Side by Side Hand in Hand

Romans 12:3 For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith.

Than he ought??? Strong’s Concordance defines this as necessary/necessity…

Sound judgement??? to put a moderate estimate upon one’s self…

Now some would say this means we should all lower ourselves to be equal with dirt to make sure we are NEVER prideful, because pride seems to be ANY thought of self and ANY claim of worthiness.

I would agree that pride does lay next to assessment of self. But the verse above does not indicate that we “ought not” think of ourselves… ever.

The best pastor (Johnny V. Miller) I have known, used to say, “Not your IN look, but your UP look, will change your OUTLOOK.” (I don’t know if that was an original saying by him or he was quoting someone else.)

We must LOOK IN to know ourselves. But to believe that we can change who we are by “spinning” what we see into something we think is more acceptable to those whom we believe are watching, is believing we have power and authority over our world. Though we can want to change for all the right reasons, it is just as prideful to claim ownership as the master of our domain.

Eve “saw” that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that it was desirable to make one wise (Genesis 3:4)… spinning… and look who triggered it… the snake!

Let me say it again… it is good to KNOW yourself! It is WISE to know yourself!

But what Satan and Eve were spinning was not wisdom, it was seeking a reason for SELF ENTHRONEMENT, and independence from their Creator.

To speak the TRUTH (in love) is never about pride…  Pride, in its sinful nature, is about lies. Lies we tell ourselves and lies we are told. Sinful pride isn’t about love, it is about lust… pleasing our old nature which is demanding it’s seat on our throne of life.

It is necessary to know who you are. But it is imperative to know who owns us (God) and what He thinks about us.

Isaiah 49:16 “Behold, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands; your walls are continually before Me.”

More highly than I ought…???…I am blown away!

Romans 8:16-17 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,

To think so as to have sound judgment… ??? … it’s kind of “freaky” (you Jesus Freaks out there) to think (and boast about it) I am a child of THE MOST HIGH GOD!

And an heir also…???…royalty!

No, my IN LOOK does not give me cause for pride and celebration and joy in life, but my UP LOOK, not only gives me cause but demands a change in my OUTLOOK.

I am UPPITY when it comes to how I think of myself. The difference between this and sinful pride is the subject of my boasting and the unearned position He has given me.

I do not boast in my SELF… I boast in God! I do not believe I have earned His favor nor do I think I hold a position above any of His other children.

Though God did create dirt… He created man/woman to be like Himself.

Genesis 1:26 Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness;” 

For me to see myself or any other man or woman as less is a sin… an abomination to the truth. For me to see myself or any other man or woman as more is a sin… an abomination to the truth.

But to see myself and every other man or woman as God sees us… RIGHTEOUS!

Romans 8:31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us?

Definitely “Uppity Thinking…

But I say… Let’s go for it!

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. 

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

 

 

 

 

 

Baby Step changes are in progress in my life and on this web-site.

Look! There is a space to subscribe to an email when a new blog is posted.

And… we took all the other widgets away (at least for now) and left Facebook. Don’t forget, not only can you like the post but you can also share it – unless of course that would result in getting you in trouble with your friends. Trouble could be fun…

More to come… just not committing to when!

You know how, when you begin to redecorate, you first have to make a hot mess… that’s what I was doing this last weekend with my AWESOME friend Sara. She gave me the courage to begin the change (baby steps!!!) but with just a click of the button the change can become “oops”. This post, “Sibling Rivalry”, to those who were paying attention, was published – and now it is not… is the oops revisited…

Luke 15:29-32 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.’ And he said to him, ‘Son, you have always been with me, and all that is mine is yours. But we had to celebrate and rejoice, for this brother of yours was dead and has begun to live, and was lost and has been found.’

Being the Baby of the Family, sometimes the burden falls on one’s shoulders to carry the perverted memories of “Mom always liked you best!” or “You always got what you wanted, cause you were the SPOILED BRAT” (always said with a smirk just in case a ready excuse of “teasing” is needed to shut down the truth of the matter)
Yes, I was… and sometimes I still am… the spoiled brat! I have been the cocky younger sibling, Jesus was talking about, MANY times in my life! I have asked (and sometimes gotten) my share of family budget which couldn’t/wouldn’t/shouldn’t stretch as far as it needed to. I have taken that inheritance and without a second thought to my other siblings, I have thrown it to the wind on nonsense and such.

