The Unclean Vessel: January 2009

Saturday, January 31, 2009

What a Week...

It has been a wierd, wild, and wonderful week.

God has been afoot and he has put many many fingerprints in my days.

There have been moments of sublime peace and some new understandings.

There has been wonderful love and messages from brothers and sisters in Christ. (Thank you, thank you, thank you Mrs. Trosen.)

I learned a powerful, powerful lesson by watching "The Devil Wears Prada" that has left me thinking for hours and hours. Imagine my shock to find that He has changed major areas of my heart without my knowing.

Maybe I'll blog the details sometime so that He can have greater glory, but I just write tonight to say, "He Lives."

Much love.

Rejected!

I just finished about two hours of working on a post about modern "prophets". It was interesting (to me.) It got deleted when I tried to post it.

I guess I was the one who needed that information.

I hope that you're close to God today and that you find worship at church tomorrow.

Thursday, January 29, 2009

Not a Tame Lion...

It's good to remember that God is Sovereign.

I was thinking this morning about some people who have told me "how God works" and what I must do here or there. Usually they describe a situation from the Bible where God did something. Then they construct a rule based upon their observations of that incident that they then say is "How God Works".

As a specific example, (but not meant as a criticism of those that have said this,) several times I have heard people say that “God will not give you a new “Word” until you’ve obeyed the “Word” He has already given you.” Another specific example would be that the philosophies of psychiatry and counseling have often used this construct to impute the Bible's "approval" onto their ideas. It is easy to deconstruct Bible stories to assert that "principle X" is at play in that story, that "Principle X is obviously part of God's will" and "principle X is just a part of how God made us (or the world or the universe".)

First of all, for that to be true it would require that we understand what God is doing. (This in spite of His declarations that His thinking is way, way above our thoughts, .) Isn't it funny how easy it is to assume we understand God when, if you really sit and think that through, it's almost ridiculous on its face!

It may be true in a given situation that God operated in a certain way, but I just don’t know that He has always declared these instances as rules that bind Him or or that His past action reduces His sovereignty to act differently in the future. I think when He wanted to make us a promise about things, He just went ahead and gave us a promise.

You see, God understands a reality in this world that we cannot see, feel or understand. He acts with absolute sovereignty based on His knowledge of the universe. And we are to serve Him based upon His directions and His control, with absolutely no regard to our understanding, (or approval,) of His actions. As a father wants his child to trust him, so I believe that God shares some insights into His purposes for our sake, but never to be used as a precondition for trust or obedience on our part.

But I understand why we keep coming up with these additional rules. We want God to be safe. We want Him to be predictable. We want God to be a vending machine where if we insert coin “A” He will drop out blessing “B”. We want God to be predictable so that we can use Him to accomplish our plans and desires. God asks us to surrender our plans and desires to Him to shape, change and discard as He directs. He want to be the potter to our clay.

I loved the way C.S. Lewis described Aslan, (the Lion that represents Jesus,) in “The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe”. Lewis went to lengths to make us to understand that our hearts long for Aslan, but to also let us understand that he was not a stuffed children’s toy. Lewis wanted us to know that God is alive and sovereign and dangerous.

God will never break His word. God will never change His mind. God will also never inhabit the conceptual boxes we build to try to hold Him and His will.

Your plans and desires may not survive an encounter with The Living Holy God.

And that, too, is Good News!

Isn’t He wonderful!

Monday, January 26, 2009

Unforgiveable

In the late 1980s I returned to the church after getting sober and turning to God with my life. It was a wonderful experience. I began to hear sermon after sermon on topics that had previously seemed to be all about God's Judgement. I joyfully heard these same sermons and discovered that they were really about God's Love.

We have been given a sweet, sweet Gospel. It is such Good News!

However... I knew where I'd been... I knew what I had done... And one topic preyed on my mind:

Jesus had spoken about the "unforgiveable sin" of blaspheming the Spirit. Oh, how I trembled at the thought! There were very few stones I'd left unturned when it came to sin. Had I committed the unforgiveable sin?

