Infants are fed milk and usually only milk for quite some time. Milk gives them what they need in the early stages to grow and become healthy. As infants we would not give them solid food for two reasons. One, they have no teeth to chew so that it can be swallowed and two, their bodies are not quite ready to digest the intake of solid food. At some point we introduce solid food to them. It is interesting the look on their faces many times when we do. They are not so sure they like it but eventually they look forward to being able to chomp down and eat the solid food much to their enjoyment.
Our spiritual growth is the same way. In fact I can think of three places in scripture where spiritual growth is likened to milk versus solid food and the importance of both of them.
Peter talks about desiring the pure milk of the word so that we can grow. (I Peter 2:2) As new believers we do start out on the elementary or essential spiritual trues for faith and salvation.
But we are encouraged and warned that we cannot stay there. Just as a child, teen or adult could not live on milk only, we cannot spiritually grow with just the elementary principles of the word.
Paul tells the troubled Corinthian church that he could not speak to them as spiritual people but as carnal, as to babes in Christ. He says "I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it and even now you are still not able; for you are still carnal." (I Corinthians 3: 1-3) He goes on to tell them that this is evident because of the envy, strife and divisions that are among them.
The Hebrew writer speaks of spiritual immaturity when he tells his audience they ought to be teachers but yet they need someone to teach them again. They had come to need milk instead of solid food. He says "For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil." (Hebrews 5: 12-14)
Sometimes the envy, strife and difficulties we struggle with are because we are unskilled in His word just as Paul warned the Corinthians. Let's take those who have been fed milk and move them on to the solid food - deeper meaning and trues of His word, ourselves included.
It is time for a nice Juicy Steak!
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Monday, September 28, 2009
Children Learn What They Live
When we lived in Pennsylvania there was a picture/poem hanging in the office of our pediatrician. It was the familiar poem "Children Learn What They Live" by Dorothy Law Nolte. I remember sitting with my children, waiting for the doctor many times reading that poem. While I may not have agreed with all of its points, I think the principle is true.
Do your children see you reading the scriptures with some consistency? Do they hear you talk to your spouse or others about those things you have read and learned. Do you talk to them about what you have learned? Do they see you serving others out of love and not duty? Do you go to church for worship with an attitude of joy? Do your children hear you complain about these things? Jesus tells us if we keep His commandments and abide in His love His joy will remain in us and our joy will be full. (John 15:10,11) Do you experience a joy in your walk with the Lord? Our attitudes toward reading the scriptures, going to church for worship, attending church functions, and serving others should be reflective of joy. Many times we do not realize that our words of complaint or inconvenience about these things reflect a joyless attitude that will easily be picked up by the youngest child.
It is hard to keep children focused as we teach them the things of the Lord. Children would much rather play and do what they want to do than learn scripture verses, study the Children's Catechism or go to church. That is all very normal. In fact, we all struggle with that at different times and we need to be honest with them about that. However, I believe our attitudes about these things can have a positive or negative effect on them. If they think the Christian walk is a chore for us it will become a chore for them. If they think it is a joy for us it will become a joy for them.
Even our daily attitudes toward our spouses, children and tasks can have an effect on our children. If we cannot find joy in our daily tasks and remember that we are doing them to the glory of God, how can we expect them to find joy in them and not complain as we give them their own tasks?
Deuteronomy 6: 6,7 "And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart, you shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up."
These words will have more impact on our children as they see us walking in the joy of His word.
I believe as our children see this joy in us, it will become part of their lives - something we'll share together.
Do your children see you reading the scriptures with some consistency? Do they hear you talk to your spouse or others about those things you have read and learned. Do you talk to them about what you have learned? Do they see you serving others out of love and not duty? Do you go to church for worship with an attitude of joy? Do your children hear you complain about these things? Jesus tells us if we keep His commandments and abide in His love His joy will remain in us and our joy will be full. (John 15:10,11) Do you experience a joy in your walk with the Lord? Our attitudes toward reading the scriptures, going to church for worship, attending church functions, and serving others should be reflective of joy. Many times we do not realize that our words of complaint or inconvenience about these things reflect a joyless attitude that will easily be picked up by the youngest child.
