And The Soul Felt It's Worth

  A Christmas Message
By Jeff Johnson
 

I would like to thank you in advance for reading this message.  I know a lot of our schedules seem to not only be FULL to the brim at this time of year but running out of minutes before the celebration of the Savior’s birth.

This year there has been one hymn with one verse that has been resonating in my soul for not just myself but others as well.

Most of us hear this song and even sing this song every Christmas season but we don’t often “really” hear the lyrics, we see but we really don’t see…
And isn’t that true of a lot of hymns- if we get a chance to listen, meditate, study them, their authors and the God who inspired them we find them deep and rich with spiritual wisdom and nourishment.

Oh Holy Night,
The stars are brightly shining
It is the night of the dear Savior’s birth
Long lay the world in sin and error pining
Till He appeared and the soul felt it’s worth
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn!

Think about it….”Oh yonder breaks a new and glorious morn because He appeared and the soul felt it’s worth.”  How often do we try to receive worth from our fellow man and our accomplishments?  How often do we pine away and seek meaning in the things that are only temporary?

We see and hear of individuals who seem to have everything… they have fame, fortune, glory, and yet they do the imaginable and take their lives.

Why do they do this? Do they put their worth and sanity in the “temporary”.  Man… the ways of man… and things of man, which are just as “temporary”.

In their idolatrous thinking, have they surrendered their souls to mere mortals and things?  What things do they forfeit their precious soul?   

Jesus said in “For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul? For what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” Mark 8:36-37

In the book of Jeremiah God said, “Cursed is the man who trusts in mankind and makes flesh is strength, And whose heart turns away from the LORD.” Jeremiah 17:5

Edward Mote wrote: “ My hope is built on nothing less then Jesus blood and righteousness.  I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus name.”

CHRISTMAS! And the soul felt it’s worth!

In all the disappointments in life is God on the throne in your heart or something else? Is there a thrilling hope knowing JESUS, was born of a virgin to show us our worth?

And the soul felt it’s worth…

Extraordinary to think that GOD became a baby boy- who became a man and even while growing and seeing all our faults saw worth in our soul and took upon himself the cross for our sins… that who shall believe in Him shall have life and eternal life in heaven.

And the soul felt it’s worth…

That we might realize this… and seeing this put our worth where it truly belongs, in HIM.

Some of you say “BUT I have messed up, I haven’t been living right. I can’t seem to get my life straight to come before Him.”

Do you still have breath in your body by the grace of God?  Then it’s not too late.  Come just as you are…. Turn to HIM.  Trust in HIM.  Give yourself to Him who gave Himself to you.     

Some of you say, “I have been told and showed I am not worthy by people’s words and actions.”

Are they God who created you? Did those people come down from heaven for you? Did they die on the cross for you?

And the soul felt it’s worth…

Not everyone wants a relationship with you.  Not everyone wants you on his or her team or side.  Not everyone understands you.  BUT the GOD who created you DOES!

And the soul felt it’s worth…

And God wants you to know His voice.  He wants you to live in the assurance of His love, that you may know your worth to Him in amongst this temporary experience we call life but is really an opportunity for us to come to know HIM who is LIFE!

Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6

That we may trade our weariness for a lasting REAL HOPE and rejoice in our soul of knowing Him- who came and gave it all for us!

Jesus said, “Take my yoke upon you.   Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your soul.”  Matthew 11:29

And the soul felt it’s worth…

We were all born with this need for the real and eternal God but it is up to us to turn to Him or the faulty things that never satisfy.

Jesus said “ God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.”  

So when you see the images of a baby in a manger this Christmas… remember it was God that came down from heaven.  Remember it was to show you your worth to HIM.

John wrote this about Jesus, “He came to his own people, and even they rejected him.  But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.  They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God.  So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.” John 1:11-14

And the soul felt it’s worth…

I hope realizing this wonderful truth you will see more deeply the worth of yourself and in others this Christmas season and throughout the coming new year.  Turn to Him.. Thank Him.. Appreciate Him…and live and learn in Him. May it continue to be a new and glorious morn for you as your remember the real gift of Christmas- Jesus!

Oh Holy Night,
The stars are brightly shining
It is the night of the dear Savior’s birth
Long lay the world in sin and error pining
Till He appeared and the soul felt it’s worth
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn!

Merry Christmas

Living in God's Intended Love

We read these words in 1 Corinthians 13

" Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud ⁵ or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. ⁶ It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. ⁷ Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance."

We hear them at church, in our devotional time and sometimes at wedding ceremonies and sometimes at memorial services. 

We are told God is love in 1 John 4:8

⁸ But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love.

Love makes harmony.  It is the oil that keeps everything working and functioning properly for without it everything would freeze up and go dry.  Harmony can only be accomplished in ourselves and with each other when we submit to the Spirit of God.  

Love does not demand its own way or stubbornly stand in how we think it should be or point fingers but is yielded to God's will who knows what is best.  

If we believe this is true then we will allow God's work to be done according to how he has determined it.  And this should give us peace in all occasions and circumstances to live encouraged in God's unfailing love.  He is our strength and confidence.

 

Are You Practicing the Art of Joy that God Intended for You?

The Turquoise Pillar

I recently had some dreams where everything was black and white except for a single column or pillar, which was turquoise in color. 

(This pillar was long and rectangular.  I wasn't fluted and did not have a fancy top.  It was simple in all aspects except it's turquoise color.)  

I came under the conclusion that I was only to pay attention to what this turquoise pillar meant.