Had I gone too far? Yes!!!

Had I done something that could never be forgiven? Was it too late? I just didn't know! It tore me up.

Finally, one day I had to know, so I approached my pastor and asked Him, "I'm afraid I may have committed the unforgoiveable sin. How do I know? What do I do?"

He said, "I can say with certainty that you haven't committed the unforgiveable sin." That surprised me. (He was certain! Hallelujah!!!)

His reasoning was this:

1) People only come to God because God calls and draws them.

2) When people commit the unforgiveable sin, God ceases to toil with their hearts.

3) I was concerned about my salvation because God was drawing me to Him.

4) If I had committed the unforgiveable sin, I wouldn't be drawn toward God.

He said that the greatest evidence that a person has committed the unforgiveable sin is that they don't care that they have have committed the unforgiveable sin."

If I had committed the unforgiveable sin I wouldn't have been in his office asking whether I had.

`Pretty good answer. In the intervening twenty plus years I have come to learn so much more about God's Amazing Love and today I know that my question was kind of silly in the face of a Love this Great.

But back then I didn't know. That answer was really, really important to me. It gave me peace...

For if, when we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.
Romans 5:10-11 NIV

A Pause for a Heart-Ache

Last week I threw up a series of postings not thinking that they might be important to me. Instead, they solicited feedback that threw a hitch in my giddy-up.

The issue of personal holiness, (mine, not yours,) came to the fore with a crushing awareness of my inadequacy. And with it came an imperative of, "What are you going to do about this?"

I know I cannot change myself. I can be better behaved, but I have the heart of a predator in so many ways. Was I changed at salvation? Yes. Do I find peace in Him? Yes. Do I have massive shortcomings that impair my walk and witness for Christ? Absolutely.

As the old saying goes, "The Problem isn't really the problem." The problem, (my behavior,) isn't the issue so much as the issue is my desires regarding my behavior. There is a big part of me that still wants to be master of my own ship, Controller of My Own Destiny.

Sure, I always run back to Him after I've inevitably run my boat up on the rocks, but once the pain is gone my eyes begin casting about and my heart pulls against the leash...

Worst of all, for other issues I may know what to do but am unwilling to do it. In the past God has taken me past a ton of issues like that. This issue is different. I honestly don't know how to completely surrendar myself to Him. I've often wanted to, but then my heart begins pulling, again.

I love Jesus. I owe everything to Him. I've never understood this foolishness in my heart, but the issue is real and God has placed it squarely in front of me. Does this mean I was never truly saved? Am I missing a fundamental component of salvation? Or is this an issue particularly because He loves me and He is shaping me into a form more useful to Him. I care about this, (although I have to admit that at times I would almost rather that I didn't.)

So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!

So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.
Romans 7:21-25 NIV

Then the text starts into wonderful, wonderful Romans 8. I do understand why Paul said "wretched." I understand, a little better, that these things are worked out with "Fear and Trembling".

Stay tuned...

Friday, January 23, 2009

How Much Prophesy Could a Prophet Prophesy...

..if a Prophet Could Prophesy Prophesy?

(Y'know... "How much wood can a woodchuck chuck..."? ...sigh... Sometimes I wish someone else found me as funny as I do...) Just as well, this business of prophesy is pretty serious stuff.

Have you ever noticed that the Church attracts some real crazies when it comes to prophesy? I've always been fascinated by cults that claim to be lead by a "one true prophet" who doesn't give prophesy... well, at least not any more. (They got tired of explaining away the misses.)

You may say to yourselves, “How can we know when a message has not been spoken by the Lord?” If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the Lord does not take place or come true, that is a message the Lord has not spoken. That prophet has spoken presumptuously. Do not be afraid of him.
Deut 18:21-22 NIV

I love this passage and its 100% accuracy qualifier. But that doesn't entirely solve the false prophet problem. Some who claim prophetic powers apparently avoid the Samuel passage by ducking into wild imagery that can be interpretted to support (just about any) later facts in evidence. (No, no no! Obama was the gray pidgeon and Bush was the thermostat!" Okaaaay...)

