to break, we consider it our challenge to find every way possible to break the connection and therefore our obligation to honor it.

More than a promise, which insinuates a future obligation, a covenant has an intrinsic demand for all hands to do whatever is necessary at any and every moment to protect, serve, and honor the agreement and it’s intentions stated in its origin.

I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands… What’s your first thought when you read that? What would your reaction be if you were to consider inscribing someone on your palms?

I’ll admit it! My first thought is of the potential end to the relationship /covenant. What if…

My second thoughts is, PROTECT THE HEART! “Why make it so permanent? We’ll just TRY IT – We’ll just enjoy it WHILE IT LASTS – Let’s not MAKE IT OFFICIAL… yet!”

Whatever the agreement is, we humans will attempt to cover every base so that WE will end up OK IN THE END!

There is always a winner… and there is always a looser… It’s ALWAYS about ME and RARELY about YOU! This is mankind’s “natural” mantra.

Our enemy convinced us we had potential to be THE winner… “You surely will not die! For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good from evil.” (Genesis 3:4-5)

Why do we listen to someone who only wants our destruction? Why do we turn our backs on someone who only wants the very best for us? Why do we covenant with the enemy for a taste of “the good life” (lust), when God is the Author and Sustainer of the perfect (love)?

I believe it all boils down to the difference between LOVE and LUST!

Covenant Love is directed outward. Covenant Lust is directed inward.

Covenant Love seeks blessing with all that is good for others. Covenant Lust seeks more profit than loss for self.

Covenant Love is always moving forward in experience and expertise of the imparting joy. Covenant Lust is always about filling the insatiable need of the individual, for honor and glory in every pursuit.

Covenant Love pursues peace and casts out the fear of abandonment.

Covenant Lust depends on fear to keep its rules of law and order (I am the law and it is MY order!).

Covenant Love is God… Covenant Lust is Satan.

Without regard to what we can, should, or will do for Him, God loves us. He signs the covenant He made with Himself… they shall call His name Immanuel,” which translated means “God with us.” (Matthew 1:23)

He signs His covenant with His own hands… I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands

He makes us the prime beneficiary of His covenant… Your walls are continually before Me

He gives the full and total measure of covenant assets through our adoption as His sons/daughters, and retains all the guardianship and protection for His Kingdom and our inheritance.

John 3:16 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.

On the other hand, Satan, regardless of what we can, should, or will do for him, hates us. His covenant is totally and irrevocably based upon his lust to defeat God and take over the power of the universe.

Ephesians 6:12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. 

Satan hates us with a lust to DEVOUR us.

1 Peter 5:8 the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour

He hates God… we are God’s creation… he does not want to simply take us away from God and replace Him as our god. HE DOESN’T WANT US AT ALL! When we walk in Satan’s covenant – the covenant of lust – we are walking into his trap which is located in the killing fields of hell.

Under the covenant of God’s love, we are saved, redeemed, anointed, sealed, protected, adopted, sanctified… we are the FAMILY BUSINESS

Ephesians 3: 14-19 I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, that he would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breath and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.

The Fullness of God… God’s Covenant!

We don’t work to receive it. We don’t earn it. We don’t manipulate God to  give it.

We just believe…

Hebrews 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him. 

If FAITH is our signature of acceptance to live under the covenant agreement… then LOVE is the banner declaring Who’s covenant rules.

Normally we “save” covenant love for those we really really like/love (spouse, children, siblings?)… let’s stop “saving” and start “spending” the love we get from God on ALL of our neighbors and truly be Covenant Lovers rather than covenant lusters.

1 Corinthians 13:4-8 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.

Love never fails; 

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

 

 

Psalm 73:3 For I was envious of the arrogant as I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

…there are no pains in their death,
…their body is fat.
…they are not in trouble as other men,
…nor are they plagued like mankind.
…pride is their necklace;
…garment of violence covers them

…their eye bulges from fatness;
…the imaginations of their heart run riot.
…they mock and wickedly speak of oppression;
…they speak from on high.
…they have set their mouth against the heavens,
…their tongue parades through the earth.

Psalm 73:13-14 Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure and washed my hands in innocence; for I have been stricken all day long and chastened every morning.

Have you done this too? Compared your life to those around you and wished you could be like them?

Have you had Pity Parties over what God expects of you and what He seems to ignore from others?

Have you viewed life from Ground Level and decided, “It’s NOT fair!!”, meaning of course that God’s not being fair… to you!

Psalm 73:16 When I pondered to understand this,
It was troublesome in my sight.