So I sat down and began to dig quietly with God’s spirit as my guide. 

·       A pillar is a witness….  Genesis 31:52

Have you ever heard the saying, "They are pillars of the community"?   We as Christians are to be pillars...  We are to be ambassadors of God and children of God.   We are witnesses to the world of God's love and the real "hope" he gives us.   

We are not colorless as the world- where we believe in the false of hopes of the world that soon fade making us indifferent to everything!!!   


We once were indifferent, lost and hopeless as the world.... we didn't have anything to stand on and we know only by God’s goodness, grace and mercy that He saved us from that hopeless colorless hole that once entrapped us.  We called out to him in all sincerity and he went beyond our expectations in rescuing us.   He not only pulled us out of that hopeless bit but he set us
"upright".
  

·   A pillar is something that is set "up-right".
   

Like a caring parent God heard our sincere cries.... he came and picked us up, lovingly embraced us, brushed and washed the burdening hurts off our spiritual scrapped knees and elbows and in doing so gave us a new understanding of His love.
  
"I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws." Ezekiel 36:25-27

This new understanding by His Spirit set us upright in His love.   Faith began to grow from that once hard seed that had laid dormant when our soul was created.   We had a new realization of God.   
  

“For the LORD is righteous, he loves righteousness; the upright will behold his face.”  PSALM 11:7

It is amazing to think this all started when faith and God collided.  

As the scripture says "And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him."
 
Jesus... through all things were created made this possible for us.   He was the gift to the world. He is the true gift,  a gift not given because we earned it or because we were good enough but because we are loved.   But like all gifts it has to be accepted.   Can anything be more profound then that? 

Jesus speaking of himself said:

 "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.  God did not send his Son into the world to condemn it, but to save it.  There is no judgement awaiting those who trust him.   But those who do not trust have already been judged for not believing in the only Son of God.  Their judgment is based on this fact:  The light from heaven came into the world, but they loved darkness more than light, for their actions were evil.  They hate the light because they want to sin in the darkness.  They stay away from the light for fear their sins will be exposed and they will be punished.  But those who do what is right come to the light gladly, so everyone can see that they are doing what God wants."  JOHN 3:16-21

 Jesus Christ, the gift to the world, is what brings our life upright.  From gray ashes to a crown of beauty.  

  
Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”  JOHN 14:6

And without Jesus "this" pillar (you and I) cannot stand.  For God is the source of our strength. 

The LORD is my strength and shield. I trust him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving.  PSALM 28:7

He is our firm foundation.  He is our rock in which we can stand.  

A relationship with Him gives us inner strength to endure. 

Have you ever noticed a pillar and the enormous loads it carries?  And how many times have we gone into a building and totally overlook the pillars and just see everything else?      

Sometimes I look at these pillars in some of these buildings and I wonder how can they hold up so much weight?  

Sometimes we overlook individuals in the church who are pillars.  Sometimes we look at other people's lives and think how in the world can they handle all that is happening in their life and still have peace?  

Again I am reminded only submission to God's love can we accomplish infinitely more than we would ever dare to ask or hope for.  And the acknowledgment of God's love in our lives brings glory to Jesus Christ.  
   

“Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” HEBREWS 4:16

“In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.” EPHESIANS 3:12

We are a witness of God.   God is our life… for without Him we do not have life but everything that is opposite of what God wants for us. 

God's everlasting love- empowers and encourages and enlightens us.   

Paul wrote: "I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will give you mighty inner strength through his Holy Spirit.  And I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your hearts as you trust in him.  May your roots go down deep into the soil of God's marvelous love.  and may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high and how deep his love really his is.  May you experience the love of Christ, though it is so great you will never fully understand it.  Then you will be filled with the fullness of life and power that comes from God. Now glory be to God!  By his mighty power at work within us, he is able to accomplish infinitely more than we would ever dare to ask or hope.  May he be given glory in the church and in the Christ Jesus forever and ever through the endless ages Amen."   EPHESIANS 3:16-21

A relationship with God gives us hope "color", inner strength, but also shapes and molds us. 

TURQUOISE

Did you know the turquoise stone is easily shaped and polished?

Reminds me a bit of what happens as a Christian matures in Christ.

"And you are living stones that God is building into his spiritual temple. What's more, you are his holy priests. Through the mediation of Jesus Christ, you offer spiritual sacrifices that please God." 1 PETER 2:5


Turquoise also represents the tribe of Judah/ Yehudah in the priest's breastplate.

Judah means "Give praise to the Lord." Yehudah in Hebrew means: to submit, the center of the Divine, the Way, humility inspired by submission to the divine, gratitude, thanks, and kingship.

Once again we see.... "the Way."  Who is the Way? Jesus Christ.

I have found this true as well... through humility inspired by submission to the divine, come wisdom, and gratitude. 
 
Judah also is represented by the symbol of the "lion".

WHO do we know as the LION OF JUDAH and King of kings?

That's right... Jesus Christ.  

"Then one of the elders said to me, "Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals." REVELATION 5:4

"On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: king of kings and lord of lords." REVELATION 19:16


And we as Christians belong to Jesus Christ,  the LION of JUDAH and KING of kings!

You might be asking, so does this turquoise pillar represent Jesus Christ?  This pillar is a witness of Jesus Christ.

Let us conclude with this scripture.

“I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.  Behold, I will make those of the synagogue of Satan who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie—behold, I will make them come and bow down before your feet, and they will learn that I have loved you.  Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth. I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown. The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God. Never shall he go out of it, and I will write on him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down from my God out of heaven, and my own new name. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”  REVELATION 3:8-13

Those Inspired by God Inspire Others Part 2

 

Who INSPIRES you?  How do others INSPIRE you? 