I can’t say my parents threw a huge fattened calf party when I came to my senses, but they always wrapped their arms around me and called me their daughter.

And this is my point… WE ARE FAMILY! Whether my siblings approved &/or chose to have me as their baby sister… I am. Not even excommunication can change the DNA of that!

I am God’s child, therefore I have every right and responsibility to be God’s daughter. Jesus made it so… and no amount of playground bullying will change the truth. Ephesians 1:5 He predestined (nope He didn’t wait to ask our permission for all the other babies) us to adoptions as sons (and daughters) through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will. 

Psalm 139:16 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. 

He made Baby Jesus Freaks…

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, 

As the story shows us… we, the other sibling, don’t have the right, or responsibility, or the giftedness of a judge, to tell Abba who he can and cannot love! And… just to be clear… not liking or loving our siblings is not a justifiable reason to have a distant relationship… with Abba or with His children.

My relationship and your relationship with God, our Abba, is not determined by who He is and what He does for our other siblings around the world and throughout history. The quality and intensity of my relationship and your relationship with Abba, is determined when each of us look upward… into the face, into the eyes and heart, of our living God.

When we look outward, with jealousy and greed… we give our enemy (Satan) access to our most vulnerable spot… our heart… where the love of God and for God is stored.  Not only is our treasure being soiled  but our position to receive and bask in the truth is compromised as we are thrown into a pit of doubt, and guilt, and despair that we may never get out.

The solution… to the older son’s cranky, angry scream of “UNFAIR!”… and to our similar tantrums… is to come home… and remain so close to his Daddy that nothing or no one can come between… hmmm, exactly where the younger son was running back to after realizing his need… now who is the smart one?

Who are our siblings?

Israel… even those who are still looking for Jesus, the Messiah…

Deuteronomy 7:6  For you are a holy people to the LORD your God; the LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for His own possession out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth… we Gentiles are grafted in, not a separate plant… and not a root that we could stand alone.

Who are our siblings?

Our neighbor… our world… those who may or may not go to the same church as us… those people whom we don’t understand because of language, or culture, or lifestyle… those people God has set before us.

Who are our siblings?

Our siblings are those whom God has chosen and is training to become Jesus Freaks!

John 10:27-29 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.”

Not all of us look-alike… not all of us walk the same path… not all of us are the same age…

As siblings, we need to GET OVER OUR BAD SELF! Judging (I’m not talking about speaking the truth in love &/or encouraging someone to get out and away from the quicksand) others who have been God-placed in our family as unworthy or unforgivable or untouchable or God forbid, unsavable, is simply asking for judgement upon yourself!

Matthew 7: 1-2 Do not judge so that you will not be judged. For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you. The older son was saying that his younger sibling was not deserving of the unconditional love of his father. Yet in listing the reasons why, he had to acknowledge (in the deep regions of his fear) that he might not be deserving if, according to his way of thinking, the sign for deserving/undeserving is the public display of honor and glory. Thus he then had to list the reasons why it should have been him receiving ALL the honor and glory and his baby brother should be.. “thrown back into the pig pen where he came from!”

That’s the nature of sibling rivalry… I don’t want to be just one of the family… I want to be THE ONE of the family!

I use to think we would all grow up and grow out of this clash for family status… but here I am at 64 years old, my siblings all being OLDER than me… still being given what I assume is my lifelong status in this earthly family. I could throw a hissy fit (and at times I am sooooo tempted!) but that would only PROVE their point (which of course is OLDER and possibly wiser – NOT)…

What I could choose to do instead, is focus my eyes on my Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name (Ephesians 3:15)

Maybe… if we all did this in our homes… our churches… our neighborhoods… our world…

Instead of being a source of hurt to ourselves and our siblings, God could  grant to all of us, 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 our hearts through faith; and that we, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth 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.

Instead of jealousy and greed and rivalry, we could let God issue His official Family Birth Certificate and we could receive each and every member (including ourselves) with unconditional UNCONDITIONAL love.

Kind of like… when my sibling slaps me with “spoiled brat”… I turn my other cheek and say “Yep, I am the child of the One True King, and that makes me His little princess! Spoiled? You betcha! I am an heir to His kingdom!”

It’s not about you and me competing to be the one whom God loves the best… it’s about being home with our God who loves the best… His love is forever perfect!