Until you use God’s elevator of prayer…

Psalm 73:17 I came into the sanctuary of God; Then I perceived their end.

The Pity Party ends when you enter God’s Throne Room!

Job 38:1-3 Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind and said,“Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge? “Now gird up your loins like a man, and I will ask you, and you instruct Me!

Put on your big boy/girl pants and stand before our Holy God.

You shall know the truth…

Psalm 73:21-24 When my heart was embittered and I was pierced within, then I was senseless and ignorant; I was like a beast before You. 

It’s all about your VIEWpoint, and your VIEWpoint is all about your faith.

What do you believe about God? What do you believe about life? What do you believe about you?

Do you believe that God SEES and is present in this world and in the world to come? Or do you believe like those the psalmist envied, “How does God know? And is there knowledge with the Most High?” (our version of “What He doesn’t know won’t hurt Him)

Is God real? Or is He just a figment of your imagination? And if He is REAL, is He active?

Do your jealous eyes judge Him as uncaring when you do not get what you demand. Do you KNOW what His will is for you and for all of His creation?

With your words you claim to know and love God, but is your faithfulness conditional on how happy, healthy and wise He makes you (or lets you be)?

We have to decide…

Either God is good all the time and all the time He is good, or He is subject to man’s judgements/opinions and is no god at all.

We sometimes think that we are called to go to the Throne Room in order to give God our laundry list of wants, needs or demands. We have been taught to say all the right words and then expect the RIGHT answers. Not all of us have the audacity to claim God gave the wrong answer BUT we go so far as to say we just haven’t gotten the right code words and or actions to unlock His miracles.

I’ll admit it… I wanted to LEARN TO PRAY in order to GET THE RIGHT ANSWER. My eyes were more interested in comparing the results among all of us “prayer warriors” than SEEING God and JOYFULLY RECEIVING His answer!

One of the miracles (and the best one in my opinion) of coming into God’s Throne Room, is the laser surgery that God has performed on the eyes of my heart!

When I enter in, I no longer look at anything other than the face of my God. I look FULL in His wonderful face…

I see THE TRUTH… I see HIM!

Psalm 73:21-24 When my heart was embittered
And I was pierced within, then I was senseless and ignorant;
I was like a beast before You. Nevertheless I am continually with You; You have taken hold of my right hand. With Your counsel You will guide me, and afterward receive me to glory.

I once was (like a beast before You) lost… but now… (You have taken hold of my right hand) am found…

We can determine that this world is all there is and therefore we will make it all it can be… my kingdom come… But what if this world isn’t all there is?

This world, as we know it, will cease to exist and God’s Kingdom will descend. God controls eternity (the world to come)… what happens when we don’t know (or believe in) the Eternity Creator/Contoller?

I came into the sanctuary of God; Then I perceived their end.
…Surely You set them in slippery places;
…You cast them down to destruction.
…they are destroyed in a moment!
…They are utterly swept away by sudden terrors!

Psalm 73:27 For, behold, those who are far from You will perish;

Does that mean God doesn’t love those who do not know Him?

2 Peter 3:9 the Lord is… patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.

But we must freely come… choosing to believe God IS and He is Worthy of all that we have to give.

Will I give myself?

“choose for yourselves today whom you will serve” (Joshua 24:15)

In the sanctuary of God, I see God.

I see… the nearness of God is my good; (Psalm 73:28) and because I see clearly… I have made the Lord God my refuge.

The View From Above…

Isaiah 55:8-9 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts,Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts…

 A View From Above… The ROOM With a view…

The Throne Room View…

It’s ALL about God…

When you SEE the truth, you will be changed… the truth will make you free. (John 8:32)

No more Pity Parties for me! I choose WIN/WIN… God is good all the time and all the time God is good!

I choose to avoid all the ground clutter I am easily distracted by.

I choose the View from Above.

I choose the Throne Room View.

How about you?

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

Luke 15:25-30 “Now his older son was in the field, and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. And he summoned one of the servants and began inquiring what these things could be. And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has received him back safe and sound.’ But he became angry and was not willing to go in; and his father came out and began pleading with him. But he answered and said to his father, ‘Look! For so many years I have been serving you and I have never neglected a command of yours; and yet you have never given me a young goat, so that I might celebrate with my friends; but when this son of yours came, who has devoured your wealth with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him.’

I’ll admit it! Most of the time I am the younger son, devouring the father’s wealth. But every once in a while I become the “put upon” sibling, who thinks they have been devalued because SOMEONE ELSE received what they wished they had gotten.