For this reason I generally take a big step back when someone starts talking wild imagery as prophesy.

“I have heard what the prophets say who prophesy lies in my name. They say, ‘I had a dream! I had a dream!’ How long will this continue in the hearts of these lying prophets, who prophesy the delusions of their own minds? They think the dreams they tell one another will make my people forget my name, just as their fathers forgot my name through Baal worship. Let the prophet who has a dream tell his dream, but let the one who has my word speak it faithfully. For what has straw to do with grain?” declares the Lord. “Is not my word like fire,” declares the Lord, “and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces?

“Therefore,” declares the Lord, “I am against the prophets who steal from one another words supposedly from me. Yes,” declares the Lord, “I am against the prophets who wag their own tongues and yet declare, ‘The Lord declares.’ Indeed, I am against those who prophesy false dreams,” declares the Lord. “They tell them and lead my people astray with their reckless lies, yet I did not send or appoint them. They do not benefit these people in the least,” declares the Lord.
Jeremiah 23:25-32) NIV

But you're in the clear if the dream comes true, right? Wait a minute:

If a prophet, or one who foretells by dreams, appears among you and announces to you a miraculous sign or wonder, and if the sign or wonder of which he has spoken takes place, and he says, “Let us follow other gods” (gods you have not known) “and let us worship them,” you must not listen to the words of that prophet or dreamer. The Lord your God is testing you to find out whether you love him with all your heart and with all your soul. It is the Lord your God you must follow, and him you must revere. Keep his commands and obey him; serve him and hold fast to him. That prophet or dreamer must be put to death, because he preached rebellion against the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt and redeemed you from the land of slavery; he has tried to turn you from the way the Lord your God commanded you to follow. You must purge the evil from among you.
Deut 13:1-5 NIV

The other thing I note is that, although some OT prophets definitely seems to be regarded with suspicion and contempt, I also note that they also enjoyed a certain reluctant respect from people. Not popularity, but definitely respect of a kind.

I wouldn't mind meeting a real prophet... after he'd passed the Bible's vetting process. Until then I hope people will just worship, praise and serve.

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

I started laughing this evening thinking of a childhood friend of mine and the stories he used to tell when we were kids. It didn't matter what bizzare or outrageous stories this guy put out, if Jimmy told me I believed it was gospel. It took me years to finally realize that some of this stuff was, um, wrong.

Now, as an adult, I've looked up many of the "facts" I was told and have found that many of them are "urban legends" that have been disproven by research (on snopes.com or wikipedia.org and so on.) That makes me wonder: was Jimmy just passing on the stories he heard or did he fool that many people?

LOL! I'll never know.

An Atheist friend of my father once said, "You can make the Bible say anything you want!" Now, before taking offense at that, we should note that Satan used scripture when he was tempting Jesus in the wilderness. There's something to that.

I figure Satan is probably a better Bible student than I am, so I try to take things with a grain of salt when I hear the latest "great revelation". God has always seemed to me to be pretty patient with people who are sincerely seeking His will.

The book of Acts seems to be encouraging the same thing in Acts 17:11:

As soon as it was night, the brothers sent Paul and Silas away to Berea. On arriving there, they went to the Jewish synagogue. Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true. Many of the Jews believed, as did also a number of prominent Greek women and many Greek men.
Acts 17:10-12 NIV

I've always envied David for being called "A man after God's Own Heart" and I've also wanted to be called a man of "noble character" like the Bereans. They listened, but then they looked. (I suspect a little praying went on too.)

I suspect if I were to see Jimmy again today, I'd be willing to enjoy letting him tell me some of his stories. But today I know, when it comes to the Word and the Will of God, it's "Trust God and Love People", not the other way around.