Romans 8:38-39 For I am convinced that neither death, not life, nor angels, nor principalities, not things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our LORD.

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

Exodus 36:3-7 They received from Moses all the contributions which the sons of Israel had brought to perform the work in the construction of the sanctuary. And they still continued bringing to him freewill offerings every morning. And all the skillful men who were performing all the work of the sanctuary came, each from the work which he was performing, and they said to Moses, “The people are bringing much more than enough for the construction work which the Lord commanded us to perform.” So Moses issued a command, and a proclamation was circulated throughout the camp, saying, “Let no man or woman any longer perform work for the contributions of the sanctuary.” Thus the people were restrained from bringing any more. For the material they had was sufficient and more than enough for all the work, to perform it.

How can one tell this is God’s plan? He provides! Not one thing went undone because of budget issues. Not one thing was put on hold because the contributions were down. Not one person gave under duress nor with bitterness. Nope. Nope. In fact, the biggest problem they had was to RESTRAIN the people from bringing any more!

God is not skimpy with His provision!

Throughout all of the Exodus journey, God provided. Yes, the people were led into the wilderness. Yes, they left all that they had known. Yes, even the most adventurous and built tough, would have found the journey to be unbelievably difficult.

But God was building a nation… a people, to be His own. A people, He would live among… a people, He would eventually, through Jesus, make their heart into His “home”.

In Exodus, God shows us His desire to be close to us… His plans for a place we could fellowship with Him… His will to accomplish all that was necessary for such a relationship to exist.

In all of Exodus, we see the hand of God providing everything His baby Israel needed. Food, water, shoes that never wore out… cloud by day… column of fire by night…

We see God’s provision and protection in everything, but rarely do we see Israel acting in willing obedience. The sanctuary – His sanctuary, is (in my opinion) the BEST example of God’s Will being done on earth, freely, by man.

Apart from Jesus, who did the PERFECT Will of the Father, mankind is not usually known for our obedience to the details of God’s Will. We like to tweak… we like to question… we like to interpret.

We like to worry that what God has started we will have to finish by ourselves! Therefore, we may want to withhold some in order to have on that rainy day. With the audacity of a three-year old, we believe we only need God when we can’t do it for ourselves! Thus our prayers are reserved for those things God has not given, to do things that God has not given us to do, so that we can prove ourselves worthy disciples (powerful people) of the Most High God.

Israel had only those things they brought from Egypt to give to the building project. They were in the wilderness so there was not a nearby department store to buy the finest materials. Most, if not all of these people were slaves, so there was no gold in their mattresses… except for… wait for it… the going away gifts treasures the Egyptians insisted they take with them.

Our God is so good… (all the time)!

He gave the plan… He gave the artisans… He gave the materials… He gave the workers… and He gave His people the opportunity to participate in whatever way or means they freely chose.

And when they did (freely choose) they gave (with their heart). The result… the material they had was sufficient and more than enough for all the work, to perform it.

Now I ask you… if this was so for building a tent in the wilderness… how much more would God do for a home in our hearts?

Ephesians 2:10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them. 

This world is our wilderness (as hard as the journey Israel went on), but God wants to abide with us just as He did back in the day.

Our hearts are the tent of meeting and the good works are the free will offerings to be used to build His sanctuary… His home!

I believe, if we stick close to our Architect and follow His detailed plan, building with the expertise and instruction of the Holy Spirit, we will accomplish what Moses and Israel accomplished in building this earthly tent… God’s Will… done on earth as His will is always done in heaven.

Just as He did with Israel…

I know, if I freely give my heart, He will transform it and there will be enough and more than enough… to accomplish all that He has prepared beforehand for me to walk in.

What are my prayers about? Lack of a plan? Lack of provisions for the plan? Lack of ability to perform the plan? May it never be! If there is confusion and/or lack of something or someone to perform what God has prepared for me, it is mine to own.

Psalm 139:23-24 Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts; And see if there be any hurtful way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way.

Let the desires of my heart be for His heart… in His heart there is no room for lack.

Psalm 37:4 Delight yourself in the Lord; And He will give you the desires of your heart. 

Enough and More Than Enough!

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

 

1 Kings 19:11-13 So He said, “Go forth and stand on the mountain before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord was passing by! And a great and strong wind was rending the mountains and breaking in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of a gentle blowing. When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. And behold, a voice came to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

There is a back story here. Elijah, a prophet of God (who had already seen and done amazing things while depending entirely on the power of God), ran from a very serious death threat. He ran!