Luke 15:31 And he said to him, ‘Son, you have always been with me, and all that is mine is yours.

If not for the father’s reminder, we might have believed that the older son had a legitimate anger issue… but no… nothing – let me say that again – NOTHING was taken from him. Nothing was kept from him. NOTHING was charged to his account! Except maybe a little wine whine…

It’s not fair!!!!

He left – I stayed… He partied – I worked… He took – I obeyed…

… and HE gets the royal feast?  HE gets the fattened calf (feast of kings) – I don’t even get a young goat (just our everyday BBQ fare).

Granted I didn’t ask… but I might have wanted to celebrate with my friends if YOU had offered… I am the good son, the price of my loyalty and obedience SHOULD AT LEAST be a ROYAL PARTY!

And there we have the TRUE anger issue – the eyes of greed. I see that which I want and someone else has/gets.

Cain (of Cain and Abel) had this same anger issue. Genesis 4:3-15 gives us the details. Like our older sibling, Cain gave what he wanted to give to the Lord. When it was not received like he thought it should be, he became angry! ON TOP OF THAT… he saw that his brother’s offering was accepted “with regard” (verse 4).

Cain became angry and his countenance fell (verse 5). In other words, a murderous rage takes over as he SEES THE UNFAIRNESS – in this case – by God.

Our sibling doesn’t appear to want to KILL his brother, but certainly he is angry enough to disrespect and disobey his father’s wishes for a reunion celebration. One might say, whereas Cain believed he had the authority to permanently rid himself of the competition, our older boy was more passive in his reaction – he just wanted to KILL the JOY and character of his returning competitor.

In our world today we certainly have plenty of JOY KILLERS of both types of siblings!

Unlike the younger sibling, there are plenty of us who refuse to recognize the pig sty we are in and DEMAND that not only do you accept our lifestyle but YOU MUST continually fund it.

And… there are many of us who HATE sharing our “hard-earned” (or someone’s hard-earned) largess with those brothers/sisters who CHOOSE to be different.

In the eye of the beholder, both of us probably have the same or a similar chant… “NOT FAIR!!”

In the eyes of our Father God we have the same issue.

Genesis 4:6-7 Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? 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.”

We both may have an anger issue…

Notice I said anger issue – not anger sin. Anger is not a sin, it is an emotion. What we DO – what triggers the action – in the midst of our anger is the sin crouching at the door.

Cain murdered his brother, when asked where his brother was he lied and gave his excuse… “I do not know. Am I my brother’s keeper?”

God said… yes you are… “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood is crying to Me from the ground.”

In Luke 15:32 the father said… yes you are –  “this brother of yours was dead and has begun to live, and was lost and has been found… we had to celebrate and rejoice!”

Our eyes look to the benefit/profit to ourselves. We are the hammer of self preservation to nail of any thief who would threaten to steal our portion…

When you are a hammer – every competitor for insatiable desires – looks like a nail.

We were not created to be hammers… or nails.

Just as our Creator God IS love, we are created to be lovers.

Matthew 22:37-40 You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, you shall love your neighbor as yourself. 

The question is… If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up?

There is no such person as an angry lover… your either a lover or you are an angry person. (again not talking about the emotion but this time talking about the character)

1 Corinthians 13:4-8 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.

 

If we look upon someone else, and our eyes behold a reason/excuse for anger and/or violence toward, we may be beholding sin – crouching at our door.

“It’s NOT fair” may be the tempter’s song, calling you to kill and/or destroy the person – character – possessions – attitude of someone whose only wrong is to stand and block your spotlight for a moment.

What’s in your wallet eye?

The wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23)… (NOT FAIR!)

Love never fails (1 Corinthians 13:8)… (DOING WELL!)

Whether we choose to sin or choose to do well, there is just one thing I want us all to remember…

“What have you done? 

We will be found out!

Whether you kill the body or kill the spirit…

“The voice of your brother’s blood is crying to Me from the ground.”

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

 

Luke 15:11-16 And He said, “A man had two sons. The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the estate that falls to me.’ So he divided his wealth between them. And not many days later, the younger son gathered everything together and went on a journey into a distant country, and there he squandered his estate with loose living. Now when he had spent everything, a severe famine occurred in that country, and he began to be impoverished. So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would have gladly filled his stomach with the pods that the swine were eating, and no one was giving anything to him. 

Dad didn’t say, “NO!”

He didn’t try to guilt the boy into changing his mind.

He didn’t run after him and “helicopter” his environment, trying to make the boy’s life perfect in his own eyes.