A Modern Galahad

In T.H. White's wonderful novel, "The Once and Future King", Sir Galahad is being transported away to Heaven after finding the Holy Grail. White's observation then follows that all the other knights of the Round Table had never really cared for Galahad. But, as Galahad is going into the distance, they realize that the reason they'd never cared for him was because he was holy (and not a sinner like them.)

I used to know a Christian guy who was obviously pretty satisfied with himself. I finally asked him one time, "How often do you sin each day?" His answer, "A lot of days I never sin at all."

Words failed me at the time and they still fail me. (I'm glad some folks can leave a little extra Grace on the table, because I'm gonna need all their leftovers...)

I didn't buy it at the time. But when I think about his answer, I'm sometimes drawn back to the story of Galahad...

...and I wonder...

...nope, I still don't buy it!

Have a great, God-filled Day!
Let's praise Jesus! (Just because we can!)

Sometimes Ya Gotta Get'em Lost

I just don't understand how you can have a relationship with Christ and not occasionally be driven to your knees by your own desperate sinfulness.

Now, I know:

Christ did not die so that we could live our lives in shame and remorse. He didn't die so that we might live our lives in horrified introspection. He died so that we might be free.

But C'mon! You know what I'm talking about.

Sometimes I just stop and think, "Holy cow, my mind is so vile!" I'm glad no one can hear the garbage that passes through my head.

That's before we even get into the topic of the things I say or do! I have trouble understanding people who think, "Oh, I'm doing alright, I'm not a bad person. God couldn't turn away a guy like me!" Are these pod-people? I don't get it.

I heard a preacher say one time that he thought we would do a lot better in our country if we stopped preaching Grace for a while and spent some extra time teaching people about sin, damnation and the requirements of a Holy God.

That makes pretty good sense to me.

It just seems to me that if God's gonna get some folks saved, God's gonna have to get'em lost first.

Hello friends,

Another good one form the good folks over at the Berean Call. Enjoy!

POLITICS OR THE GOSPEL

"Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence" (John 18:36).

The fact that Christ's Kingdom Is not of this world is enough to keep me out of the world's politics. If I participate in politics, then I am casting a vote of confidence in the system's ability to solve the world's problems. But frankly, I have no such confidence because I know that "the whole world lieth in wickedness" (1 John 5:19).

Politics has proved singularly ineffective in solving the problems of society. Political remedies are nothing but a band-aid on a festering sore: they do not get at the source of the infection. We know that sin is the basic trouble in our sick society. Anything that fails to deal with sin cannot be taken seriously as a cure.

It becomes a matter of priorities, then. Should I spend time in political involvement or should I devote that same time to the spread of the gospel? Jesus answered the question when He said, "Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and preach the kingdom of God" (Luke 9:60). Our top priority must be to make Christ known because He is the answer to the world's problems.

_{William MacDonald, "One Day at a Time", Gospel Folio Press, p. 24.
as quoted in the Berean Call "Today's Update", January 20, 2009}

Hope ya'll have a great day that's spent close to Him.

Saturday, January 17, 2009

Moving

The entire time that I was a kid in Northern Minnesota (1969-1979, ages 7 through 17), my father made no bones about the fact that he disliked where we lived and wanted to transfer somewhere else. He would often talk about seeking that transfer and when topics concerning the future were discussed he would often interject that "we might be gone by then..." .

Yet that town was my childhood home and those friends were the only friends I had known. 11 years of thinking that we were going to be leaving at any time took a toll during these important formative years that I can't fully explain even now. I just remember the fear.

I do know that the insecurity of pending removal made me more open to people superficially and yet less able to completely and deeply open to friendships (while perversely increasing my longing for that very deep friendship.)

But maybe that's just psycho-babble. (I know that when I stare too deeply into my own navel about issues like this, I end up getting lost from what's important today.)