1 Kings 19: He went a day’s journey into the wilderness… and came and sat down under a juniper tree; and he requested for himself that he might die… “It is enough; now, O Lord, take my life, for I am not better than my fathers.”

This is a man who WALKED and TALKED with God… This is a man whom at the end of his life was TAKEN in a chariot of fire with horses of fire; taken up by a whirlwind to heaven.

But at this moment, he is scared… he is tired… he is hungry… he is so ready to be done!

He is human!

Let’s face it, if a holy man like Elijah can and does have a pity-party, what makes us think we can set our expectations so high we think we have to become perfect before our Holy God will use us EVER AGAIN? After all his experience with God, Elijah KNEW the truth! He just consulted the wrong person about this event. He made the #1 rookie mistake…

Just like us… (you know you’ve done it) he talked to himself instead of talking to God!

Interestingly enough, I heard this same “self talk” last night. It wasn’t until this morning, when the Holy Spirit led me to Elijah that I had the answer my self talker really wasn’t asking me for.

You think you are alone? You think you are overburdened? You think you are a failure? You think the stress of all this is going to kill you? You want to just lie down and never gets up?

Look how God took care of Elijah (EVEN WHEN HE DIDN”T ASK HIM TO!)

1 Kings 19:5-6 … and behold, there was an angel touching him… he looked and behold, there was at his head a bread cake baked on hot stones, and a jar of water. So he ate and drank and lay down again.

1 Kings 19:7 … the angel of the Lord came again a second time and touched him… “Arise, eat, because the journey is too great for you.” Sustenance for the forty days and forty night trip to Horeb, the mountain of God.

1 Kings 19:9 … he came to cave and lodged there; and behold, the word of the Lord came to him… “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

Even though Elijah didn’t go to God… God came to Elijah.

God could have slapped him, he deserved that and more to get his attention… but He didn’t. God could have lectured him about missing the mark and how he should have known better… but He didn’t. God could have let him stew in his own juices forever (or at least until Elijah asked)… but He didn’t.

What did God do? He nourished Elijah… He sustained him in his journey… He brought Him to Himself.

What did Elijah say about all this? I love this man… though he is one of the “holiest” men in our history (not counting the perfection of Jesus), he’s HUMAN! He is not portrayed as someone whom we can never live up to. He is not set on a pedestal of legalistic requirements.

1 Kings 19:10 He (Elijah) said, “I have been very zealous for the Lord, the God of hosts; for the sons of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down You altars and killed Your prophets with the sword. And I alone am left; and they see my life, to take it away.”

Can you hear it… “Why are you letting this happen? If You LOVED me… I must not be doing things to Your standards… You have given me way more than I can handle.”

Though he doesn’t come right out and say it, the underlying question is, “Where have You been Lord?”

And God answered! Not in the wind… Not in the earthquake… Not in the fire… 

Could it be that we are looking at the WRONG things in order to see God? We are looking at the scary things, the things that make us believe we are DOOMED… doomed to be tossed and thrown by the winds of circumstances… doomed to be shaken to our core as the kingdom we have built falls to ground… doomed to be scorched until we are nothing but ashes.

After the fire a sound of a gentle blowing… finally, Elijah heard God and he listened… he changed his tone. Yes, he voiced the very same concerns he spoke before God’s display, but you can tell he was a changed man by God’s response to his concerns.

1 Kings 19:15 The Lord said to him, Go… anoint the king over Aram and the king over Israel; and ELISHA, the prophet who will take your place when it’s time.

Not a pity-party this time, a readiness to know and follow God’s will. 1 Kings 19:19 he departed and found Elisha. No longer alone, and back to right-mindedness…

God is so awesome!

Sorry friend, God doesn’t take you out of the game just because you fail. Nor does he take you out because you are overstretched (might be something you’ve done to yourself) and undernourished. He doesn’t answer you with the same NOISE as your world yells at you continually.

We need to seek him! But we desperately need to hear him. Tell your loud and scary world to quiet down so you can hear the whisper of God!

When you hear it, you too will recognize Him and you will be restored… just like Elijah!