As I was guided on this devotion God gave me a banquet of inspiring individuals.   There were biblical figures like Joseph, David, and Moses.  There were writers like the Apostles Paul and John and C.S. Lewis.  There were local athletes like Becky Hammon who said, "I just first want to thank my Heavenly Father -for none of this would be possible without Him." And there were friends - some who a have passed through the veil of this life into eternity.  One friend recently called me out of the blue.  He sold everything and went on a walk with God.  Backpack strapped to his back and guitar in one hand he obediently walked where God told him to go.  He said, "Jeff, God really took care of me.  I didn't have to sleep one day on the streets."  Now married, he lives in Arizona, has written a book, works at a Christian camp, and enjoys views of the mountains

I find people who INSPIRE others and "awaken" OTHERS to the reality of God's love- are those
who are encouraged and inspired by God.

What do we know of those who INSPIRE us?

• They are resilient.... they can occasionally be oppressed but WATCH OUT!  They can come back stronger in their faith then before -for they trust in the LORD and their strength comes from the LORD.
• They have a godly perspective.
• They are in the Word of God.   They read it and abide in it.  They depend on it.   
• They pursue what God has put in their hearts regardless to human opinions, ideals and obstacles.
• They look to God who is their constant help.
• They seek God for guidance.
• They know God makes a way where there seems to be no way.  
•  They see and recognize it's God who appoints whoever He wants to His purpose regardless of human ideals, abilities, traditions or opinions. 
•  They cannot help but give glory to God for all he does in their life.
•  They are ambassadors for Christ.  
• They inspire others in their goodness. 
  

We as human beings do not produce godly goodness by ourselves.  Godly resilience doesn't come naturally.  Even the Christian hope, love and genuine faith do not come by us naturally.

God is the one who puts that faith in us... does he not?  He gives us that measure of faith that we might seek Him and find Him.

"You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." JEREMIAH 29:13


And In Him that seed of faith grows... but if we depart from him we can do nothing good.
  
Jesus said, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." JOHN 15:5

GOD is LIFE.   HE gives LIFE. 

Jesus said,  “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." JOHN 14:6

Look at this carefully.... You and I without Jesus are miserable creatures.   Without Jesus we do not have eternal salvation in heaven.   Without Jesus we have no way in which to follow.   Without Jesus we have no truth in which to stand and can believe in when in troubles come.  And LIFE of peace and security and fulfillment is always beyond our reach without JESUS.

Without God there is no WAY, there is no TRUTH, and no LIFE.

Jesus is the way.  He is the one who is to guide our lives.  He is our shepherd.   Everything has life through Him.  I have found the truths of God are trustworthy.  They are an anchor to the lives to those who hold on to them.  And they are much deeper and richer and powerful then any one of us can imagine.  They go far beyond what we can see and understand in natural woman or man.   God’s truths are eternal and they are for our souls which are eternal.  That is why we all must understand nothing on this earth can satisfy- for our eternal souls can only be satisfied by what is eternal.

JESUS GIVES LIFE....  HE GIVES HOPE AND INSPIRATION!  HE gives our lives light, goodness and resilience.

Ever say or hear "Be better, do better, get stronger, be more righteous...." that is all useless non-sense without the reassuring godly perspective that comes from a continual relationship with God.   Has the Spirit of God ever fallen short to our sure will power, strength, determination and foolish pride?    
Of course NOT!

Ever smell a delicious warm meal being cooked and prepared?  Would those mouth watering aromas fill the air without being exposed to heat?
 
Does a delicious warm meal cook itself?   Of course not....  It has to be cooked/ exposed to the heat.   It has to be prepared by someone who knows how to cook it.   It is so with our lives.... God has put all the unique ingredients into our being.  God is the master cook.  He knows how to bring out the delicious aromas of our life.  He knows how to make our lives taste good.   He is the one who needs to work through us. 

I was reminded by the Spirit just a second ago of this passage. "Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma." Ephesians 5:2

Think about this statement for a moment by Jesus,  "Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me; otherwise believe because of the works themselves." JOHN 14:11

What is Jesus saying here?   He and the Father are ONE.   They work TOGETHER. 
Jesus is saying LOOK at the RESULTS of the Father and I as ONE.  What does that say about us and God?  It says we NEED GOD  to be our source of hope and inspiration.  

2 Corinthians says, "For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing," 2:15

How can we be the aroma of Christ unless we are allowing God to work and inspire our lives?
 
God help us to remain in and abide in His amazing love. 

GOD INSPIRED 
We know the word of God is "inspired by God" but what does "inspired" really mean.

Come with me for a moment to Ezekiel 37.  Think about this for a moment...   Who's words did Ezekiel speak when he spoke to the dry bones that covered the valley floor?  Did he speak his own words or GOD'S WORDS?
  
Ezekiel spoke what God had him speak to the dry bones.  The bones began to rattle and come together..... flesh and muscle covered them.  Ezekiel spoke again what God had him speak ...and breath came into those bodies.  And before Ezekiel knew it there stood a great vast army before Him.

Ezekiel spoke God's words which made those bones come together- covered those bones with muscle and skin and gave those bodies life.

We were headed for death... we were as hopeless and uninspired as those scattered bones.  But when a person spoke what God had told them to speak, what happened to our life that was headed for death?  LIFE!  
   
