Comings and Goings

“life is made up of many comings and goings and for everything that we take with us,we must leave something behind” a quote from Herman Raucher

I am understanding this truth realized in my life and in the life of those around me more and more it seems in this season. The main difference I see is His Presence, the Presence of God. Those that know Him and know His Presence have different heart cries.

 Psalm 139 - There is comfort in knowing He knows.

God Knows Everything

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

1Lord, you have examined me

and know all about me.

2You know when I sit down and when I get up.

You know my thoughts before I think them.

3You know where I go and where I lie down.

You know everything I do.

4Lord, even before I say a word,

you already know it.

5You are all around me—in front and in back—

and have put your hand on me.

6Your knowledge is amazing to me;

it is more than I can understand.

7Where can I go to get away from your Spirit?

Where can I run from you?

8If I go up to the heavens, you are there.

If I lie down in the grave, you are there.

9If I rise with the sun in the east

and settle in the west beyond the sea,

10even there you would guide me.

With your right hand you would hold me.

11I could say, “The darkness will hide me.

Let the light around me turn into night.”

12But even the darkness is not dark to you.

The night is as light as the day;

darkness and light are the same to you.

13You made my whole being;

you formed me in my mother’s body.

14I praise you because you made me in an amazing and wonderful way.

What you have done is wonderful.

I know this very well.

15You saw my bones being formed

as I took shape in my mother’s body.

When I was put together there,

16you saw my body as it was formed.

All the days planned for me

were written in your book

before I was one day old.

17God, your thoughts are precious to me.

They are so many!

18If I could count them,

they would be more than all the grains of sand.

When I wake up,

I am still with you.

19God, I wish you would kill the wicked!

Get away from me, you murderers!

20They say evil things about you.

Your enemies use your name thoughtlessly.

21Lord, I hate those who hate you;

I hate those who rise up against you.

22I feel only hate for them;

they are my enemies.

23God, examine me and know my heart;

test me and know my anxious thoughts.

24See if there is any bad thing in me.

Lead me on the road to everlasting life.

 

 

James 3:17,

Camelot

 

Wickedness and Trust

The title of my devotion today from Dennis Kinlaw's "This Day with the Master"

Question: is there any place in your life that "worries" you? Any place of confusion or anxiety?

Whether you know immediately or you are not sure, if there is Kinlaw reminds us, "The opposite of trust is not simply anxiety; it is wickedness."

My next breath breathes...

Lord, Search me, know me, see if there is any wickedness in me.

Pray through the different translations of these verses found in Psalm 139:23-24, then trust Him that He will, we can start there.

God is Faithful and Just (1John 1:9)...you can trust Him.

James 3:18,

Camelot

Grasshopper @ RMH

A few days ago I saw a grasshopper jumping down the hall on the third floor of the hospital. He reminded me that to say that I am where I am in my journey called life because of me would be as silly as the grasshopper taking credit for making his way to the third floor. While I do not know the plans for that grasshopper, My God plans include hope, a future, and good for me. In light of my understanding and His ...well to not trust Him as I hop along would just be plain silly.

Isaiah 40:22

22 God is enthroned above the earth,
    and those who live on it are like grasshoppers.
    He stretches out the sky like a canopy
    and spreads it out like a tent to live in.

James 3:18,

Camelot

What You Can't See

Twice a year we have a Cruise In at our church where hundreds of classic, restored, beautiful cars are on display. Why? well I received a picture from my friend, Samantha because she caught what you can't see. If you were to have a panorama of her environment, you would see a thick crowd of people eating hotdogs and walking around the parking lot, which the kids raced tricycles around the circle. But nestled in the nook of the building behind a Chinese Maple tree was this little girl... what is she doing. It seems she found Him. 

 

The statue of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus prayed by Himself before the crowds came and took Him away to be crucified. His disciples were asleep across the garden that day. He asked them after He finished praying, will you not pray with me for one hour? (Matthew 26)

Jesus was hidden from their sight that day, but last Friday night, He was seen by a little girl, in spite of the crowds. 