He stayed home and __________________.

Waited… watched… ?prayed… ?grieved…

I don’t know how you would fill in the blank, but I would say, “He leaned into his own misery, to give his son the gift of becoming the person he was meant to become.”

I have to believe the Dad would have preferred for the son stay in the safe cocoon of love and wealth. I know, as a parent one of the hardest tasks I ever had to perform (over and over again) was setting aside my dreams/imaginations and allowing my little eaglets to fly into their world.

Deuteronomy 32:11 “Like an eagle that stirs up its nest, that hovers over its young, He spread His wings and caught them, He carried them on His pinions. 

As a parent we do all of the above (Wait… watch… pray… grieve…) while our little ones are growing into the future pilots of their own lives. For most of us, we secretly wish we could lock them into our seatbelt and NEVER LET THEM FLY on their own.

But God…

God is the example of a “Good, Good Father”!

God created in us the desire and demand for becoming. He gave us the power and authority and RESPONSIBILITY to freely choose to grow up and into His special creation – a human. Hebrews 2:7-8 “You have made him for a little while lower than the angels; You have crowned him with glory and honor, and have appointed him over the works of Your hands; You have put all things in subjection under his feet.” (obviously WE lost the subjection part when we sinned, but Jesus NEVER lost it!)

Though with some people it is hard to tell, we are not now nor ever been an animal – a beast of the field. Every human – man, woman, and child, was created to rule over our world (Genesis 1:26-31) AND walk with God in the cool of the day. (Genesis 3:8)

An INHERITANCE of stunning magnitude!

Soooooo… when we ask for “our share” of the inheritance (like the little brother in our original Scripture) we are asking for something HOLY and AWESOME. All of us, every human on the planet, asks demands their portion. But, is there any of us that know what to do with it (rhetorical question)… we are convinced we are to SPEND it in satisfying all of our immediate needs insatiable wants? Especially in the United States of America!

We are so blessed in this country, even the poorest of poor, have the freedom to pursue. We all imagine that the inheritance is the fruit of pursuit (all the good things in life) but the inheritance… the REAL INHERITANCE… is the ability to pursue. We choose the direction – the desired goals – our preferred destination. But the inheritance is our life!

Every human on this earth has been given BY GOD the will, the ability, and the command to pursue life. America is uniquely blessed because our foundation is built on giving its citizens the freedom and opportunity to pursue the “good” life. Unfortunately, America has also been given the temptation (like our young friend in the opening Scripture) to believe that our inheritance is not only ours by “right”, it is unlimited – even given our foolish use of it, and it is protected by our imagined immortality.

We ASK for our inheritance and then SPEND it in a delirious drunken state of privilege. In America we are currently going through the “righteous demand” for MORE… and MORE… and MORE. We see what we want, who has it, and then plan how we can get it.

Without thinking of the consequences, the accountability of becoming the steward of each and every privilege, we blame… SOMEONE doesn’t want us to be happy! SOMEONE hates us! SOMEONE doesn’t know WHO I AM!

Without regard for our neighbors who may have a true need, we scream… “It’s should be MINE! If we are ignored or told, “There is no more!”… we incite others to join us in an attempt to intimidate those who have, EVEN if it must be taken from those who need.

Our founding fathers believed that God gives each of us LIFE… LIBERTY (the breath to pursue)… and the PURSUIT of happiness. We demand our right to define that happiness! We demand it be tweaked to our personal specifications.

Just as the Father and son in our Scripture, we ask for our inheritance and God gives us our inheritance.

Careful what you ask for.

Someday there will be an account of that life you have been given. Will you spend it in a drunken state of believing yourself to be all-powerful and immortal?

Will you end up in a pig sty like our younger brother?

And if you do… what will you do then? Will you give yourself to the slavery of your insatiable demands and continue eating the pigs slop?

Or will you humble yourself, realizing your Father is under NO OBLIGATION to fix your foolishness, and return as a servant to the One who has the whole world in His hands?

Careful what you ask for.

More importantly, be careful of WHO you ask, for they will be your Master forever more.

Matthew 6:24 “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other.

Joshua 24:15 If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

Whom will you spend your inheritance (life) on?

?Yourself… you ended up (or will eventually) in the pig pen (just saying).

?This world… the Prince of this world, Satan, with all the fiery arrows of temptation he can use, wishes to destroy and then devour you.

?God – our Good, Good Father… Luke 15:20 But while (you) was still a long way off, (your) father (sees you) and (feels) compassion for (you) and (runs) and (embraces you) and (kisses you).