"For when we brought you the Good News, it was not only with words but also with power, for the Holy Spirit gave you full assurance that what we said was true.  And you know that the way we lived among you was further proof of the truth of our message."  1 THESSALONIANS 1:5 

God wants to INSPIRE US making us productive children of God but sadly we don't give him the time and attention he deserves to inspire us.   Then there is the thought by some that we have everything we need - so why take the time to spend with God but that is erroneous thinking.  Yes we have the Holy Spirit in us, if we have accepted Jesus Christ to be LORD of our life, but have you allowed the roommate of your soul to speak to you and encourage and inspire you?  

Again who is the MASTER cook?  Who can bring out the delicious aromas GOD poured into your soul's make-up when HE created you?  You or God?   Do you know God's plans for you?  Do you know what is to come tomorrow?  God does?  So let HIM prepare and inspire you for what is to come. 

May God be our INSPIRED lives.

May God Inspire You and Me.... Part 1

Have you ever asked God to inspire you?  I mean REALLY inspire you?

Why do people forget or don't ask God for inspiration?

Do people not ask God for inspiration out of some erroneous ideal of independence.... or ignorance... or perception to impress God... Honestly.... can anyone really impress God?     

  Is it because they are shackled in some doctrine, tradition, or human understanding or philosophy?
 
  Does God ever say, "Now that you are saved go do this life alone?  I think NOT... I have read, "I am with you always, even to the end of the age."
 MATTHEW 28:20

Do they feel God is untrustworthy in some way?

But the question that follows, "If we don't trust in God, who do we trust?"

Who do we trust?  Who do we trust to inspire us?  Do we trust in ourselves?  Do we put unhealthy amount of trust in people as if they are to never let us down?  People are people and they are just as fallible as we are.

JEREMIAH 17:5 says: This is what the LORD says: "Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who draws strength from mere flesh and whose heart turns away from the LORD."

Do people feel they might be testing God when they ask for inspiration?

Why does the bible say? "Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which knowest not.
JEREMIAH 33:3

And if God/ Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever (Hebrews 13:8) and God has no favorites (Romans 2:11, Acts 10:34) and we are looking at Jeremiah 33:3 then why wouldn't he want to inspire us?

If the men and women of the bible were inspired by what they saw, heard, and experienced from God, are we not to be inspired by God today as well?

The Word of God, the bible, says,  "All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work." 2 TIMOTHY 3:16

If GOD cares and provides for our physical needs then WHY would HE not provide for our SPIRITUAL NEEDS that ignite and fuel our life to do good works?     

If the bible, that is inspired by God..... then is our life not to be inspired and qualified by what the bible says?  Has He not shown the reality of these things in the bible to be true?  Why would he stop?  Why would he not take us DEEPER?

 "But God has given us the revelation of these things through his Spirit, for the Spirit makes search into all things, even the deep things of God." 1 CORINTHIANS 2:10

 Paul writes: "I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit.  Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.
Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen."  EPHESIANS 3:16-21

Again... the "infinitely more than we might ask or think"

Does this not speak of the empowering or enabling effect of inspiration GOD is to have over our lives? 

Jesus said, "Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven." MATTHEW 18:3

When we were small children, nothing seemed impossible or unreachable.  We were inspired so easily.....  Why then in our older ages have we at times accepted human opinion, imaginations, fears... things we can only physically see over what God has said and wants to inspire us to live and be?   
  
How might a child of God be empowered, encouraged and be invigorated and refreshed to live higher then "ordinary" lives?

How might we all reach what we thought was never possible?   How might all Christians step into what God has prepared for them?

 But just as it is written, "THINGS WHICH EYE HAS NOT SEEN AND EAR HAS NOT HEARD, AND which HAVE NOT ENTERED THE HEART OF MAN, ALL THAT GOD HAS PREPARED FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM."  1 CORINTHIANS 2:9

"For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."  EPHESIANS  2:10


Just think, we, God's handiwork....  and God knowing every intimate detail of our "being" has just the  "RIGHT" keys to unlock the inspiration we need "personally" to aspire to His will for our life...
I say "personally" for we are not all the same but we all need God to inspire us in different ways. 

Jesus said, "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 10:10

Think about this for a moment.   Have you asked God to inspire you?   I have asked God to inspire me more.  I know...  As if you and I could ever catch the entire deluge of God's inspiration in the paper cup of our entire being.... but that's precisely the point.

You know this verse......? "..... Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over." Psalm 23:5

 "My cup runneth over".... means to me that God exceeds our expectations in all his goodness, grace and love.

Think about this, Think about David who wrote these words... think about his life.  God inspired Him and through that inspiration gave him encouragement and strength.  He went from a shepherd boy in the field to the king of Israel.     

 "But those who trust in the LORD will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint."  Isaiah 40:31

GOD needs to INSPIRE us.

Dealing with the Distrubing

Did you know God is the best story teller?  Look at his millions of stories he has written in the pages of time.  And Son like Father.... Jesus, who we are saved by, often told people stories to illustrate biblical truth.

Fiction or not do you believe in the power of stories? Do you believe in what they represent?  Stories pass down history, entertain, teach, and also warn.
 

NOTE: Evil is no stranger to story telling either...  think of the false things of this world... the gossip, lies, deception, and making fun of others and so on.... 

Christians writers often write about such dangers.  J.R.R. Tolkien wrote about a powerful wizard, Saruman in the Lord of the Rings who was seduced into serving evil and darkness.   King Theoden of Rohan who became powerless as he was poisoned and bewitched with words of his chief adviser Grima Wormtongue.  The drawf King Thror seduced by arrogance and riches of gold.  And who can forget the murderous riddling Gollum filled with deception, rage, and greed, who probably would have never become so if he hadn't laid eyes on that "single" ring.   