This is not the greatest sound quality, but a new song on Kim McLean's new album... makes me smile... A LOT!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PT9Z6yb4pbs

 

James 3:18,

Camelot

God is so Faithful!

God is so faithful! God is so faithful! God is so faithful!

If you know this then just reading it resonates deep within, but if you have not known Him in His faithfulness before or lately, read the first line again and loud, because your circumstances do not negate this truth.

I just spent last weekend dropping my daughter off in Quincy, MA at college. Her classes are now underway and I am constantly pondering in my heart the weekend, the last year, and the last 18 years for that matter. And the conclusion of the matter is...

God is so faithful!

From the verse that has somehow made its way to may heart, viewing, hearing or even scripting every day for the last week. Phil 1:6

"I'm convinced that God, who began this good work in you, will carry it through to completion on the day of Christ Jesus."

To the anchors, which of course are full of meaning appearing everywhere even being the theme for my daughters dorm hall complete with her door doning a big blue anchor with Emily's name written across the top.

These are just glimpses of the peaking behind the veil that God is giving to me during another bittersweet transition this year. 

The only thing that I want for my daughter is what my dad wanted for me. To know (down to the depths of my being, shaking my head, overwhelmed with gratitude) that...

God is so faithful! God is so faithful! God is so faithful!

James 3:18, 

Camelot

Crystal Clear

⁸ Blessed are those whose thoughts are pure.
    They will see God. Matthew 5:8

² We must focus on Jesus, the source and goal of our faith. Hebrews 12:2


If I notice haze or fog creeping in on my gaze of Jesus, one question is "How's my heart?"

Lord,
Examine me, O God, and know my mind.
    Test me, and know my thoughts.
²⁴ See whether I am on an evil path.
    Then lead me on the everlasting path. Psalm 139:23-24

Give me wisdom and discernment to 
"take every thought captive so that it is obedient to Christ.  2 Corinthians 10:5
AMEN

Camelot
James 3:18

Shine Your Light!

So God set another day. That day is today. Many years after ⌊your ancestors failed to enter that place of rest⌋ God spoke about it through David in the passage already quoted: “If you hear God speak today, don’t be stubborn.”

God’s word is living and active. It is sharper than any two-edged sword and cuts as deep as the place where soul and spirit meet, the place where joints and marrow meet. God’s word judges a person’s thoughts and intentions. No creature can hide from God. Everything is uncovered and exposed for him to see. We must answer to him. (Hebrews 4:7, 12-13 GW)

I remember in church in 1995, the Pastor Carlton Duck (Duckman) was trying to make a point. He asked the congregation to raise their hand if you accepted Jesus as your Savior the first time you heard about Him. I misunderstood him and raised my hand...

I attended Christ Church Episcopal School in Greenville, SC, so I had heard about Jesus most of my life, but at the age of 20 sitting in Thomas Road Baptist Church, I finally had ears...I heard and understood for the first time. The Word of God became personal. Like Hebrews talked about, "I heard God speak"

The lights came on and God began to speak to me about other things. My language, my habits, my attitude, my money, my active participation in His Body.

When the lights are on God speaks and shows me new glorious paths to walk and run. The adventure is real, hard at times, but real. But when I start to rely on my memory of what God has shown me...(you know like walking through your house in the dark, you can do it because you remember where things are for the most part with the occasional toe jam), when that happens, the adventure subsides and the fear creeps in.

Jesus, shine the Light of Your Word on me, into every nook and cranny, let nothing and no one be off limits to you. sanctify me, set me apart for Your work. All that I am is Yours, as it should be. Thanks for the rest this truth imparts to me. Amen.

(P.S. I saw how yesterday I set out to talk about Your Spirit, I looked back today and realized that You, Jesus, were glorified in spite of my initial intentions. Lord, you make me smile.)

James 3:18

Camelot

Right, Wrong, Wise, Foolish

Since the groom was late, all the bridesmaids became drowsy and fell asleep...

Then all the bridesmaids woke up and got their lamps ready...

“So stay awake, because you don’t know the day or the hour. (Matthew 25:5, 7, 13 GW)

These are excerpts from the parable of the ten bridesmaid. The thing I noticed is if the moral of the story is to not fall asleep (verse 13), then how come five were wise, they fell asleep too.

