This a.m. “practice” came to my mind again and how when we seek to have the right heart attitude toward others we are practicing godliness. 1 Tim 4:7 “…discipline yourselves for the purpose of godliness.”
Not having a critical heart and not submitting to negative thoughts is practicing godliness. Rom 14:10; why do you judge your brother? Col 2:16 therefore no one is to act as your judge….
It came to my mind that sometimes we hide criticism in our hearts. It may not be vocalized but really if it is in our heart, then it poisons our thoughts, which will affect our attitude and feelings toward someone. Just because it is unspoken, does not mean criticism is not working its death not only in us, but in our relationship with others. It is something that we must view as alive and active and when given the liberty to reside within, it can destroy even our most precious relationships. The enemy is the master that rules it. He often is the author of negative thoughts. He hates loving relationships.
Father, You desire Your children to have a pure heart. 1 Tim 1:5 But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart, a good conscience, and sincere faith. A heart filled with the love and grace that You constantly pour out on us. Understanding Your grace helps us to have a different perspective than the world. You look at Your children and never ever condemn them.
Rom 8:1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
Your love for them never changes and You lovingly help them to grow. Help us to understand that believers are growing at different paces along their walk with You.
That the things I don’t understand about them, You do and still love them deeply.
I don’t have to understand why this or why that!
They belong to You and were created to serve You. You made each person different for Your own purposes. And the rough places, the blind spots in their walk with You, You can transform especially if we do not get in the way of that by judging and criticizing them. Instead, through upholding each other in prayer we can be (Phil 1:6) confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.
When there are negative thoughts toward another we only hurt our relationship and we are not able to have the honesty, clarity, and confidence in one another that the Spirit is able to bring to love and friendship.
Each heart can decide to receive from You or not. But knowing that we are unconditionally loved will draw us more to You than anything else. Your love being expressed to one another from a pure and forgiving heart will do more than anything for us to be who You designed us to be. Without the barrier of judgment and criticism toward others we truly experience a liberty that is only in Christ Jesus.
Thank You for being the wonderful and awesome God and Father that You are to me.
You love me and have given to me and all others who have trusted Your Son the privilege of learning to walk with You.
Heb 5:14 But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Practice
1 John 3:21
He who practices the truth comes to the light so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought by God.
What does it mean to practice?
Webster says :
1 to do or perform often, customarily, habitually
2. a. to perform or work at repeatedly so as to become proficient
b.To train by repeated exercise
In other words to repeat something until we get really good at it.
The scriptures encourage Your children, Father, to practice truth, and as Paul says “all the things we have learned, heard, received, and seen in him.”
In thinking about that word “practice”, how often do we think that we are practicing something when we choose to tell the truth?
But actually, telling the truth does take practice. A lifetime of practice.
There is a scripture that always comes to mind that is seldom heard but actually applies to our struggle with truth.
Rom 3:4 “Let God be found true, and every man be found a liar.”
Someone might even sincerely think “I always tell the truth”. Yet the reality is that a sincere follower of Christ knows his own imperfections and is careful not to assume that he walks in 100 percent truth and transparency. However he knows he has the Helper, the Holy Spirit he can depend on. The longing to walk in truth comes because of sensitivity to the Living One within a believer.
To truly “practice” truth is to know the One who is the Truth.
Jesus said to Pilate “Everyone who is of the truth hears my voice.”
(John 18:37)
“I am the way, and the truth and the life;” (John 14:6)
The desire to know our Risen Christ Jesus, to understand what He has done for us at the Cross, will draw us to Truth, because He IS the Truth. And fellowship with Him brings light to the eyes of our heart enabling us to experience the perfect love He has poured out to us.
That love enables the Holy Spirit to have His way in our decisions to overcome lying and deception of every kind. In fact, knowing Jesus will cause us to hate these things and to draw on the Spirit’s power to turn away from them.
The most beautiful thing about telling the truth is that it places us in “light” as 1 John 3:21 states. And anytime we are in light we are able to walk in the works that You have prepared for us in and through Christ Jesus.(Eph 2:10)
These works will declare and reveal Your love for those who walk in darkness and do not have the truth to light their journey on this earth. You care deeply for every soul on this earth and are ready to receive and forgive them if they will open their heart to You.
Thank you Father,that You sent Jesus who is the Way,the Truth,and the Life.
He who practices the truth comes to the light so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought by God.
What does it mean to practice?