But today I was pondering why I'm accepting very poor treatment in several areas of my life and trying to sort out how much of it is following Jesus' instruction to "turn the other cheek" or whether it might not, instead, reflect a deeper personal weakness. And while considering this, I came across Amy's "Todays Thought" posting about moving, which in turn inspired these memories.

All I know is that I can only be close to God and follow Him today. There's nothing I can do to make me more spiritual in the past and I cannot make tomorrow's choices to turn to Him while it is still today. Therefore...

I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.
Philippians 4:11-13

Thursday, January 15, 2009

Billy Graham Hits a Home Run...

Y'know, everyone has fans and detractors. You can find something wrong with everyone. Billy Graham is no exception. Some love him, (maybe too much,) and some hate him, (which should not be.) That's just life in the flock.

But I do believe we have to give credit where credit's due.

Many years ago, (boy, a lot of my blogs start that way these days,) I caught a small snippet of a PBS show where Bill Moyers was interviewing Billy Graham.

The part that I saw was fantastic and I'd like to share it with you.* Essentially, Bill Moyers asked Reverand Graham this question:

"Billy, you've been all over the world and preached the Gospel to millions of people. Many, many people have given their lives to Jesus at your crusades. You've started a huge ministry that reaches around the world. Of all the things you've done in this life, when you stand before Jesus, what will you be most proud of?"

Billy Graham answered:

"Bill, when this life is over and I'm before Jesus, all you will hear from me is, "Lord, have mercy on me, a miserable sinner!" "

Whatever else Billy Graham did with his life, that night, with that answer, the Gospel was given in a powerful way.

Billy Graham hit that one outta the park.

* _{I've unsuccessfully tried to find a transcript for this interview. Therefore this is the "Unclean Vessel paraphrased edition". It would be much better to quote this exactly. If you ever see it online, send the web address and this post will be amended accordingly.}

The Philosophy Test

At Arizona State University in the early 1980's I was told that a Philosophy professor gave his "Intro to Philosophy" class their final exam and when the students turned over the test, they found that the entire exam was just a one-word question:

"Why?"

Many of the students labored mightily to come up with an intelligent answer to that question. A lot of students were still writing furiously when the two hour examination ended.

When the exams were graded everyone was given a "B" for their answers, no matter what they put down, except for one student.

One student quickly answered:

"Because."
Three minutes into the examination he turned in his test, walked out of the classroom (and got the only "A".)

I love that story. At the time it was told to me I believed it to be true. Today, (having grown a little more cynical,) I wonder if it was true. Either way, it's a cute story and I get a chuckle from it.

The reason I tell that story is because "Why?" really is an important question. Your answer to that question will determine a lot about your life and about your eternity.

Be warned:

"Because" isn't the right answer.

Monday, January 12, 2009

Darkest Night

Two years ago, when the world I knew was shattered, I would often wake up in the middle of the night in deepest grief. My little yorkie/min-pin pup named Benni would come and sit by me and try to console me during many of those dark nights. Sometimes I wept. More often I sat there watching the night out the window wondering what could remain for me.

I spent those nights crying out to God, asking for His help... Asking for Him to somehow help me make it through... Asking Him to show me what to do next.

In a way that I can't explain I was remade into a new person those late dark nights. I long to be more that person today. I want to continue to grow in and toward Him.

For years prior to those months, I had suffered with insomnia and I would have to get up and muddle around for an hour or so before I could go back to bed and drop off to sleep. The insomnia and waking used to annoy me.

These nights I smile when I wake up in the middle of the night.

I smile because the middle of the night is now my favorite time to be with God. It's my favorite time because in the middle of these nights I am taken back to those darkest nights and the hands that held me up when there was nothing left.

I love you Jesus. Thank you.

Enemy of the Sheep

Lately several friends have been going through some really tough times. The world, as it did with Job, is all too happy to line up wanting a chance to prescribe remedies. The world's "solutions" inevitably reduce to "Look at yourself and what you do closer or in a different way."

The Bible tells us to look more closely to Jesus and He will tell us what to change. He is our Shephard. We are His sheep.