Obviously the extra oil made all the difference. Maybe someone older told them, "You better bring some extra along."

In our spiritual journey, there are certain practices that can become routine and drudgery at times, but many times it is those very things that prepare us for the road ahead. The picture I get is from the first Karate Kid movie... Sanding the floor, painting the fence, waxing on and off...these practices built him into a body who when the time was right, he was ready.

In the Christian walk, virtues, faith practices,  a Way of Life...whatever you want to call them are a means of grace to others and to ourselves as we "go through the motions",

James 3:18,

Camelot

See, Hear, Understand

 <sup>I am always super sensitive about drawing attention to the Holy Spirit because I know that He only wants glory given to Jesus. In my devotions this morning though I noticed a quote from the Holy Spirit. This is different from most quotes from the Spirit in that it is from Him and not a repeat of what the Father or the Son would say.

The Holy Spirit always points to Jesus, He is our Teacher and Counselor, you can hear that tone here. The Spirit really wants us to get it...

Hebrews 3:7-11

7</sup> That is why the Holy Spirit says,

“Today when you hear his voice,
⁸     don’t harden your hearts
as Israel did when they rebelled,
    when they tested me in the wilderness.
⁹ There your ancestors tested and tried my patience,
    even though they saw my miracles for forty years.
¹⁰ So I was angry with them, and I said,
‘Their hearts always turn away from me.
    They refuse to do what I tell them.’
¹¹ So in my anger I took an oath:
    ‘They will never enter my place of rest.’”

God tests us, but if we constantly fail His tests then it reads here that we test Him or at least we did before Christ. 

In the journey of Life, it seems that sometimes we do not even have eyes to see or ears to hear, God forbid, but then sometimes we do, but we do not have hearts to understand.

Many years Almighty God did wonders for the eyes to see and for thousands of years, the Spirit of God spoke in various ways, through prophets and winds and fire. 

NOW, we have the immeasurable privilege of our journey in light of the cross. In light of the Jesus Christ who opens the eyes of the blind, and heals cut off ears. He even replaces our heart of stone for a heart of flesh removing the shame and sadness of life and replacing it with joy and peace and hope and love.

REJECT HIM? how could we, why would we?

For believers, our hearts can still be hard or cold...is there anything you withhold from the trustworthy HANDS of JESUS?

For doubters, given the claims that Jesus made and the testimony of His followers, do you not think it very unwise and close-minded of you to ignore His claims, whether you ignore the subject all together, or just ignore hearing from Him? Why not listen? if your right then you've lost a little time, if your wrong, you're lost and there is still time.

Jesus loves you, yes, He does. Don't shrink back from Him, there is nothing to fear.

James 3:18,

Camelot 

Piece

Everywhere I go that I want to remember I've been I usually pick up a rock or she'll or something to represent the time, place, or person. 

In Israel I picked up shells along the Galilee...

My first women's retreat I picked up a good size pink rock...

Along the path my papa nub and I used to walk, my aunt Pat and I hauled a huge rock with a wheelbarrow back to the house and put under the big oak tree.

The memory is recalled with a piece of something that seems inconspicuous and meaningless, but becomes special. 

My stepmom, Peggy, and I cried today over a bag of rocks and clipped toenails. The rocks my dad picked up in the holy land that now reside in the chest in her room. The toenails I clipped withe last bit of red on them from when I got a pedicure last December before My trip to Disney, the last time I would see my dad alive. 

While the rocks and shells are special, no I did not keep the toenails, I think the most special things in life are not where you take a piece of it with you, but when you leave a piece of you behind. 

I have crosses and shirts and stickers and fish that remind me of Jesus. 

He gave love and peace and healing and comfort, when He ascended He sent His Spirit back to us as a deposit. 

The only good I have to leave in me is Jesus. 

Jesus,

May you strengthen me and embolden me to strengthen my brothers and sisters.