It is hard to keep children focused as we teach them the things of the Lord. Children would much rather play and do what they want to do than learn scripture verses, study the Children's Catechism or go to church. That is all very normal. In fact, we all struggle with that at different times and we need to be honest with them about that. However, I believe our attitudes about these things can have a positive or negative effect on them. If they think the Christian walk is a chore for us it will become a chore for them. If they think it is a joy for us it will become a joy for them.
Even our daily attitudes toward our spouses, children and tasks can have an effect on our children. If we cannot find joy in our daily tasks and remember that we are doing them to the glory of God, how can we expect them to find joy in them and not complain as we give them their own tasks?
Deuteronomy 6: 6,7 "And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart, you shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up."
These words will have more impact on our children as they see us walking in the joy of His word.
I believe as our children see this joy in us, it will become part of their lives - something we'll share together.
Friday, September 25, 2009
Welcome Enemies!
This morning while I was walking, I past a house that was very nicely landscaped and had a lovely sign sitting in the middle of the flower garden that said "Welcome Friends." I began to laugh to myself thinking about it saying "Welcome Enemies" because it was just yesterday that I read a passage from Matthew 5: 43-48. It is the familiar passage of Jesus' words that we are to love our enemies. He says "And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others?" In other words, most everyone loves their friends and those who love them but do they love those who are unlovely or an enemy to them?
It is very difficult for all of us to show love to someone who curses us, hates us, spitefully uses us and persecutes us. Hopefully that doesn't describe too many people in your life but Jesus is making the point that we do have those people in our lives and we are not to shut them out and turn our backs on them. Actually there may be someone who has not treated you wrongfully but you don't like them. Maybe you don't like their skin color or nationality if you are honest. Maybe you don't like the side of town they come from. Perhaps they are married to your son or daughter and you just don't think they are good enough for them and never will be.
There were many years when my own Father was my enemy. My parents divorced when I was 5 years old. He made my life miserable. Then when the Lord came into my life I realized I had a responsibility to be kind to him for the sake of showing him the love of Christ. I did not reach out to him in my own strength. In my own strength I hated him. It was Christ who did that work in my heart. By the time he passed away he had come to faith in Jesus Christ.
I realize we are not going to hang a pretty sign in our yard that says "Welcome Enemies" but our hearts should always be willing to open the door to our enemies for the purpose of showing them the love of Christ. We cannot do it on our own but the power of the resurrected Christ can and will do it in us.
In this passage in Matthew Jesus finishes out by saying "Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect."
It is very difficult for all of us to show love to someone who curses us, hates us, spitefully uses us and persecutes us. Hopefully that doesn't describe too many people in your life but Jesus is making the point that we do have those people in our lives and we are not to shut them out and turn our backs on them. Actually there may be someone who has not treated you wrongfully but you don't like them. Maybe you don't like their skin color or nationality if you are honest. Maybe you don't like the side of town they come from. Perhaps they are married to your son or daughter and you just don't think they are good enough for them and never will be.
There were many years when my own Father was my enemy. My parents divorced when I was 5 years old. He made my life miserable. Then when the Lord came into my life I realized I had a responsibility to be kind to him for the sake of showing him the love of Christ. I did not reach out to him in my own strength. In my own strength I hated him. It was Christ who did that work in my heart. By the time he passed away he had come to faith in Jesus Christ.
I realize we are not going to hang a pretty sign in our yard that says "Welcome Enemies" but our hearts should always be willing to open the door to our enemies for the purpose of showing them the love of Christ. We cannot do it on our own but the power of the resurrected Christ can and will do it in us.
In this passage in Matthew Jesus finishes out by saying "Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect."
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Love the Lord with All Your Heart
The first date I had with my husband was at a roller rink. After that first date I couldn't wait until I would see or hear from him again. When I would hear his voice on the phone or see him standing at my front door I was so very happy. It seemed it was never enough. The more time I spent with him, I wanted to spend more time with him. I could never spend enough time with him. It lead to marriage so that we could spend our lives together. By the way, I still love to spend time with him.
I am sure many of you have had that same experience. When you really love someone, you want to spend time with them and get to know them even better.
Our relationship to the Lord is similar or should be. We are told in Deuteronomy 6: 5,6 "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart." This passage comes just after receiving the ten commandments. It goes on to talk of our responsibility to teach our children these things as well.