P. S. Instead of having a pity-party… “Don’t tell God how big your storm is; tell the storm how big your God is.” (One of my favorite quotes by an unknown author)

P. S. 2 My “self talking” friend last night, was not asking me for answers because God had already whispered His answer through the music He provided for her nourishment and sustenance. The Holy Spirit, with gentle blowing in my direction, used this beautiful illustration for us, the choir.

Our God is AWESOME!!!!

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

 

 

 

 

 

Pray, then, in this way:

Matthew 6:9-13 Abba – Daddy – Papa… (“Our Father”)

Matthew 6:9-13 You are mine – the BEST – none compare to MY DADDY!… (“Hallowed be Your name”)

Matthew 6:9-13 My future world – the perfect playground is coming. I can’t wait!… (“Your kingdom come”)

Matthew 6:9-13 Here I am, Papa, teach me Your way now, so I will be ready!…  (‘Your will be done”… “On earth as it is in heaven”)

Matthew 6:9-13 You are my Provider… (“Give us this day our daily bread”)

Matthew 6:9-13 My Savior… (“And forgive us our debts”)… HELP – I want to forgive as You have forgiven me… (“as we also have forgiven our debtors”)

Matthew 6:9-13 My Protector… (“And do not lead us into temptation”) for we are clueless! (“but deliver us from evil”) and our enemy is ALWAYS looking for a fool without Your uniform – our washed white as snow garments. Sometimes mine are so dirty it is hard to see white!

Matthew 6:9-13 You alone are My God… To You alone I give my heart, my will, and my worship! (“For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever, Amen”)

… but… do not use meaningless repetition… I was (sometimes still) the queen of “yada, yada, yada”… how can you not do repetition? Especially when you’re taught that this IS “The Lord’s Prayer”!

And then it hits me… PARENT! (I think the Holy Spirit blew through) How does a child speak to his/her Daddy (or Mommy)? How did my kids communicate with me? How did I want them to communicate with me?

How often did I want them to talk with me?

What did I want to hear them tell me?

What words just wrapped my heart around their little fingers?

When each of my kids were toddlers, they would get up on my lap and snuggle as close as they could get. They would have gotten under and wrapped my skin around themselves if they could’ve. Now THAT is perfect communication communion!

When I was helping with the infants at church service, there was this little 18 month old girl who was so in love with her mom, that the joy she had when her mom returned (it felt like FOREVER) was undeniable. When her mom would turn her face to talk to us, this little one would take both hands and gently turn it back to her so she could SEE and BE SEEN by the ONE who loved her and the ONE she loved. The adoration was almost embarrassing to her mom… I say almost because who doesn’t want to be loved like that?

I suspect that is why the preferable characteristic in God’s kingdom is child-like. There is no “political correctness” in a child’s speech. There is no “masking” of the condition of their heart. Yes, they do TRY manipulation when it comes to presenting their case for answered “prayer” but even then you can SEE the fervency and commitment to getting the RIGHT answer!

When Jesus prayed in John 17 there was no stuffy, fearful, King James liturgy. There was COMMUNION with Father and Son, where no air space of disagreement or disappointment existed. It was the vision of parent and child, both, wrapped in closeness that both hated what was and had to be, and celebrated what was and is to come.

And what did Jesus “pray” for? For us to be one with them. For us to be joined in their unbreakable hug of unconditional love! He didn’t ask for our healing (although that was going to happen as a result of what He was going) and He didn’t ask for our escape from this suffering. He asked that we be… sanctified in truth (God’s word is truth) – that we all be one (like Them and with Them) – and last but not least…

John 17:25 – 26 “O righteous Father, although the world has not known You, yet I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me; and I have made Your name known to them, and will make it known, so that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.”

Jesus asked that we know (KNOW) God and His love for us!

Love that numbers the very hairs on our head… Luke 12:7

Love that inscribes us on the palms of His hands… Isaiah 49:16

Love that plans that for us,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give us a future and a hope… Jeremiah 29:11 

Love that gives His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life… not to send the Son to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him… John 3:16-19

Love that gently takes hold of your face and turns it to SEE and BE SEEN by the ONE who loves you and the ONE you love! Love that takes you on His lap and snuggles, letting you get as close as you can, even to the point of being inside His skin!

Lord… Teach me to pray this kind of prayer!

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

 

 

Matthew 7:24-27 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his home on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against the house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock. Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell – and great was its fall.”