Therefore Jesus said again, “I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
John 10:7-10 NIV

The world wants us to believe "it's all about me". Scripture says it's all about God.

Too often we forget that there is an opponent out there. An opponent we must not slander. An opponent we cannot defeat or manipulate. An opponent that is a better Bible student than we. An opponent who is more familiar with Christ than are we. And this opponent is intent "to steal and kill and destroy" our faith, our families, our lives and our witnesses... our "sheepishness"!

When we remember the opponent, worldly beliefs would have us defeat the opponent. Instead we are told to resist his schemes and seek shelter within the Shephard who has already defeated the opponent. What a relief.

Isn't that beautiful? We don't have to be masters of self-analysis or spiritual warfare ninjas. We just have to stay focused on Our Shephard.

It reminds me of an old saying, "I've never known anyone too dumb to do this task, but I've known many who were too smart." In Christ my weakness is my greatest strength.

To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
II Corinthians 12:7-10 NIV

Thank You Jesus!

Wednesday, January 7, 2009

"He who Struggles With God"

Israel.

"Yisra'el"

I've always loved that word.

The "el" part means "God" and is often used in biblical names. (Michael, Ishmael, etc.)

"Yisra" means "to contend"*. It comes from Jacob wrestling with God. I've always used the word "struggle" in this context, but "wrestle" works, too.

"Israel" means "He who Struggles with God"

I've always related to that. I am Israel.

Want to know what I think is one of the neatest testimonies to God's Grace in the Bible? It's one of the names of God. It seems so innocuous as it's normally written, but when you interpret the name it is really powerful to me.

God was often called "Lord God of Israel".

He is the "Lord God of "Those who Struggle with God"".

When we struggle with God's Will our opponent tells us that we aren't God's beloved. The deceiver whispers that while we struggle God turns away from us. And yet, by His Name, when we struggle is when He is especially Our God and Our Father! And what better demonstration of His Grace is there than that?

My Lord and My God, thank you.

_{* Interestingly, "Yisra" is also a very close cousin to the root word beneath the name "Sarah" which is translated as "Lady" or "Princess". I think I'll leave that alone because I could get myself in trouble with that one.}

"Redeem Israel, O God, from all their troubles!"

Yesterday Amy spoke of "...having the heart of a child in the care of her loving Father as pictured in Psalm 131." After a rough night last night, I woke up sore, physically and emotionally. I turned, as I often do, to Psalm 25 and made that my prayer this morning. This is my "child's prayer" to God when I've had all the "fun" I can stand.

Today verse 22, "Redeem Israel, O God, from all their troubles!" was particularly appropriate and heartfelt. I post this with love and send my best wishes and prayers for you, whoever may read this.

Praying for Israel,
Unclean Vessel

Psalm 25
Of David.
To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul; in you I trust, O my God.
Do not let me be put to shame, nor let my enemies triumph over me.

No one whose hope is in you will ever be put to shame, but they will be put to shame who are treacherous without excuse.

Show me your ways, O LORD, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.

Remember, O LORD, your great mercy and love, for they are from of old.

Remember not the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways; according to your love remember me, for you are good, O LORD.

Good and upright is the LORD; therefore he instructs sinners in his ways.

He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way.

All the ways of the LORD are loving and faithful for those who keep the demands of his covenant.

For the sake of your name, O LORD, forgive my iniquity, though it is great.

Who, then, is the man that fears the LORD? He will instruct him in the way chosen for him.

He will spend his days in prosperity, and his descendants will inherit the land.

The LORD confides in those who fear him; he makes his covenant known to them.

My eyes are ever on the LORD, for only he will release my feet from the snare.

Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted.

The troubles of my heart have multiplied; free me from my anguish.

Look upon my affliction and my distress and take away all my sins.

See how my enemies have increased and how fiercely they hate me!

Guard my life and rescue me; let me not be put to shame, for I take refuge in you.

May integrity and uprightness protect me, because my hope is in you.