How can you love someone without spending time with them to know them? Psalm 119 is one of the most fitting passages to make that point. The writer of this psalm knew the intimacy and the joy of spending time with the Lord. We do it by being in His word. In verse 77 he says "Your law is my delight." In verse 97 he says "Oh, how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day." In verse 105 he says "Your word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light to may path." Psalm 119 has 176 verses and all speak of the excellencies of the word of God in our lives.
My son says it is "the analogy of an iv in a sick person's arm -- if i'm not hooked to the drip the life slowly drains out of me... gotta be tapped into the spirit all day...." I guarantee that the one who just shows up in church most Sundays and reads scripture using the overhead will never experience this bond of intimacy. It is true that the more time you spend in the word, the more time you want to spend. The more you know Christ, the more you want to know Him and you do come to that place where you cannot stay away from being hooked up to the drip - it is your lifeline. It would be like a person who abuses drugs - the more you take the more you want and in this case you are not satisfied. But with the word of God as the psalmist says "I will never forget your precepts for by them You have given me life." (v. 93)
God's word is my lifeline. It keeps me focused on Him in the tough times. It keeps me joyful when circumstances are not. It brings me comfort and I feel protected. I understand that there are times of illness or emotional weakness in our bodies which keeps us from being able to be close to the word. That is why it is important that in our healthy times and stable times as we hide His word in our heart He will sustain us in the difficult times. Psalm 119 is broken into 22 sections. Starting tomorrow I encourage you to read one section and meditate on the excellencies of His word for you. Let's be able to say we love the Lord with all of our hearts, our soul and our strength!
I am sure many of you have had that same experience. When you really love someone, you want to spend time with them and get to know them even better.
Our relationship to the Lord is similar or should be. We are told in Deuteronomy 6: 5,6 "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart." This passage comes just after receiving the ten commandments. It goes on to talk of our responsibility to teach our children these things as well.
How can you love someone without spending time with them to know them? Psalm 119 is one of the most fitting passages to make that point. The writer of this psalm knew the intimacy and the joy of spending time with the Lord. We do it by being in His word. In verse 77 he says "Your law is my delight." In verse 97 he says "Oh, how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day." In verse 105 he says "Your word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light to may path." Psalm 119 has 176 verses and all speak of the excellencies of the word of God in our lives.
My son says it is "the analogy of an iv in a sick person's arm -- if i'm not hooked to the drip the life slowly drains out of me... gotta be tapped into the spirit all day...." I guarantee that the one who just shows up in church most Sundays and reads scripture using the overhead will never experience this bond of intimacy. It is true that the more time you spend in the word, the more time you want to spend. The more you know Christ, the more you want to know Him and you do come to that place where you cannot stay away from being hooked up to the drip - it is your lifeline. It would be like a person who abuses drugs - the more you take the more you want and in this case you are not satisfied. But with the word of God as the psalmist says "I will never forget your precepts for by them You have given me life." (v. 93)
God's word is my lifeline. It keeps me focused on Him in the tough times. It keeps me joyful when circumstances are not. It brings me comfort and I feel protected. I understand that there are times of illness or emotional weakness in our bodies which keeps us from being able to be close to the word. That is why it is important that in our healthy times and stable times as we hide His word in our heart He will sustain us in the difficult times. Psalm 119 is broken into 22 sections. Starting tomorrow I encourage you to read one section and meditate on the excellencies of His word for you. Let's be able to say we love the Lord with all of our hearts, our soul and our strength!
Monday, September 21, 2009
Pray for Your Church Leaders
On March 10, 2009 I wrote about our responsibility to pray for our governing authorities using the passage from Romans 13:1. I was specifically talking about our President, Senators, Congressman - those who are the leaders of this country.
Today I would like to bring to our attention the fact that we are to pray for all men as Paul writes to Timothy in 1 Timothy 2: 1-3. We are exhorted to pray for those who are in authority over us to include our elders or overseers. I chose this passage in Timothy because Paul instructs Timothy in the third chapter as to the qualifications of overseers. Depending on your church affiliation you have elders or deacons who are appointed officers over you. In most churches the congregation is the one who votes the officers into office.
Many times we are critical of our overseers. If we are honest, we can find faults in our officers and spend a lot of time dwelling on it. These men are human as we are. They are not perfect. They have the same struggles as we do. They will let you down at some point. They are to receive forgiveness as we receive forgiveness. The question is how often do we pray for these men and their families? This of course includes your Pastor. Paul tells Timothy that we are to pray and give thanks for all men - all who are in authority over us.