But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith will not fail. So when you recover, strengthen the other disciples.” (Luke 22:32 GW)

James 3:18

Camelot

Hope is Shining Bright

Saturday I went to the Smithsonian. I saw hope. The Hope Diamond to be more specific...

This picture is a poor picture. It's brilliance was beautiful and blue. It's history was interesting. It was admired and photographed. It is a rock.

It was hope for me because it reminded me of my HOPE!

Now I see but a poor reflection as in a mirror, eventually I will see face to face. (1 Corinthians 13)

My Jesus, He's beautiful! He's brilliant! He is My Rock, My Stabilizer, my Salvation, my Anchor!

Father, adorn my neck, my life with the Aroma of Christ.

James 3;18,

Camelot

Whittle

For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. (Jeremiah 29:11 NLT)

Could it be that we spend our journey with God trusting His whittling more and more until we delight in it... What does it mean to be fully formed in Him?

Maybe one right answer is to realize the "a" Hope and "a" future He has consist of many plans, but only one hope and one future, HIM!

He is my HOPE! He is my FUTURE!

James 3:18,

Camelot

The Gift that Keeps on Giving

The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it. (John 1:4-5 NLT)

The Word, Jesus gave life to everything that was created...

The WORD gives LIFE to everything recreated. 

James 3:18

Camelot

He's AllI Need

Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. (2 Corinthians 12:9 NLT)

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. (2 Corinthians 13:14 NLT)

Is there anything that can not be answered in abundance by the LOVE OF GOD, GRACE OF CHRIST, and FELLOWSHIP OF THE SPIIRIT.

JESUS, YOU ARE ALL I NEED!

James 3:18,

Camelot

That's not the Way

I have been reading the book of James for a few days. I love to read this straightforward book of the Bible in different versions, it helps me...
Here are two versions of James 3:13-18. Verse 18 I have had as my tag this year, God is leading me on in simple and profound ways.
 

New Living Translation

True Wisdom Comes from God

¹³ If you are wise and understand God’s ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom. ¹⁴ But if you are bitterly jealous and there is selfish ambition in your heart, don’t cover up the truth with boasting and lying. ¹⁵ For jealousy and selfishness are not God’s kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and demonic. ¹⁶ For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind.

¹⁷ But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and the fruit of good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere. ¹⁸ And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness.

The Message

Live Well, Live Wisely

^13-16 Do you want to be counted wise, to build a reputation for wisdom? Here’s what you do: Live well, live wisely, live humbly. It’s the way you live, not the way you talk, that counts. Mean-spirited ambition isn’t wisdom. Boasting that you are wise isn’t wisdom. Twisting the truth to make yourselves sound wise isn’t wisdom. It’s the furthest thing from wisdom—it’s animal cunning, devilish conniving. Whenever you’re trying to look better than others or get the better of others, things fall apart and everyone ends up at the others’ throats.

^17-18 Real wisdom, God’s wisdom, begins with a holy life and is characterized by getting along with others. It is gentle and reasonable, overflowing with mercy and blessings, not hot one day and cold the next, not two-faced. You can develop a healthy, robust community that lives right with God and enjoy its results only if you do the hard work of getting along with each other, treating each other with dignity and honor.


A Few Thoughts

Our generation is busy. But doing what in what way? Technology really helps us out in taking the load of caring for ourselves and our family off of our backs with dishwashers, laundry detergent and other household and garden care. We now have all kinds of time to do...

Honestly, think about the things you do, what you have to do, what you get paid to do, and what you volunteer to do. Now weed out all the things good and bad that you do out of jealousy and/or selfish ambition. Yes it counts if is ambition for your kids. If your drive did not include these motives, would your life be so full. 

The hours at work... would they be so long if you were just providing for your family or doing what you were hired to do.
The practices for sports... would they still trample family and faith time, if you played only for the love of the game.
The networking or fellowship with people... would it be so spread thin if giving love in the relationship were the ONLY goal.
There are other perspectives to even these activities that swing the pendulum the other way, but you get the idea.

Our God, the Lover of our Soul, The Way, The Truth, and The Life came to show us a more excellent way. 

Are we adhering to His Way or ours?

Are we living by His Wisdom or ours?