I am not usually the one who thinks ahead and sees the danger. In fact I am more the one who hates those pessimistic mongers out to spoil any and all of my plans. I will always try to see the bright spot in the coming apocalypse. Sometimes I annoy my friends and family (sometimes I intentionally annoy them) with my Pollyanna take on events.

I used to think that God was the Ultimate Spoiler… no matter what I wanted to do or what would have been the most fun… somewhere, someone would find that God had declared it to be sin!

We all know that the wages of sin is death… oh oh… I was lost…

I grew up thinking that there was nothing I could do that would be “good enough”  to earn God’s approval nor was there anything I could, would, should do that would qualify as the right thing to do.

IF, you are damned if you do and damned if you don’t – THEN, anything and everything goes! Oh oh… I was also blind…

Come to find out… it’s true! I am neither wise nor righteous.

It is NOT TRUE, however, that God is the spoiler! Amazing Grace…

Mankind and our religions tend to “naturally” see all things as man being given an opportunity to be god-like (please note that we may not admit to this &/or use other words that mean the same thing). We revert back to our glorious moments in the garden when we were given the command by our Creator to “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and every living thing that moves on the earth.” We live with the hope and dream that we can convince God that we are worthy and able (See Dick, see Jane, see Dick and Jane make a touchdown!) to once again be His quarterback in our earthly game.

 

Therefore, when we see a wise man who built his home and a foolish man who built his house, we focus in on… man – building – landscape.

But God focuses the first choice we make which affects the results of every action we take.

Every man, for God does not wish for any to perish, has the same freedom to choose. It isn’t about our building skills or the landscape upon which we live. It is about the FOUNDATION we choose.

Joshua 24:15 If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the Lord, (the rock) choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served (the sand) which were beyond the River, or the gods (the sand) of the Amorites in whose land you are living;

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.

I was trained up to believe that it was the building and my building skills that determined my ability to live a good life. With good (religious) actions I can build a proper HOUSE.

But God wants a HOME in me.

So… Jesus, AFTER paying my debt and offering me a place in His Family, sent me… John 14:26 “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.” 

The Holy Spirit, the One who IS WISE and RIGHTEOUS, who not only seals me to the family God, but retrains me to focus on the ROCK (the foundation of life)… Jesus. With His wisdom, we are building a HOME. A strong, and safe, and enduring … and might I add… an ABUNDANT place in which I can live the life God has indeed planned for me… one day at a time!

Do you hear what I hear?

Amazing Grace… I once was lost, but now am found… was blind (and deaf), but now I see.

Jesus is the Reason!

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

 

 

 

 

Luke 18:40-41 And Jesus stopped and commanded that he be brought to Him; and when he came near, He questioned him, “What do you want Me to do for you?” And he said, “Lord, I want to regain my sight!”

If Jesus said that to me, “What do you want Me to do for you?” I would go into frenzy mode trying to make sure I have EVERY want listed.

IF????

I hear this question everyday… every time I pray.  What I don’t do is experience prayer time as the life-changing event it is… like this man did as Jesus entered his life.

Luke 18:35-39 As Jesus was approaching Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the road begging. Now hearing a crowd going by, he began to inquire what this was. They told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by. And he called out, saying, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Those who led the way were sternly telling him to be quiet; but he kept crying out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”

They told him (cause he really was blind) Jesus of Nazareth was passing by… I shouldn’t have to be told, I have supposedly come to His throne room to meet with Him.

He was excited and anxious to be seen and heard by Jesus… me too… well, most times some times, a few times, you know how it is with your brother – same ole, same ole.

He called out and the leaders of the parade tried to silence him… some of the leaders of my parade (priests, teachers, fellow siblings) tried and succeeded in silencing my robust cry. One must be dignified and respectful and humble in the throne room! Evidently it is not the place for crying infants or rambunctious children.

But he kept crying out ALL THE MORE… ok, now I’m getting it!

He knew WHO… Jesus. Son of David. The crowd had only said Jesus of Nazareth, but he KNEW Jesus! He knew WHAT he needed… mercy!

Guess what happened when he called out… Jesus stopped

Can you imagine… and commanded that he be brought to Him

And when he came near, He questioned him… “What do you want Me to do for you?”

Not, “Who do you think you are?” or “Why should I stop for you?” or even “Make it quick, I’m on My way to the synagogue and have important people waiting for me.”