It is a hard responsibility to lead God's people. They need our prayers and we are exhorted to pray for them. Pray regularly for them. Our officers are called to rule well. 1 Timothy 5:17 says "Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine." Paul says in verse 19 that we are "not to receive an accusation against an elder except from two or three witnesses."
I can hear you saying right now "But Merril you don't know this elder or that elder. You don't understand." I understand that there are elders and officers who will let you down and not follow through with the qualifications the Lord has for them but even so, we are to pray for them. More often than not our complaints are more a personal issue.
If you already pray for your church leaders, keep praying. If you do not pray for them consistently I would encourage you to do so. You will probably find that some positive changes will take place - both in you and in them.
Today I would like to bring to our attention the fact that we are to pray for all men as Paul writes to Timothy in 1 Timothy 2: 1-3. We are exhorted to pray for those who are in authority over us to include our elders or overseers. I chose this passage in Timothy because Paul instructs Timothy in the third chapter as to the qualifications of overseers. Depending on your church affiliation you have elders or deacons who are appointed officers over you. In most churches the congregation is the one who votes the officers into office.
Many times we are critical of our overseers. If we are honest, we can find faults in our officers and spend a lot of time dwelling on it. These men are human as we are. They are not perfect. They have the same struggles as we do. They will let you down at some point. They are to receive forgiveness as we receive forgiveness. The question is how often do we pray for these men and their families? This of course includes your Pastor. Paul tells Timothy that we are to pray and give thanks for all men - all who are in authority over us.
It is a hard responsibility to lead God's people. They need our prayers and we are exhorted to pray for them. Pray regularly for them. Our officers are called to rule well. 1 Timothy 5:17 says "Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine." Paul says in verse 19 that we are "not to receive an accusation against an elder except from two or three witnesses."
I can hear you saying right now "But Merril you don't know this elder or that elder. You don't understand." I understand that there are elders and officers who will let you down and not follow through with the qualifications the Lord has for them but even so, we are to pray for them. More often than not our complaints are more a personal issue.
If you already pray for your church leaders, keep praying. If you do not pray for them consistently I would encourage you to do so. You will probably find that some positive changes will take place - both in you and in them.
Monday, September 14, 2009
Fast Lane...
In this fast pace world it is hard for us to except "slow". We are caught up in fast food, fast lines and fast lanes. How do you react in a fast lane going slow? As Christians we would like to believe we would not react as impatient as others react, but we do. You know - you are standing in the grocery line that limits items to 10 or less and someone in front of you has a pretty full cart, you are standing in a fast food line and the ones beside you are moving right along but for some reason yours is hung up, or you are in the fast lane on the highway and someone in front of you is not going quite as fast as you think they should. These are all situations that test our patience. They also show us exactly what we are made of. Have you ever heard the saying "Christians are like teabags, you find out what they are made of when you plunk them into hot water"? I know there are those times when we are on a tight schedule so that when these situations arise it can be stressful, however, most of the time we become irritated because we are impatient.
In the first chapter of James he talks about trials and temptations, something we all face as believers. Remember he is talking to believers in this letter he writes. Trials are to test our faith and produce patience. In fact James tells us to "count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience." (James 1: 2,3) Patience is a fruit of the spirit as Paul tells us in Galatians 6: 22,23.
James tells us in verse 19 and 20 that the qualities we will need to endure trials and become patient is to be swift to hear (seek to learn), slow to speak (think before speaking), and slow to wrath (anger can cause us to say and do things that will not produce patience) and he says the "wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God." Patience is slow and the Lord uses this process to produce the righteousness of God in us.
The word "fast" is not what usually comes to mind when we think of patience. We say "Lord, teach me patience and teach me now"!
Meditate on verses 19 and 20. The next time you find yourself in a fast lane going slow, let it produce the fruit of patience in your life. Today you will have opportunities to exercise patience. Let the fruit of the spirit be visible in your life to others.
P.S. I will not be posting again until September 21, 2009. Our daughter's father-in-law past away and we are attending the funeral in Georgia. I would appreciate your prayers for the McKinney family. May you experience His joy and peace.
In the first chapter of James he talks about trials and temptations, something we all face as believers. Remember he is talking to believers in this letter he writes. Trials are to test our faith and produce patience. In fact James tells us to "count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience." (James 1: 2,3) Patience is a fruit of the spirit as Paul tells us in Galatians 6: 22,23.