Are we living His Life or ours?

There is only ONE WAY!

James 3:18,
Camelot

Face Forming Thoughts

Here is a quote I read recently:

“The fingers of your thoughts are molding your face ceaselessly” ~Charles Reznikoff

One day I will see Jesus face to face. Yet I believe now that just like the parable in Matthew 25 about the sheep and goats tells us that Jesus is somehow found or represented in the least of these, we can in some ways see Jesus face to face now.

Prevenient Grace tells me that God is at work in everyone drawing them to Himself. I want to see that, to recognize it, to discover it. In light of the quote above, I wonder if the reason I do not see it more is not because it is not true in their lives, in their face, but rather my face is not molding right.

How seriously do I take this instruction from the Word of God...

Philippians 4:8 (NIV) "⁸ Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."

 Lord, may I see your grace at work in others, but first may I welcome and allow your grace to have sway in me.

James, 3:18, 
Camelot 

Does Your Anchor Hold? How Do You Know?

God did this so that we would be encouraged. God cannot lie when he takes an oath or makes a promise. These two things can never be changed. Those of us who have taken refuge in him hold on to the confidence we have been given. We have this confidence as a sure and strong anchor for our lives. This confidence goes into the ⌊holy⌋ place behind the curtain where Jesus went before us on our behalf. He has become the chief priest forever in the way Melchizedek was a priest. (Hebrews 6:18-20 GW)

My dad used to sing a song you have probably heard..."The Anchor Holds"

Calm seas allow for anchors to feel secure in a lot of places...

It is the storms, the struggles, the valleys that test our foundations, our life, our identities, our little gods.

Only in the midst of the storm can you truly understand why Jesus is the only anchor that holds. He is our Firm Foundation!

James 3:18,

Camelot

Example, Teaching, Test

Jesus replied, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.”

“We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered. 

“Bring them here to me,” he said. (Matthew 14:16-18 NIV)

The gifts we have to offer which God himself has given to us must be presented back to Him to be of use to the people around us. We do not have enough of even what we have for ourselves and our family unless He gives the increase.

Jesus was interrupted by the crowds after He got word and was mourning the death of John the Baptist. So He fed the crowd of five thousand and taught the disciples by example in the midst of His grief. Afterward He dismissed the crowd and sent the disciples across the sea and continued His time alone with God. 

The crowd brought themselves to Jesus for healing. The disciples brought their gifts(food) to Jesus for direction and increase. And Jesus modeled compassion, giving, power, and especially dependency. 

Then Jesus and Peter walked on water. 

Lord, 

In the midst of the example, teaching, and test, may I keep my eyes fixed on You.

In Jesus name,

Amen.

James 3:18

Camelot

Life is Hard, but God is Good

This is my pond. My water lilies are blooming again. They close at dark and open in the morning. Amazing to watch. I saw them this morning and three were about to open to let the sunlight in, but this picture shows only two; the other on is right in front of the farthest flower, you can barely see it. Mainly because if the shadow the lily pad casts on it. There is no use to open now, the lily is not above water yet, not in its own space not out of the shadow of the lily. 

At just the right time, God forgave me and delivered me from all my sin. Now I am praying for others who are still in the shadow of darkness, under the influence of their father, the father of darkness that at just the right time they would hear His voice and open their hearts to Him. 

Today I remember the goodness of my God and the extent of His love toward me even in the days of my rebellion.

Scripture: Ephesians 2 followed by a great song of remembrance...

Made Alive in Christ

2 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, ² in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. ³ All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh^[a] and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. ⁴ But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, ⁵ made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. ⁶ And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, ⁷ in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. ⁸ For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— ⁹ not by works, so that no one can boast. ¹⁰ For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

James 3:18,

Camelot

Pro-Choice?

You have probably heard a lot about paths, the poem about two paths and choosing the one less traveled, narrow is the way to life...and broad is the road which leads to destruction. I have come across another attitude in people that I guess you would say makes me Pro-Choice.

One of my favorite quotes is "Not to decide, is to decide."