Nope, right there, in the dirty, dusty street, Jesus asked for this man’s prayer request.

I would’ve been am like “Here’s my starting list, including some requests for others who couldn’t be here for the parade.”

Not this guy, he had lived long enough to know what the ONE thing he wanted most was. He was not about to waste this opportunity on anything but the ONE thing he had desired as he sat day after day in the street doing the only thing he could do… begging.

“Lord, I want to regain my sight!”… me too!

And Jesus said… get ready for it… Luke 18:42 Receive your sight; your faith has made you well.”

Yep…Yep!

I’m making this my new and improved Prayer Time…

I’m going to CRY out to Jesus and KEEP CRYING until I am ushered into His presence. No more being hushed…

I’m going to stand FACE to FACE with Him and KNOW Him as my LORD…

I’m going to be PREPARED with the ONE THING I no longer want to live without…

And WHEN He asks…“What do you want Me to do for you?”

Open my eyes that I might see… THAT I MIGHT SEE YOU!

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. 

Come, Lord, Come! It’s prayer time and I’m hungry!

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Luke 20:24 “Show Me a denarius. Whose likeness and inscription does it have?” They said, “Caesar’s.”

The same could be said of our heart. Whose likeness and inscription does it have?

Luke 20:25 And He said to them, “Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”

Does God own your heart? Yes, no doubt He SHOULD! But does He?

One of the ways we can tell is by asking WHO GETS TO DECIDE how to “spend it”. Who is in charge of your heart budget? Do you tell God whom you like and/or dislike? Do you tell Him who He should bless and/or curse because of YOUR ownership?

We are so spoiled in this country because we have been reared in a democracy – rule of/by/for the people. The temptation of course, is to assume ownership… one nation under me. We may not declare this boldly but by our actions, turning our back on anyone or anything that confronts this premise, we surely declare, “My way or the highway!”

Who is in charge of your heart budget?

And who do you deem are the servants slaves to it’s “denarius”? WHAT?????

How dare I reveal our dirty little secret… our heart is the IRS of the body!

We collect taxes on the favors we have done… i.e. “You owe me”.

We “give” our favor as we determine need… i.e.  “Profit to my bottom line”.

The balance of our budget is determined by good vs bad feelings in each line item viewed and judged by our heart.

We fully expect, whether we say it or not, that ALL must bow to our need, pay homage to our desires, and render payment based upon our judgements.

Now it was only CERTAIN people who were trying to trick Jesus that started this discussion… “Teacher, (person who is learned) we know that You speak and teach correctly, (just like us – the scribes and chief priests) and You are not partial to any, but teach the way of God in truth.” (distract with flattery)… “Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?” (not that WE have any intention of changing our ways).

That isn’t us… WE are not trying to “trick” Jesus!

Maybe?

Probably not…

Maybe just trying to make Him a little like us…

Maybe just trying to flatter convince Him with praise…

Maybe just asking…

“What He would have us do”,so we then can analyze/rationalize/sanitize and then… give to ourselves the things that are ours, (well… THEY DO BEAR MY IMAGE!) and KNOW FOR SURE what I CAN give to God.

The thing I find myself shaking my head over is; in my analyzing/rationalizing/sanitizing… I can FEEL totally righteous and be totally shocked when God does not accept my leftovers!

What’s even funnier to me is those who would declare that God has NO RIGHTS because He doesn’t “really” exist; yet demand that HE fix evil. He should not/cannot be a part of our government, our schools, our public spaces but He bears all blame for every action taken in those places… excuse me… every BAD action taken. The people we like get the praise for the good things.

Insanity!

People! We… me and you… have to decide WHAT IS God’s and then… GIVE IT to Him!

If everything is mine mine mine… then what is left over for God?

If I am created in His image and yet it is MY IMAGE that my heart bears… then what IS left to give to God?

What is it that God wants?

Is He my servant (obligated to please me)?

Or am I His?

It is my heart… have I given it ALL to Him? If I have, it will never again be budgeted by things… by ownership… by me. It is God who is at work, both to will and to work for His good pleasure…

Jesus prays… John 17:20-24 “I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me. 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. Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory which You have given Me, for You loved Me before the foundation of the world. 

God says… MINE! MNE! MINE!

And His budget is LOVE… UNCONDITIONAL LOVE!

That’s the image I want on the denarius of my heart! Then I will be able to render to God what is His.

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