C.S. Lewis also wrote about evil in the beloved stories of "The Chronicles of Narnia".  Where the children not only face the evils in Narnia but the hidden evils in themselves such as pride, greed, and covetousness.
 
The bible (not fictional) speaks of many accounts of those tricked, seduced, and tempted into acts of evil.

Adam and Eve.... to King Saul and King David..... to Judas who saw the miracles and heard the life giving words of the Lord Jesus Christ yet betrayed him for the temporary pleasures of thirty pieces of silver.  These warnings echo off and reflect off the pages of bible for us today that we might heed them seriously.  

We expect evil from the world but in some ignorance or naive or absent minded thinking- we, the body of Christ, think we are immune to disturbing acts in our midst but in a sad reality we are not. 

The bible speaks of those falling away.  It speaks of those seduced into acts of evil.  It speaks of wolves amongst the sheep.   It speaks of chaff and tares among the wheat.  It speaks of false teachers and prophets. It speaks of goats and sheep
  
But as the song goes...  "Don't Dream It's Over." (Sixpence None the Richer.)

Dealing with the Disturbing:

Jesus said "I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world." John 16:33

How we forget... this world/ life which can have some mighty disturbing and heartbreak moments is only temporary.   

How we forget...  Satan, the prince of this world, the same serpent who poisoned those in the past is still working hard today.  And like a defeated prideful vengeful foe he awaits to give a strike with a devastating blow.  
 
How we forget.... 

Psalm 35:5 says, "Let them be like chaff in the wind, with the angel of the LORD driving them away." 

Psalm 37:10 says, "A little while, and the wicked will be no more; though you look for them, they will not be found.

Symptoms

I don't know about you but the most disturbing acts are NOT mistakes or momentary moments of lack of judgement BUT these willful deeds of evil by people who consider themselves Christians.  Evil so dark it is disturbing.   Evil that doesn't make any type of sense.  Evil that is just plain evil.  Evil that does not seek forgiveness or help but intentionally stays away from the light and continues to live in ignorance and practice evil.  Spiritually they have crept to the dark side of the moon.

When you hear of disturbing things, how do you react

• Do you become more protective, wary, or distrustful?
• Do you become more vigilant both outside and outside the church especially for your children and other people's children?
• Do you pay attention to those nagging feelings and/or the Spirit of God- saying less and observing more? 
• Do you ask why? 

I find the questions that arise  -will never be answered or never be answered to our liking.  

We can ask these questions until we can be SO overwhelmed.... that we start to forget to look up.   We start to look at everything with blinders--- where we see everything horizontally and very little on a vertical.   We can be so much on our guard that we aren't paying attention to what God wants us to say and do.  Preoccupation is one of the greatest tactics of the devil to stop God's work from being done and it seems he knows precisely when to let these things come to light.

People can become disillusioned because of what they have heard....  Some want to retreat deep within ourselves.....  Others might become more suspicious, not wanting to take a chance to reach out and become a friend to anyone seeing people as unpredictable and untrustworthy.   Then there are others who want to lash out and take vengeance.

Sin is often like spiritual vomit.  Just hearing about it makes one feel sick. 

The only thing I find most helpful when I hear of these disturbing things is taking them to the Lord. 

The Fallen

2 Peter 2:20-22 says "If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and are overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning. It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then to turn their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them.  [To love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul and all your strength.]  Of them the proverbs are true: “A dog returns to its vomit,”and, “A sow that is washed returns to her wallowing in the mud."

I have seen from what appears -the well seasoned, well versed, to the outwardly assured of faith fall into worse shape then those who never professed Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

Some I have pitied and some I have had to just "let go" and "distant" myself from- these are the ones who usually disappear.  

Some had us fooled.... Others... we might of had a feeling that something about them never sat right inside of us.  But when their evil deeds were exposed we all felt some kind of burden.....

The fallen, lost the snares of sin don't realize the pleasures of sin are fleeting... they are but a season.  They don't care or realize their millstone dropped in the pond of faith effects everyone. 

What Scripture says about those unwilling to turn from sin:

"hand this man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord." 1 Corinthians 5:5 

"Alexander the copper smith did me much harm; the Lord will repay him according to his deeds." 2 Timothy 4:14
  
Seeing fallen souls reminds us to be secure not in any means of our own -but be solely secure in God/Jesus Christ. 

Hebrews says, "Be careful then, dear brothers and sisters.  Make sure your own hearts are not evil and unbelieving, turning you away from the living God.  You must warn each other every day, as long as it is called, "today" so that none of you will be deceived by sin and hardened against God.   For if we are faithful to the end, trusting God just as firmly as when we first believed, we will share in all that belongs to Christ.  

But never forget this warning: 'Today you must listen to his voice.  Don't harden your hearts against him as Israel did when they rebelled.'  And who were those people who rebelled against God, even though they heard his voice?  Weren't they the ones Moses lead out of Egypt? And made God angry for forty years?  Wasn't it the people who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? And to whom was God speaking when he vowed that they would never enter his place of rest?  He was speaking to those who disobeyed him.   So we see that they were not allowed to enter his rest because of their unbelief.  God's promise of entering his place of rest still stands, so we ought to tremble with fear that some of you might fail to get there.  For this Good News- that God has prepared a place of rest- has been announced to us just as it was to them.  But it did them no good because they didn't believe what God told them.  For only we who believe can enter his place of rest.  As for those who didn't believe, God said, 'In my anger I made a vow: 'They will never enter my place of rest,' even though his place of rest has been ready since he made the world." Hebrews 3:12-4:3  

Note the writer isn't writing to those of the world but people in the church.  He saying you Christians, who have seen the mercies, miracles, signs and wonders of God, could easily fall into sin just as Israel -who also so the miracles and powers of God.  Look what happened to them because of sin... they never entered the promise land but their bodies fell in the wilderness.        