James tells us in verse 19 and 20 that the qualities we will need to endure trials and become patient is to be swift to hear (seek to learn), slow to speak (think before speaking), and slow to wrath (anger can cause us to say and do things that will not produce patience) and he says the "wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God." Patience is slow and the Lord uses this process to produce the righteousness of God in us.
The word "fast" is not what usually comes to mind when we think of patience. We say "Lord, teach me patience and teach me now"!
Meditate on verses 19 and 20. The next time you find yourself in a fast lane going slow, let it produce the fruit of patience in your life. Today you will have opportunities to exercise patience. Let the fruit of the spirit be visible in your life to others.
P.S. I will not be posting again until September 21, 2009. Our daughter's father-in-law past away and we are attending the funeral in Georgia. I would appreciate your prayers for the McKinney family. May you experience His joy and peace.
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
He is Just and He is merciful!
Death is one of those things in life that is very difficult to deal with - the 17 year old boy who takes his life, the 8 year old girl who is raped and murdered, the 4 year old girl who dies of leukemia, the mother who takes her life leaving her 16 year old daughter, a father-in-law you have witnessed to for years, dies, and you are not sure if he is present with the Lord.
This is a very difficult post for me. With the exception of one, I knew every one of the people listed above. As I write I am fighting back tears because what I want to say is truth but in my frailty as a human being I am not sure I can understand it myself.
Our daughter has had to deal with death twice in the last week. She lost her father-in-law and received news this morning that her next door neighbor's son was killed in the military.
Death raises a lot of questions. Questions that are very difficult to answer. Questions that we may never know the answers to. Probably the biggest question is "why". Why does a 17 year who professes faith in Christ take his life? Why does an 8 year old of Christian parents die at the hand of a captor? Why does the 4 year old of a wonderful Christian couple die of leukemia? Why does a woman who loves the Lord take her life? Why does a father-in-law die without the knowledge of knowing for sure where he is in eternity after praying so fervently for him for years? Why does a young man who willingly went to serve his country die at the hand of his enemy?
I am making an attempt to answer these questions using the Lord's words. I begin by choosing excerpts from the book of Job in chapter 38 after his long suffering. "Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell me if you have understanding. Who determined its measurements? By what way is light diffused, or the east wind scattered over the earth? Who has divided a channel for the overflowing water, or a path for the thunderbolt? Who provides food for the raven, when its young ones cry to God, and wander about for lack of food"?
Excerpts from Isaiah 45 "I am the Lord, and there is no other; There is no God besides Me. I form the light and create darkness, I make peace and create calamity; I, the Lord, do all these things. Woe to him who strives with his Maker! Let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth! Shall the clay say to him who forms it, 'What are you begetting?'" (Read Romans 9: 20,21) Why does the Lord make make one vessel for honor and another for dishonor? Isaiah 55:8 says "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My way," says 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." There are many scriptures that speak of God's sovereignty but for lack of time I listed a few.
Deuteronomy 29:29 says "The secret things belong to the Lord but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law." I believe the Lord is telling us that there are things we will never know because they are His to keep. However, what He has chosen to reveal to us He has chosen for our obedience. He has given us all we need in the scriptures. All of scripture from Genesis to Revelation He has given to us and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, throughly equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3: 16,17)
We must remember that we are born in sin because of Adam and his sin. We must remember that it is also because of sin that this world is not perfect and that we cannot understand the mind of our Holy God. But praise be to God who has redeemed us in Jesus Christ. He has given us His son to die for our sin and give us eternal life. This life starts now at the moment of spiritual rebirth. We do not and many times will not ever understand the pain He allows His people to go through. We do know He is just and we do know He is merciful. Let us ask for His mercy to sustain us when we do not know answers to questions that bring us such pain and let us rest in His plan and purpose. Job finally said to God in Job 42: 2 "I know that You can do everything, and that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You."
This is a very difficult post for me. With the exception of one, I knew every one of the people listed above. As I write I am fighting back tears because what I want to say is truth but in my frailty as a human being I am not sure I can understand it myself.
Our daughter has had to deal with death twice in the last week. She lost her father-in-law and received news this morning that her next door neighbor's son was killed in the military.