Webster says :
1 to do or perform often, customarily, habitually
2. a. to perform or work at repeatedly so as to become proficient
b.To train by repeated exercise
In other words to repeat something until we get really good at it.
The scriptures encourage Your children, Father, to practice truth, and as Paul says “all the things we have learned, heard, received, and seen in him.”
In thinking about that word “practice”, how often do we think that we are practicing something when we choose to tell the truth?
But actually, telling the truth does take practice. A lifetime of practice.
There is a scripture that always comes to mind that is seldom heard but actually applies to our struggle with truth.
Rom 3:4 “Let God be found true, and every man be found a liar.”
Someone might even sincerely think “I always tell the truth”. Yet the reality is that a sincere follower of Christ knows his own imperfections and is careful not to assume that he walks in 100 percent truth and transparency. However he knows he has the Helper, the Holy Spirit he can depend on. The longing to walk in truth comes because of sensitivity to the Living One within a believer.
To truly “practice” truth is to know the One who is the Truth.
Jesus said to Pilate “Everyone who is of the truth hears my voice.”
(John 18:37)
“I am the way, and the truth and the life;” (John 14:6)
The desire to know our Risen Christ Jesus, to understand what He has done for us at the Cross, will draw us to Truth, because He IS the Truth. And fellowship with Him brings light to the eyes of our heart enabling us to experience the perfect love He has poured out to us.
That love enables the Holy Spirit to have His way in our decisions to overcome lying and deception of every kind. In fact, knowing Jesus will cause us to hate these things and to draw on the Spirit’s power to turn away from them.
The most beautiful thing about telling the truth is that it places us in “light” as 1 John 3:21 states. And anytime we are in light we are able to walk in the works that You have prepared for us in and through Christ Jesus.(Eph 2:10)
These works will declare and reveal Your love for those who walk in darkness and do not have the truth to light their journey on this earth. You care deeply for every soul on this earth and are ready to receive and forgive them if they will open their heart to You.
Thank you Father,that You sent Jesus who is the Way,the Truth,and the Life.
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Grave Clothes
John 11:41
So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.”
..you sent me… He desired that those present would believe that You, Father had sent Your holy and righteous Son and that He stood before them. That He came directly to them from the Jehovah God that they worshiped.
If a person believes that Jesus was sent by You, Father, they will trust that what He says is true….I AM the way, the truth and the life (John 14:6). They will know that these words are Your words also. They will know that You must deeply love them to send Him to pay for and forgive them of all of their sins thereby giving them a new life; a redeemed life from the past. (Col 1:13-14)
The past that is like the grave clothes that Jesus commanded the people “to take off” of Lazarus; the past that keeps people in the tomb and keeps them all bound up and chokes the life out of them. It is one of the greatest tools the enemy of our soul uses to bind us up.
But Jesus said in verse 44 …"take off the grave clothes and let him go".
Jesus is not about bondage but about freedom and resurrected life.
John 11:25-26
I AM the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me shall live even if he dies,
And everyone who lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”
So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.”
..you sent me… He desired that those present would believe that You, Father had sent Your holy and righteous Son and that He stood before them. That He came directly to them from the Jehovah God that they worshiped.
If a person believes that Jesus was sent by You, Father, they will trust that what He says is true….I AM the way, the truth and the life (John 14:6). They will know that these words are Your words also. They will know that You must deeply love them to send Him to pay for and forgive them of all of their sins thereby giving them a new life; a redeemed life from the past. (Col 1:13-14)
The past that is like the grave clothes that Jesus commanded the people “to take off” of Lazarus; the past that keeps people in the tomb and keeps them all bound up and chokes the life out of them. It is one of the greatest tools the enemy of our soul uses to bind us up.
But Jesus said in verse 44 …"take off the grave clothes and let him go".
Jesus is not about bondage but about freedom and resurrected life.
John 11:25-26
I AM the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me shall live even if he dies,
And everyone who lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
The Darkness does not Overcome His Life
His name, if it is the real one, is Rolo. In this month’s VOM newsletter his story is told. He joined the FARC (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia) at the age of 14. They taught him the Marxist way and he was a guerrilla for 15 years. Then a pastor shared Christ with him and he became a Christian.
God has called him to the very deep jungles in Colombia, to the guerrilla camps to hand out Bibles and radios pretuned to Christian stations.
His story is amazing because he is compelled by the Spirit to give his life in the darkest of places. “There is a terrible oppression, it is total darkness,. You are afraid…not because of the wars, but because of an oppression of darkness, of fear.”