"In the fear of the LORD there is strong confidence, And his children will have refuge. The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, That one may avoid the snares of death.…" Proverbs 14:26-27     

People say.... "They knew God's word." But how many times have we heard stories of people knowing God's word but it having no effect on their life....?  I find most often these people are reckless with God's word and swing it in any way they want.    Just because they know all the right words be careful - the devil knew all the right words as well.  He comes to steal, kill and destroy in lies, deception and manipulation.   

Some know the word of God but do not know it as they ought to know it.

Seeds in a package do nothing until they are put in the ground and watered.   We may know the words of the bible "mentally" but have we sought God to the empower and nurture those words within us with a relationship with Him keeping the spiritual fire burning within us?    

".... Knowledge makes arrogant but love edifies.  If anyone supposes that he knows anything he has not yet known as he ought to know, but if anyone loves God, He is known by Him." 1 Corinthians 8:1-3
 
Knowledge without the empowering nurturing love that comes from above- is what?  What does 1 Corinthians 13 say?  It is a waste, it is no good to anyone, and even can be dangerous.  It even a false sense of security.     

³ For I say to every man that is among you, through the grace given unto me, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.  Romans 12:3
  
"Soberly"... right now means to me..... seeing our need in God. 

Our Need
  
Jesus said, "God bless those who realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is given to them."

In every instance, do we realize our need for God?

What is the spiritual distance we stand from God- figuratively?  Is he before us, behind us.... beside us?  Is he even there at all?   Do we think we got "it" all taken care of...?  I sure don't!

Scripture says we are complete in Christ.  That is Man (6) + God (1) = 7.  Seven represents completeness.      

God works through the Spirit ----touching and teaching our soul ----guiding the mind and body.   BUT it is not how the world operates which is manipulated from the outside. 

Then he answered and spoke unto me, saying, “This is the word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel, saying, ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ saith the Lord of hosts.  Zechariah 4:6

"This is what the LORD says: "Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who depends on flesh for his strength and whose heart turns away from the LORD." Jeremiah 17:5

A man who turns away from God isn't complete.... he is always looking for completion or satisfaction within himself or from world.  

HOW is it that we think we can save ourselves or be self-sufficient when God is the one who saved us, transforms us and makes and prepares and encourages our way? He is the one who completes us. 

Does self-sufficiency fit into Micah 6:8? 
  
⁸ He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, and to love kindness and mercy, and to humble yourself and walk humbly with your God? Micah 6:8

• Does self-sufficiency fit into a lump of clay on a potter's wheel or is the lump transformed when the Creator is working on and in as it sits on the potter's wheel?

"Yet you, LORD, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand." Isaiah 64:8


We are not our own.... we were never designed to be self- sufficient- self-sufficiency grows from the idea of arrogance and thinking more highly of ourselves then we should.  For God is and was always to be our strength and source of encouragement. 

• Does self-sufficiency fit into a child? A child depends on their parents to fulfill their needs.  We as children of God are to depend on God from salvation to the rest of life.

He (Jesus) called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. ³ And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 18:2-3
 

• How about branches?

"Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches.  Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit.  For apart from me you can do nothing.  Anyone who parts from me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers.  Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned.  But if you stay joined to me and my words remain in you, you may ask any request you like, and it will be granted!" John 15:5-7

It is HIM not us.

Remain

Jesus said, “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?"  Matthew 6:25-27
  
Who is holding the burden?  I tend to worry and get anxious over a lot of stuff because I am holding the burden instead of giving it to God who liberates me in His love.  I see no point, and get exhausted and frustrated and let thoughts and imaginations run rampant when I don't trust or rely on God who wants me to accept and embrace His love.  

For a few of us ... arrogance is not our problem.   But we just forget how precious we are to God so we allow life to bully us.   So often this world makes people feel unimportant or unworthy and not good enough.  We have to be reminded it's Him... He is the one who counts.  It's not us or anyone else.   

Perhaps "nothing" truly is good enough and that is precisely why Jesus came.  He came to fulfill all our shortcomings in all the measures and depths of this short existence we have on this planet.  We all fall short of God's glorious standard and obviously we all don't have the means on our own to find and live a good and satisfying life.  Once again he came to complete what was incomplete. 

Jesus says, ".... Remain in my love, just as I obey my Father and remain in his love.  I have told you this so that you will be filled with my joy.  Yes, your joy will overflow!  John 15:9-11

Knowing the Power of the Good News 
  
"For Christ didn't send me to baptize, but to preach the Good News- and not with clever speech, for fear that the cross of Christ would lose its power. " 

THink of it... the power of knowing what comes through the cross of Christ.   

If we really took everything in.... the magnitude and scope of what we are given through the Cross of Jesus Christ we would be so amazed.   

But to the world who doesn't realize this .... it is not just imaginable but foolish.... Because they are closed off by their cynical minds.  

It was through God's love the scales fell from our eyes, the heart was changed and we were set free.......   The door of light was revealed to us and we took it, setting in motion new understanding and realities of words written over thousands of years before our time.     
 