It is not a choice to not make a decision, to keep your options open. I am all for variety and getting all of the facts before you make a decision that is not a matter of life or death, but when it comes to matters of life or death, make a decision. Choose!

The Bible is life for right now, present day.

“Today, if you hear his voice,
    do not harden your hearts
    as you did in the rebellion.” Hebrew 3

⁹ This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live  Deuteronomy 30:18-20

 Whereas some decisions get easier with time and waiting, the life or death decisions to not. Life exists only on the "way" or road to life, not before the decision and certainly not on the road to destruction. Why would you put off life.

⁶ Seek the Lord while he may be found;
    call on him while he is near.
⁷ Let the wicked forsake their ways
    and the unrighteous their thoughts.
Let them turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on them,
    and to our God, for he will freely pardon. Isaiah 55:6-7

James 3:18,
Camelot

Listen To Me Voice

Hebrews 5 says...

We have a lot to explain about this. But since you have become too lazy to pay attention, explaining it to you is hard. By now you should be teachers. Instead, you still need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word. You need milk, not solid food. All those who live on milk lack the experience to talk about what is right. They are still babies. However, solid food is for mature people, whose minds are trained by practice to know the difference between good and evil. (Hebrews 5:11-14 GW)

My husbands sitter growing up used to sit the children down after they had gotten I  trouble and say...now this is my "listen to me" voice as she tried to make them mind (mind is southern for obey).

     Yesterday in our worship service, we honored the teachers that are a part of our local church family. I started thinking of the teachers that taught me... God bless them!  I have always believed that the purpose of school is to teach us how to learn, how to pay attention, how to listen. Now that I am not in school anymore, my prayer is that God never has to go to His "listen to me voice" with me. Father may my ears be attune to Your still small voice.

Listen to your teachers. Mostly, Listen to Your God!

James 3:18,

Camelot

Events and Truth

 But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. (1 Corinthians 6:11 NIV)

By the Blood of Jesus Christ shed on the cross, we were washed.

The Resurrection Life of Jesus Christ is Life that the sanctified life yields to.

The Ascension of Jesus Christ and Pentecost, the coming of His Holy Spirit, imparts peace delivering us from shame and guilt.

These events and truths are multidimensional and can not be summed up in a bow, but I was encouraged by the correlation. Have you heard of other right answers?

James 3:18,

Camelot

Live from Life

Have you ever felt like you were wearing a mask?

I am usually very joyful and happy. I smile on the phone when no one is looking. I smile a lot. (The wrinkles hold that smile longer now too.)

When things are not right in my world and circumstances close in, am I wearing a mask if I walk around smiling and full of joy? Well that depends.

I heard someone say the other day that denial and faith look a lot alike. They do. So what is the difference?
Denial covers the circumstances by ignoring them, numbing them, or leaving them.
Faith covers the circumstances in prayer, intercession, and the promises of God.

So, how should I live? No matter how the circumstances, if we are Christian(this is a must, since the peace that we have as Christians is not known by those who do not know Christ), then we can choose daily to live out of the "not crushed" life, rather than the "pressed down" circumstances. For the Christian, it is a choice because we have access to the Father of Life, who has promised us... well look at it...

2 Corinthians 4
⁷ But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. ⁸ We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; ⁹ persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. ¹⁰ We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. ¹¹ For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body.  ...

¹⁶ Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. ¹⁷ For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. ¹⁸ So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

What a Promise! What a God! That He would give us life like this. 

Lord, may my face, my heart, my mind, my actions be lived from Your Life in me. May my head be lifted by the not crushed part, may my back be straightened by the "not in despair" truth, may my lungs be filled with the "not abandoned" awareness, may my song be sung by the "not destroyed" tune. O God, my Father, I am Yours, You are mine. That is all I need. You are all I need.

James 3:18,
Camelot

Comparison or Compassion

James 3 compares relational wisdom from the world and relational wisdom from above.

         ¹³ Do any of you have wisdom and insight? Show this by living the right way with the humility that comes from wisdom. ¹⁴ But if you are bitterly jealous and filled with self-centered ambition, don’t brag. Don’t say that you are wise when it isn’t true. ¹⁵ That kind of wisdom doesn’t come from above. It belongs to this world. It is self-centered and demonic. ¹⁶ Wherever there is jealousy and rivalry, there is disorder and every kind of evil.