He goes into places that have not seen Christian workers for 30 years because they have been controlled by the guerrillas.
On reading this story, the lyrics from a song by Selah (Beautiful Terrible Cross) kept going through my mind. In fact, this song has resonated in my thoughts over and over for quite a while now.
“There on that beautiful terrible cross tho darkness was strong on that hill,
you remain sovereign Lord still in control your perfect plan was fulfilled’
The same spiritual battle that was there at the Cross still rages over the souls of the lost.
The darkness is total darkness but this one person is sharing Jesus’ life. Even if there is a fear, the darkness does not have a hold on God’s children. It does not stop them from doing what the Spirit leads.
“His life is the light that keeps on shining in the darkness and the darkness did NOT overcome it.” John 1:5
Thank you Father for those who are truly sacrificing their lives for you TODAY.
God has called him to the very deep jungles in Colombia, to the guerrilla camps to hand out Bibles and radios pretuned to Christian stations.
His story is amazing because he is compelled by the Spirit to give his life in the darkest of places. “There is a terrible oppression, it is total darkness,. You are afraid…not because of the wars, but because of an oppression of darkness, of fear.”
He goes into places that have not seen Christian workers for 30 years because they have been controlled by the guerrillas.
On reading this story, the lyrics from a song by Selah (Beautiful Terrible Cross) kept going through my mind. In fact, this song has resonated in my thoughts over and over for quite a while now.
“There on that beautiful terrible cross tho darkness was strong on that hill,
you remain sovereign Lord still in control your perfect plan was fulfilled’
The same spiritual battle that was there at the Cross still rages over the souls of the lost.
The darkness is total darkness but this one person is sharing Jesus’ life. Even if there is a fear, the darkness does not have a hold on God’s children. It does not stop them from doing what the Spirit leads.
“His life is the light that keeps on shining in the darkness and the darkness did NOT overcome it.” John 1:5
Thank you Father for those who are truly sacrificing their lives for you TODAY.
If You Believe
John 11:40
Jesus said to her, “Did I not say to you if you believe, you will see the glory of God?
Dead four days. Lazarus had died four days ago.
There is a lot to be said here and that has been said about this passage.
But Father, as I read the passage, the above quotation popped out to me.
“..if you believe, you WILL see the glory of God”
Isn’t that what miracles are all about? What You seem to be saying to me is that it is all about Your glory being made manifest in such a way that man can not take it from You.
Things that are humanly unexplainable… a mystery to the human mind….are able to declare Your glory without dispute.
“IF you believe”….He made it so simple, uncomplicated in a way that brings rest and peace.
But it seems what we see, what we hear, or what we feel are the determinates that gauge our faith. Even though scripture clearly tells us that “faith is the assurance of things NOT seen”, we still fall into the trap of discouragement or anger at Him because of our unbelief, which really is the response to whatever our senses are screaming at us.
Hebrews 12:2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith who for the joy set before Him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God,
:3 for consider Him who endured such hostility by sinners against Himself so that you do not grow weary and lose heart.
:4 You have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood in your striving against sin;
No, Father, I have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood.
You have already paid the price for unbelief and all sin. Your Spirit within us enables us to rise up and walk in the newness of Your life. Rested. Refreshed. Loved.
Jesus said to her, “Did I not say to you if you believe, you will see the glory of God?
Dead four days. Lazarus had died four days ago.
There is a lot to be said here and that has been said about this passage.
But Father, as I read the passage, the above quotation popped out to me.
“..if you believe, you WILL see the glory of God”
Isn’t that what miracles are all about? What You seem to be saying to me is that it is all about Your glory being made manifest in such a way that man can not take it from You.
Things that are humanly unexplainable… a mystery to the human mind….are able to declare Your glory without dispute.
“IF you believe”….He made it so simple, uncomplicated in a way that brings rest and peace.
But it seems what we see, what we hear, or what we feel are the determinates that gauge our faith. Even though scripture clearly tells us that “faith is the assurance of things NOT seen”, we still fall into the trap of discouragement or anger at Him because of our unbelief, which really is the response to whatever our senses are screaming at us.
Hebrews 12:2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith who for the joy set before Him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God,
:3 for consider Him who endured such hostility by sinners against Himself so that you do not grow weary and lose heart.
:4 You have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood in your striving against sin;
No, Father, I have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood.
You have already paid the price for unbelief and all sin. Your Spirit within us enables us to rise up and walk in the newness of Your life. Rested. Refreshed. Loved.
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