1 Corinthians 1 says "But to those called by God to salvation, both Jew and Gentile, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God."

He is the author and finisher of our story and in the words of Paul.... "As a result, no one can ever boast in the presence of God. 

To those not decided... "Let go and Let God."

For Jesus said, "For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it." Matthew 16:25    

Knowing

Those who think they know something do not yet know as they ought to know. 1 Corinthians 8:2

The Poor Master

Figuring it was safe to linger a little, the master wandered through the halls where he saw great statues and busts of warn bronze -warmed by glowing glass lanterns hanging in their high arched wood surroundings. 

Yet in all these earthly treasures, the delight of the eye did not hinder him from his companions.  For the master knew what it felt like to be worrisome of other people‘s whereabouts and did not want to burden others with his.  He joined them in a room beside a marble stairway. 

Inside the queen spoke of the jewels that were being shown to her but before the master could hear what had been spoken a gruff voice charged at him from the shadows, “And how is it a stupid looking fool like yourself that is good for nothing be with such companions?”

The master turned to see an old man who was overseer of the room, “I suppose it is by the grace of God, that I am.” 

The humble response gave no reason for the old man to reply and the master joined his companions but for some reason the stranger’s question was like a hard heavy shard of sharp medal that had fallen into the depths and slid from one shelf to another until it struck the master’s soft heart and echoed something terrible back.

It wasn’t apparent how troubling these words were until their business was completed and they exited the great hall where their horses were awaiting.

Everyone saddled, the master saddled his own horse and hanging his head a little he spoke the rusty words that came from the haul of his soul, “You don’t think I am stupid fool do you?  I am of some use to you aren’t I?” 

His companions looked at him, “You are no fool nor a stupid fool.  And of course we are in need of your services,” they replied.

The master wondered how this was true.  They had a map.  They didn’t seem to have any problem handling themselves in large or small crowds.   All the master did was pack and haul their possessions and keep them away from certain establishments.  They could have done this all on their own.

The queen, only looking down the road said, “Don’t let that man’s words get to you.”

For the rest of the trip the master remained quiet but his brain was not for it busily dug through dusty pages thought to be forgotten and lost.

When they arrived at hilltop.  He unloaded their things and when out to the garden.    

There he sifted through the pages that his memory had put aside and like slow leak in a ship he swallowed each and every one of them until tears came from the creases of his eyes and down his cheeks.  He remembered all the flickers of chastisement.   He remembered being told he wasn’t good enough, smart enough or handsome enough.   Acidic memories smoldered in the master’s mind.    He worked three times as hard as anyone yet for some reason it was never good enough.   “NEVER GOOD ENOUGH,” seemed to be the theme through the pages of the master’s life.   He was stripped of everything…. He was a man labeled a master but was poor in the sights of this world.   He was just a simple caretaker.  He was a… nobody.

That night he crawled inside his bunk.  Not a word fell from his lips in the moonlight.  He let the peaceful quiet blanket him until he was fast asleep.

It wasn’t until the next day when he then remembered something that walloped the curtains of darkness and a reminding light came… not saying he forgot the pain but like two oars gracing the water, he began to row in the truth of the light he been shown and out from what was there to shipwreck him in the darkness. 

We all come into this world with nothing and leave this world with nothing.

And when the day comes… the master knew he would walk through that small gate and grab hold of the hand that awaits for him and they we will run as if never had run before up that tall grassy hill to see what awaits on the other side in the bright happy yellow light.

“No one is good enough” and only faith in Jesus Christ makes it so we can enter heaven. It won’t be our earthly achievements, our earthly failures, our abilities, or job titles or our looks that get us into heaven.   It will be Jesus Christ. 

Pay Attention to Your Own Work

"Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won't need to compare yourself to anyone else."
Galatians 6:4

Capricious

Three words awoke me a recent morning.  It was 4:24AM.  I wrote them down on the palm of my hand in the dark.  Capricious, Rebellious... and one other I couldn't read or remember so I have since given up on the third word.

Capricious isn't a word I use in either my verbal or written vocabulary.  Those who know me and have read this blog know this. 

To be completely honestly, I didn't even know what capricious meant exactly until I looked it up.  

I wasn't even sure if "capricious" was even in the bible but to my surprise it is.  

"And I will make mere lads their princes, and capricious children will rule over them." ISAIAH 3:4 

Children: The English translation is "children" but what does it say in the Hebrew?  This word "children" means servant or a young man or women in their twenties.  This is someone much older then a what we would think of as a child.  Then we must also think in terms of how God looks at human race...  we are but children to Him.   
  
Capricious: So what does "capricious" mean when translated? One who acts childish...  one who is ill-tempered, unreasonably ill-tempered, presumptuous, arrogant, insulting in manners, insolent, rude, disrespectful, impertinent or improper as to question God, a grown-up or one with more experience.

Princes:  In the Hebrew the root word prince means: leader, commander (especially over soldiers, or a royal body guard, a cup bearer, of a city, a prison, or cattle.  They are representative leaders of the people.  And in the book of Daniel 10:13,20 ) the term is used a "princes of angels"- the archangels that interceding with God. Then I was reminded of a dream I was given that had "princes" in it. 