Now this is HAPPINESS… this is LIFE…

Luke 15:22-24 But the father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet; and bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; for this son of mine was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.’ And they began to celebrate. 

We are FREE to pursue Him… now this is a life worth LIVING!

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

 

 

 

 

Ephesians 4:29 Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear.

Oops!

Let no unwholesome word… I’m just telling them the truth for their own good!

Proceed from your mouth… does it count if you just think them?

But only such a word… my mom used to tell me, “If you don’t have something nice to say to someone, don’t say anything at all.” Is this the same thing as grace?

Good for Edification… “You’re so pretty!”

According to the need of the moment… “BUT I NEED to tell you how I feel!”

Will give grace those who hear… it’s NOT all about ME – ME – ME???

Yipes! I definitely need a Speech Therapist! Oh!Oh! Trouble… if what I see on the news and on social media, there aren’t many who could help and even more who need a TEAM of therapists!

Where do we go to learn how to talk to people?

There is only One expert we can trust to have EVERYONE’S best interests at heart… the Holy Spirit! And He says… start inside.

Ephesians 4:31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. 

Wow! This is so true it is LIFE-CHANGING! The words coming out of my mouth are probably the same ones I’m hearing in my own head and heart, and the same ones I use in talking to and speaking of myself.

Have you ever listened to the conversations you have with yourself about yourself? Not the “cleaned up version” you use to introduce yourself to others – the down and dirty, straight from the pit of hell, self judgement, secretive (some not so secret when they slip out), wouldn’t use for your worst enemy (unless they deserved them) words.

For a lot of years, I had taped conversations going on in my head that were on a repeating loop. I never questioned where they came from, I assumed the people who instigated them, KNEW what they were talking about, and I never argued with them or their words.

“You’re fat!” “You’re dumb!” “You will fail!” “You’re wrong!” “You’re ugly!” “You’ll never learn!”

Sounds like playground fighting words, right? The weapons of enemies.  Some are for sure… “sticks and stones can break my bones but words can never hurt me” variety… but some, especially the words spoken FOR MY OWN GOOD, were from friends – and teachers – and parents – and adults just looking out for me.

First thing the Holy Spirit told me, “Turn off the tape!” Seems rather obvious, huh? But these words, taught to me in the throes of my developing identity, became the only words I could turn to when I had no words of my own. Unfortunately, they somewhat became my identity.

I think the same is true for most of us. The words we hear (especially the ones looped on our mind recorder) are the words, along with their synonyms, are the very same words we use to and about our public audience. Sure, we have learned when and with whom, certain words are acceptable and which are not, but that is just a cosmetic change – not a change on our inside.

My first step was to TURN OFF the tape in my head… but then I needed new words… in fact a whole new language to replace a lifetime of wrong thinking and therefore wrong speaking.

Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.

Whatever… CAUTION!!!!!! Not mankind’s whatever!

God’s whatever!

After turning off the recorder… the Holy Spirit said, “Learn from Me! Learn My language!” The language of Love!

Learn who God is… 1 John 4:8… for God is love.

Learn who God says you and I are… Psalm 139:15-16 My frame was not hidden from You, when I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth; Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; and in Your book were all written the days that were ordained for me, when as yet there was not one of them.

Learn who we are when we put our trust in Jesus Christ… Romans 8:15 – 17 For (we) have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but (we) have received a spirit of adoption as sons… and daughters… by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, 

Learn who we are becoming and where we are going. Our destiny isn’t what we thought (and spoke) and/or were told… Romans 8:28-30 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.

and the BEST news of all… 2 Peter 9 the Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing any to perish but all to come to repentance. 

We are ALL called!

Finally…

A message… THE WORD!… That even I can speak.

…no unwholesome word… only such a word as is good… for edification… according to the need of the moment… it will give grace to those who hear.

PERFECT!

Now I just need to change my attitude in order to speak it to THOSE people!

1… Turn off pre-recorded message. 2… Learn the new language of Love.

And now…

3… Prepare to speak. The Holy Spirit changed my mind, now I need to change my heart.

Ephesians 4:32 Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you. We are not enemies (even if we don’t like each other)! We are called to LOVE… even THEM!

Then and only then will the TRUE WORD be spoken among men/women… then and only then will we speak to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; (Ephesians 5:19) Then and only then will we be speaking God’s language of love.

There is an awesome song called “Words” by Hawk Nelson. He says, “Words can build you up, words can tear you down, start a fire in your heart or put it out…”

What do I want my words to do? What do you want your words to do?

Word! It/they will do something! It/they never return void.

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