Death raises a lot of questions. Questions that are very difficult to answer. Questions that we may never know the answers to. Probably the biggest question is "why". Why does a 17 year who professes faith in Christ take his life? Why does an 8 year old of Christian parents die at the hand of a captor? Why does the 4 year old of a wonderful Christian couple die of leukemia? Why does a woman who loves the Lord take her life? Why does a father-in-law die without the knowledge of knowing for sure where he is in eternity after praying so fervently for him for years? Why does a young man who willingly went to serve his country die at the hand of his enemy?
I am making an attempt to answer these questions using the Lord's words. I begin by choosing excerpts from the book of Job in chapter 38 after his long suffering. "Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell me if you have understanding. Who determined its measurements? By what way is light diffused, or the east wind scattered over the earth? Who has divided a channel for the overflowing water, or a path for the thunderbolt? Who provides food for the raven, when its young ones cry to God, and wander about for lack of food"?
Excerpts from Isaiah 45 "I am the Lord, and there is no other; There is no God besides Me. I form the light and create darkness, I make peace and create calamity; I, the Lord, do all these things. Woe to him who strives with his Maker! Let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth! Shall the clay say to him who forms it, 'What are you begetting?'" (Read Romans 9: 20,21) Why does the Lord make make one vessel for honor and another for dishonor? Isaiah 55:8 says "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My way," says 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." There are many scriptures that speak of God's sovereignty but for lack of time I listed a few.
Deuteronomy 29:29 says "The secret things belong to the Lord but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law." I believe the Lord is telling us that there are things we will never know because they are His to keep. However, what He has chosen to reveal to us He has chosen for our obedience. He has given us all we need in the scriptures. All of scripture from Genesis to Revelation He has given to us and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, throughly equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3: 16,17)
We must remember that we are born in sin because of Adam and his sin. We must remember that it is also because of sin that this world is not perfect and that we cannot understand the mind of our Holy God. But praise be to God who has redeemed us in Jesus Christ. He has given us His son to die for our sin and give us eternal life. This life starts now at the moment of spiritual rebirth. We do not and many times will not ever understand the pain He allows His people to go through. We do know He is just and we do know He is merciful. Let us ask for His mercy to sustain us when we do not know answers to questions that bring us such pain and let us rest in His plan and purpose. Job finally said to God in Job 42: 2 "I know that You can do everything, and that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You."
Sunday, September 6, 2009
A Merry Heart
Have you ever looked at someone's face and thought "they look like they have the weight of the world on their shoulders." I've even had people say to me "smile, it isn't that bad." What is sad is that I have seen this in children and teens. They are not exempt from anxiety or depression. I just heard an advertisement on the radio the other day offering free consultation and medicine for children ages 9 through 18 who are suffering from anxiety and depression. There can be all kinds of internal and external reasons for this.
We cannot necessarily always judge a person's heart by their face but even the writer of the Proverbs speaks of this truth. Proverbs 15:13 says "A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance, but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken." Proverbs 12: 25 "Anxiety in the heart of a man causes depression, but a good word makes it glad." Proverbs 17: 22 "A merry heart does good like medicine, but a broken spirit dries the bones." Proverbs 18: 14 "The spirit of a man will sustain him in sickness, but who can bear a broken spirit?" This kind of broken spirit is somewhat different than what the Psalmist says in Psalm 51: 17 "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit...." This broken spirit is linked to the heart that is contrite because of sin as David was after his adultery with Bathsheba. This broken spirit leads to forgiveness and restoration so that the heart will indeed be merry once again.
The broken spirit spoken of in the Proverbs verses are related to anxiety and depression.
Once again there are all kinds of reasons for anxiety and depression. One may be that a person has not yet come to the place where they know the truly living God and Jesus Christ whom He has sent for the remission of sins. Another may be that while a person has understood this truth to the degree that they know they have eternal life, they still do not understand the love God has for us (you) in Jesus Christ. He tells us to cast our cares upon Him because He cares for us. (1 Peter 5:7)
There is a link between our health and depression. If our spirit is truly trusting in the Lord and understands His constant love and care for us it can have an effect on our healing when we are struggling with various illnesses. I know a christian woman who has been diagnosed with bladder cancer. They told her chemotherapy is not an option but that she has to have her bladder removed. She is quite frightened. I have spoken with her and prayed with her and I feel her fear. I perhaps would be as frightened upon hearing this news. She was told that rest and being able to think positively and not negatively can have an effect on her. Thinking positively does not necessarily mean that she is to think I can and will beat this but that the Lord is the one who is the great physician and healer and who loves her. If she can find peace in this truth and rest in Him it can sustain her in her illness.