When I referred to my notes, the dream was at the end January. In the dream, a friend (unknown to me as of right now) and I,  were given a large round box to deliver....  My friend and I went to deliver the box and when these group to earthly kings/princes came out and saw what we had to deliver they told tell us, "We don't want it because it is covenant."  So what were we to do... it was cold so we crossed the street with the unwanted box where it began to burn a fire inside of it...  Oddly stuck my hand into the box and did not get burned as a rummaged through it's contents.   Inside was a wood medallion as big as a dinner plate and underneath it some rings.  The rings don't seem to be anything of value to the human eye.  They look to be made of aluminum with strips of thin paper attached to on the top as if reminders.   At the bottom of the box was a cashiers check written to the United States of America but the amount of the check was left blank.  A blank check from God? And they didn't want it because they didn't want a covenant with God which meant they would have to obey the very statutes of God that bring life not destroy it.

These princes/kings looked at God's gifts as cheap and religious.  God was giving the princes and kings of the United States a blank check but they didn't want it... they would rather govern and dictate in capricious ways then submit and obey God.

The means of capriciousness..... 

A capricious person is one who casts off restraint.  

• They do what is right in their own sight. 
• They do not seek godly truth, godly reason or godly direction.
• They chase and follow and fall into every whim.  
• They stay away from, obscure and diffuse the light or what is right. 
• They are double minded and unstable... James 1:8  because their allegiance isn't solely on God.    

"Arbitrary" is another close description of capricious.... which describes a course of action or a decision that is not based on reason or judgment but on personal will or discretion without regard to rules or standards.  

I am reminded of our last ballot.... "Should those in government abide by the same laws as their they they govern?"

Is this type of capricious thinking preached and taught in television shows?  Revenge and lawlessness is okay as long as it gets what you want.  Sex is okay if it gets you what you want.  Lies are okay if it gets you what you want.  The list goes on and on.   It is without regard that all will have to stand before God.   Without saying it implements bad faith and erroneous thinking.   There is no godly logic or understanding.... and yet how many times have we seen this in history?  And how this has become the framework of oppressive rulers who do hideous things.   Think about when the anti-Christ comes to rule the world.  How difficult will it be for him to take reign when godly reason and logic are not even whispers in the streets?   And even though there is a God their minds and hearts will blind to Him like dark clouds that put a veil in front of the sun.     

Are we not living more and more in a capricious society? 

A society with complete disregard of the things of God.   A society that is estranged from God.  A society that believes "Whatever goes except God."  And it seems the more we try to better ourselves in our own understanding the more unrecognizable and undefined morality becomes.

Again... "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not depend on your own understanding." says the bible. Proverbs 3:5

It is as if everything on this world (that isn't anchored to God) is on a slippery slope and it has nothing to grab hold of to stop it from slippery further.  It is helpless to stop itself.  

Is any government not submitted to God not becoming more indifferent, arbitrary and capricious?  

Are they not deciding what is best based on their own reasoning and whims?

Yet why does God put such people over our lives?   Read Isaiah 3.  What will God take away from an unfaithful nation? Those with wisdom have been let go of... and in their place are put individuals who do not have the experience or know how.    People makes decisions based on what they think is right but they aren't anchored to God's statutes. 

Now lets look the log in our eye?   Let us humble ourselves before God seeing our erroneous thinking and knowing God has no favorites. 

Have churches in the past and are some churches today capricious in not abiding in what is written clearly in the bible?

Leaders! Ask yourself, are you estranging people from God and the things of God to make yourself comfortable and others comfortable?   Is your reasoning conducive to God or just to people?

I am reminded of Moses who chased of the shepherds away who wouldn't allow the woman to come and drink and water their animals at the well.  Is the bride of Christ not being allowed to drink from the well? Are they only given what you dictate?  If Moses only chased them away, what will Christ do to such shepherds when he comes?   

Church, those who claim Jesus is Lord and Savior, examine if you have become capricious in anyway? Examine if you in your ideals of "comfort" have favored people over God? Examine if you have become ashamed of God in anyway? Is the bible true from cover to cover?         

God is not capricious.... He is the same yesterday, today and forever. Hebrews 13:8

Clearly man left to only his own "tactic" is capricious.   A capricious man doesn't say, "Lord willing" but he goes right ahead and does it anyway suffering the consequences of his godless ways.

Faith..... is submission to God is it not?

For in the measure of faith given and grown and tended to by the Spirit of God- capriciousness is limited and put in restraint.  The lungs that breath such godly understanding do well and gracefully grow in the unlimited resources of God- not the limited understanding of man or the whims of the man.  

When the Spirit is allowed freedom in one's life it becomes evident of the anchor one has in the love and wisdom of God.    

Capriciousness is born and bred from our own selfish understanding which limits us.  For our own "fickle" understanding is like a barrier stopping us from entering the will of God.  For this we already know through experience but in capricious thinking we make a fatal error- thinking God is capricious as well in all he decides and orchestrates. 

AND in capriciousness that is where the bad type of fear has it's place towards God.  Where can a man stand in his faith if God is capricious?  No where!  No man can stand on what is unsettle.  Praise God! He is called our ROCK!  He does not change.

God maybe unorthodox but he is not capricious in his ways and all he has set up from the beginning.

AND God hasn't given us the spirit of fear - but gives us the ability to have a sound mind.  For the Spirit goes to work taking the selfish rebellious sword in all it's capriciousness and turns it into a godly plowshare.  He, the Spirit, tills up the hard ground of erroneous capricious thinking so new godly growth can flourish in what was veiled before by our own selfish understanding.  For mere human might or power does nothing but by the Spirit of God accomplishes what God has purposed and ordained.   

For who can find the well of life in the desert when one can only see sand?  And who can bring life to a desert?