Redeem Israel, O God, from all their troubles!

Monday, January 5, 2009

Freedom

Many years ago I was taught that the definition of "Freedom" was "The ability to meet one's obligations." `Not sure where that came from, but I promise it isn't original from me.

I've always loved that definition. Losing the freedom to indulge yourself is troubling. Real oppression comes when you are not allowed to meet your obligations.

It's a "thinker" if you use this definition in "Freedom in Christ." It speaks to some interesting Truths...

God bless you all!

Happiness?

Many years ago I learned an important lesson. I used to actively and aggressively pursue "happiness". Then, after a period of learning, I discovered that the reason I longed to be "happy" was because during those times of laughter and joy I was at peace. I learned that the peace was my real heart's desire.

I've since learned that through seeking God, I can know the deepest peace and God's comfort even in times of great sorrow and "unhappiness". I've also learned that there are types of "happiness" that do not promote the peace in my life.

Lately I've been struggling for peace because of difficulty in trusting and following God on certain issues. It's funny how spoiled you get when you've had God's peace for a while and then step out of it. I guess "funny" is the wrong word. I should have said "terrible".

Isn't it great that one of Jesus' titles is "Prince of Peace"? I hope that you are in that peace today. (If not, I hope that you're talking to Him like I am.)

Friday, January 2, 2009

Chef Spurgeon

RECIPE FOR A SERMONETTE POSTING
Take one story, (any old non-profane story will do,)
label it "illustration".
Cut out one portion or principle from the story, set the rest aside.
Take one Bible passage and match it to the portion cut from story.
Add additional scripture passages as desired and blend to taste.
Add conclusion to blended material, (keep short and pithy.)
Serve while warm.

I kind of appreciated Spurgeon's "morning" passage today, because he used a different receipe. I hope you're having a great day out there. I send my love to you and hope 2009 is full of the awareness of the closeness of God for you.

Here's Spurgeon. Enjoy!

“Continue in prayer.”
— Colossians 4:2

It is interesting to remark how large a portion of Sacred Writ is occupied with the subject of prayer, either in furnishing examples, enforcing precepts, or pronouncing promises. We scarcely open the Bible before we read, “Then began men to call upon the name of the Lord;” and just as we are about to close the volume, the “Amen” of an earnest supplication meets our ear.

Instances are plentiful. Here we find a wrestling Jacob—there a Daniel who prayed three times a day—and a David who with all his heart called upon his God. On the mountain we see Elias; in the dungeon Paul and Silas. We have multitudes of commands, and myriads of promises. What does this teach us, but the sacred importance and necessity of prayer?

We may be certain that whatever God has made prominent in his Word, he intended to be conspicuous in our lives. If he has said much about prayer, it is because he knows we have much need of it. So deep are our necessities, that until we are in heaven we must not cease to pray. Dost thou want nothing? Then, I fear thou dost not know thy poverty. Hast thou no mercy to ask of God? Then, may the Lord’s mercy show thee thy misery! A prayerless soul is a Christless soul.

Prayer is the lisping of the believing infant, the shout of the fighting believer, the requiem of the dying saint falling asleep in Jesus. It is the breath, the watchword, the comfort, the strength, the honour of a Christian. If thou be a child of God, thou wilt seek thy Father’s face, and live in thy Father’s love.

Pray that this year thou mayst be holy, humble, zealous, and patient; have closer communion with Christ, and enter oftener into the banqueting-house of his love. Pray that thou mayst be an example and a blessing unto others, and that thou mayst live more to the glory of thy Master. The motto for this year must be, “Continue in prayer.”

_{Spurgeon, Charles H.: Morning and Evening : Daily Readings. Complete and unabridged; New modern edition. Peabody, MA : Hendrickson Publishers, 2006, S. January 2 AM}

PS: FYI, I added some paragraph breaks into this passage, just to make it easier to read on a computer screen. No editorial purpose intended. `Just wanted you to know.