I am sure all of us at some point or another have a countenance that reveals a broken spirit. I hope this is not where you are today but if so read Jesus' words in Matthew 6: 25-34. The Lord cares for us more than we will ever know and what better way has He shown it but by dying on the cross and taking away all of our sin and placing it on Himself.
We cannot necessarily always judge a person's heart by their face but even the writer of the Proverbs speaks of this truth. Proverbs 15:13 says "A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance, but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken." Proverbs 12: 25 "Anxiety in the heart of a man causes depression, but a good word makes it glad." Proverbs 17: 22 "A merry heart does good like medicine, but a broken spirit dries the bones." Proverbs 18: 14 "The spirit of a man will sustain him in sickness, but who can bear a broken spirit?" This kind of broken spirit is somewhat different than what the Psalmist says in Psalm 51: 17 "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit...." This broken spirit is linked to the heart that is contrite because of sin as David was after his adultery with Bathsheba. This broken spirit leads to forgiveness and restoration so that the heart will indeed be merry once again.
The broken spirit spoken of in the Proverbs verses are related to anxiety and depression.
Once again there are all kinds of reasons for anxiety and depression. One may be that a person has not yet come to the place where they know the truly living God and Jesus Christ whom He has sent for the remission of sins. Another may be that while a person has understood this truth to the degree that they know they have eternal life, they still do not understand the love God has for us (you) in Jesus Christ. He tells us to cast our cares upon Him because He cares for us. (1 Peter 5:7)
There is a link between our health and depression. If our spirit is truly trusting in the Lord and understands His constant love and care for us it can have an effect on our healing when we are struggling with various illnesses. I know a christian woman who has been diagnosed with bladder cancer. They told her chemotherapy is not an option but that she has to have her bladder removed. She is quite frightened. I have spoken with her and prayed with her and I feel her fear. I perhaps would be as frightened upon hearing this news. She was told that rest and being able to think positively and not negatively can have an effect on her. Thinking positively does not necessarily mean that she is to think I can and will beat this but that the Lord is the one who is the great physician and healer and who loves her. If she can find peace in this truth and rest in Him it can sustain her in her illness.
I am sure all of us at some point or another have a countenance that reveals a broken spirit. I hope this is not where you are today but if so read Jesus' words in Matthew 6: 25-34. The Lord cares for us more than we will ever know and what better way has He shown it but by dying on the cross and taking away all of our sin and placing it on Himself.
Friday, September 4, 2009
Fading Away
If you are anything like me you carefully apply your makeup in the morning and then dash on with your day. Later, you walk past a mirror, check your face and recoil as you realize your carefully applied makeup has now faded. ( If you are a man reading this, stay with it, there is truth for you too.)
Unlike our face, there is something that is ours that will not fade away - our heavenly inheritance. The Lord tells us through Peter in 1 Peter 3:3,4 "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible (imperishable) and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you."
Think about this for just a moment. Your inheritance is not subject to decay and will endure permanently. I cannot think of anything that is exempt from perishing. Fruit, vegetables, clothing and even those things that would perish more slowly would still perish by fire or other external circumstances. Our own physical bodies are perishing daily. The apostle Paul says "Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day."
(2 Corinthians 4:16) Contrary to all that is perishable our inheritance is not. Nothing can destroy it or change it. It is reserved in heaven for you.
Life is tough and we are grieved by various trials as Peter tells us in this chapter. There are so many negative things that come into our day - things that can really weigh us down but the joy and good news if you know Christ as your Savior is that you "are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time."(1 Peter 3:5)
So Ladies, next time you apply your makeup, be reminded of your heavenly inheritance. It will never fade away.
Unlike our face, there is something that is ours that will not fade away - our heavenly inheritance. The Lord tells us through Peter in 1 Peter 3:3,4 "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible (imperishable) and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you."
Think about this for just a moment. Your inheritance is not subject to decay and will endure permanently. I cannot think of anything that is exempt from perishing. Fruit, vegetables, clothing and even those things that would perish more slowly would still perish by fire or other external circumstances. Our own physical bodies are perishing daily. The apostle Paul says "Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day."