       ¹⁷ However, the wisdom that comes from above is first of all pure. Then it is peaceful, gentle, obedient, filled with mercy and good deeds, impartial, and sincere. ¹⁸ A harvest that has God’s approval comes from the peace planted by peacemakers.

In this context, this image is appalling, but try to list in your mind all of the places that you come into contact with people. How many are competitions and how many compassion?

The life of Jesus reeks of compassion, there was no competition in Him, except maybe glimpses when he was making the whip to clean out the money changers, or telling the story of the prodigal son's father running, or maybe even when he was fighting for the water basin to wash the disciples feet.

Lord, I want to be like Jesus. He oozed with gentleness, peace, obedience, mercy, and compassion. Lord, make me like You. Lord, make me like You. You were a servant. Make me one too. Lord, I am willing, do what You must do to make me like You, Lord. Make me like You.

James 3:18,
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National Day of Prayer

Whether you are American or not, proud or not, if you are a child of the King, pray for America!
"Never stop praying."  1 Thessalonians 5:17

pray for
Our national leaders, our international representatives, our state leaders, our local leaders.
pray for
Our children, our families, our marriages, our communities.
pray for
Our local bodies of believers, our schools, our playgrounds, our airports.
pray for
Our law enforcement, our prisons, our food pantries, our shelters.
pray for
Our hospitals, our clinics.
pray for
Our people.

Our god is not money, so our lack of money is not our need.
Our god is not health, so our lack of health is not our need.
Our god is not our fame, so our lack of being known is not our need.
Our god is not our stuff, so our lack of stuff is not our need.
Our god is not our work, so our lack of work is not our need.

Our God is Almighty God, Maker of heaven and of earth. WE NEED HIM! Pray that we will receive what we need. He is freely given through Christ. It is our hearts that need prayer.

 

James 3:18,

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The Persecuted Church

The Persecuted Church

The link above is a video of believers from Kosovo. I see faith, hope and love. What do you see?

⁸ In every way we’re troubled, but we aren’t crushed by our troubles. We’re frustrated, but we don’t give up. ⁹ We’re persecuted, but we’re not abandoned. We’re captured, but we’re not killed. 
2 Corinthians 4:8-9

 “Don’t be troubled. Believe in God, and believe in me." John 14:1

It is not denial, it is faith. Pray for the Persecuted Church. What to pray?

Acts 4:29-30
Ephesians 6:18-20 

James 3:18,
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See Jesus in the Church

⁴³ After spending two days in Samaria, Jesus left for Galilee. ⁴⁴ Jesus had said that a prophet is not honored in his own country. ⁴⁵ But when Jesus arrived in Galilee, the people of Galilee welcomed him. They had seen everything he had done at the festival in Jerusalem, since they, too, had attended the festival. John 4:43-45

John set the scene telling about one of the miracles of Jesus. Jesus heals the son of an official from Capernaum. It is easy to skip over the setting or attitude. Jesus had just traveled to Jerusalem for a festival along with others from His hometown. The result was increased faith. At the end of this miracle, John 4:54 states, "This was the second miracle that Jesus performed after he had come back from Judea to Galilee." Faith was on the rise. What changed? 

The hometown people saw Him in a larger context. They saw Him in the reflection of other believers who knew Him from a different perspective than they did. 

When I read this passage, my heart leaps for the international and district assemblies of my denomination(one of many who make up Christ's Church. I love watching people who show up from our local congregation for the first time at district assembly. Their vision of who Jesus is and what He is doing in the CHURCH is greatly increases. With such a perspective shift from that glimpse, our faith, our hope, our love for Christ, God's people and the world increases. 

My prayer is that in my local church, the announcement to become a local representative at district assembly will not fall on deaf ears...for their sake and perspective, for the district's sake and enrichment, and for Christ's sake and His Kingdom. 

Step up Church, let's lean in and allow Christ to give us His eyes in a deeper way!