(2 Corinthians 4:16) Contrary to all that is perishable our inheritance is not. Nothing can destroy it or change it. It is reserved in heaven for you.
Life is tough and we are grieved by various trials as Peter tells us in this chapter. There are so many negative things that come into our day - things that can really weigh us down but the joy and good news if you know Christ as your Savior is that you "are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time."(1 Peter 3:5)
So Ladies, next time you apply your makeup, be reminded of your heavenly inheritance. It will never fade away.
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
God is Good! All the time!
When you say to an African christian "God is Good" their reply most frequently is "All the time."
As my husband and I travel around in various African countries one of the things that is consistent among the African Christians is their love for the Lord. You know this because their love and praise is outspoken. They are truly focused on His goodness and mercy.
Psalm 107:1 says "Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.
There are four Psalms that start off with exactly the same words - Psalm 106, 107, 118, and 136.
I am focusing on Psalm 107 because there are four times that it says "Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men"! (v. 8,15, 21, and 31) This Psalm is a thanksgiving to the Lord for His great works of deliverance. (Please take some time to read it.)
There is a difference between the statements "God is Good" and "God is good to me." While they are both true I do think the meaning slightly shifts. Many times because of difficult circumstances or sorrows we may wonder if good is good to "me." We know God is good because He is holy, perfect, righteous, just and truthful -He never lies. So our dear African brothers and sisters are absolutely right when they say "He is good - all the time."
In our christian experience we struggle with this difference sometime. Often when we pray for something and the Lord gives us what we have prayed for we will say "God is good." We may not realize that we may be thinking "God is good to me." What happens if we do not receive what we have diligently prayed for and oftentimes prayed a long time for? We may not think God is good and this is even truer if it seems that you are getting hit from all sides with discouragement and not receiving answers to your prayers - prayers that are unselfish and are meant to bring glory to God.
A dear precious woman, whose husband had left her, and I were praying earnestly for him to return. At the end of our prayer she said "God is good and God is good even if my husband does not come back to me." She knew the truth of God being good in His being and God being good to her. She knew that He loved her and that he would bring those things that were good for her. (Romans 8:28,29)
I tell the Lord frequently He is good. I must confess that I worry how I would respond in a dreadful situation. When I tell Him He is good I try to remember He is good - all the time. That means that regardless of my circumstances He is good and as I go through those difficult times I need to remember His mercy endures forever.
The next time someone says "God is good" tell them "all the time." It is a good reminder to us that in spite of circumstances He is good! - all the time!
As my husband and I travel around in various African countries one of the things that is consistent among the African Christians is their love for the Lord. You know this because their love and praise is outspoken. They are truly focused on His goodness and mercy.
Psalm 107:1 says "Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.
There are four Psalms that start off with exactly the same words - Psalm 106, 107, 118, and 136.
I am focusing on Psalm 107 because there are four times that it says "Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men"! (v. 8,15, 21, and 31) This Psalm is a thanksgiving to the Lord for His great works of deliverance. (Please take some time to read it.)
There is a difference between the statements "God is Good" and "God is good to me." While they are both true I do think the meaning slightly shifts. Many times because of difficult circumstances or sorrows we may wonder if good is good to "me." We know God is good because He is holy, perfect, righteous, just and truthful -He never lies. So our dear African brothers and sisters are absolutely right when they say "He is good - all the time."
In our christian experience we struggle with this difference sometime. Often when we pray for something and the Lord gives us what we have prayed for we will say "God is good." We may not realize that we may be thinking "God is good to me." What happens if we do not receive what we have diligently prayed for and oftentimes prayed a long time for? We may not think God is good and this is even truer if it seems that you are getting hit from all sides with discouragement and not receiving answers to your prayers - prayers that are unselfish and are meant to bring glory to God.
A dear precious woman, whose husband had left her, and I were praying earnestly for him to return. At the end of our prayer she said "God is good and God is good even if my husband does not come back to me." She knew the truth of God being good in His being and God being good to her. She knew that He loved her and that he would bring those things that were good for her. (Romans 8:28,29)
I tell the Lord frequently He is good. I must confess that I worry how I would respond in a dreadful situation. When I tell Him He is good I try to remember He is good - all the time. That means that regardless of my circumstances He is good and as I go through those difficult times I need to remember His mercy endures forever.
The next time someone says "God is good" tell them "all the time." It is a good reminder to us that in spite of circumstances He is good! - all the time!
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