James 3:18,

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Grounded by Faith

These flowers all have their own stem that lifts them up from the ground and gives them life-giving water. 

Another life that received life giving water was the Samaritan woman in John 4. But more than one life was born that day. The Samaritan people from her village testified for themselves.

They told the woman, “Our faith is no longer based on what you’ve said. We have heard Him ourselves, and we know that he really is the Savior of the world.” (John 4:42 GW)

Everyone must have their own faith. God is patient, not wanting anyone to perish. In the waiting, we pray for those we love, for those trapped by sin, for our city, our region, our world. Join Jesus in His intercession for the harvest. 

Clearly, Christ’s love guides us. We are convinced of the fact that one man has died for all people. Therefore, all people have died.

God has done all this. He has restored our relationship with him through Christ, and has given us this ministry of restoring relationships. (2 Corinthians 5:14, 18 GW)

James 3:18...

A harvest that has God’s approval comes from the peace planted by peacemakers. (James 3:18 GW)

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Faith Grows

For our Good Friday service I prepared a station the exhibited the Parable of the Sower. Parables are even richer in meaning if you prepare, act or walk them out. So many truths were beautifully pictures n my spirit, but one was saved for a few days later. I came in on Monday to remove the thorns from the soil that represented the worrying believer...Tuesday I came in to transplant the soil...

I have a new appreciation for seeds. Wow. Overnight without the thorns the seeds that had already sprouted over the weekend were making their way to the surface. 

All of Luke 18 has been precious to my soul this week for many reasons, but one verse I love today because what joy I had in finding faith sprouting where there was only thorns before.

I can guarantee that he will give them justice quickly. But when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?” (Luke 18:8 GW)

Willing and Able

A famous saying...God does not call the qualified, He qualifies the called.

In the garden of Gethsemene, Jesus called His disciples to watch and pray. I have a always been disappointed in them, but convinced I could do no better at the same time. But surely someone could, right?

But when I think of what Jesus was wrestling with, I know that the power to live out faith was dependent on His willingness to continue as the Son of Man through the suffering of the cross and not to mention the rejection of His Father for the sake of the world. 

When He saw His disciples, I wonder if He was reminded that unless He did the will of the Father, we would never go from willing and unable to willing and able.

Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak!” (Matthew 26:41 NLT)

In the wrestling of Jesus, Matthew accents the question change...

He went on a little farther and bowed with his face to the ground, praying, “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” (Matthew 26:39 NLT)

Jesus checks on the disciples and sees their weakness.

Then Jesus left them a second time and prayed, “My Father! If this cup cannot be taken away unless I drink it, your will be done.” (Matthew 26:42 NLT)

In their weakness, He still looked on them with love. Thank You, Jesus!

James 3:18,

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Shepherds and Sheep

In the Old Testament, the Lord warned the leaders (shepherds) that he put OVER the sheep (his people)...

Ezekiel 34...
‘This is what the Almighty Lord says: How horrible it will be for the shepherds of Israel who have been taking care of only themselves. Shouldn’t shepherds take care of the sheep? ³ You eat the best parts of the sheep, dress in the wool, and butcher the finest sheep. Yet, you don’t take care of the sheep. ⁴ You have not strengthened those that were weak, healed those that were sick, or bandaged those that were injured. You have not brought back those that strayed away or looked for those that were lost. You have ruled them harshly and violently. ⁵ So they were scattered because there was no shepherd. When they were scattered, they became food for every wild animal. ⁶ My sheep wandered over all the mountains and on every high hill. They were scattered throughout the whole earth. No one searched or looked for them.

In the New Testament, we are all ministers of the New Covenant if we belong to Him...

Matthew 25...

³¹ “When the Son of Man comes in his glory and all his angels are with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. ³² The people of every nation will be gathered in front of him. He will separate them as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. ³³ He will put the sheep on his right but the goats on his left.

Mother Teresa said, "The reason we have no peace is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other."

I love this song and what a reminder that we are our brother's keeper... Please join me in praying this week for the men of Harrisonburg First Church of the Nazarene as they retreat to seek the Great and Good Shepherd.

James 3:18,

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