Attitude of a Soldier: What's Inside?

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Are you bored? Have you become indifferent? Have you been lulled into a false sense of security? Does your life mirror more the world then Christ?  Has your soil turned hard and/or dry?  Has your life been crowded by the affairs of this life and have you let the birds of the air steal was is rightful yours from God?  Have you settled for moldy bread? Who has become GREATER in your life?         

Recently I had a dream where I graduated as a Marine.  When I awoke, I pondered, “Me a Marine?”  I might as well been Gideon at the wine press threshing some wheat when he heard the angle of the LORD say,

“The LORD is with you, O mighty man of valor.” Judges 6:12

This dream urged me to see how the code of a U.S. Marine mirrors the characteristics of a soldier in Christ.  There are three characteristics a Marine is to possess.   These three attributes are also to be possessed by the soldier of Christ Jesus.

Marines are to have Honor…

“'Therefore, the LORD, the God of Israel, says: I promised that your branch of the tribe of Levi would always be my priests. But I will honor those who honor me, and I will despise those who think lightly of me.” 1 Samuel 2:30

We are to revere, honor and abide in God who empowers us to exemplify good ethical and moral behavior. We love, respect, and have concern for our fellow believers and others.  In God we are to mature, trust and depend.  We are accountable for our actions and hold others accountable for their actions. 

“But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its rays. And you will go out and frolic like well-fed calves.  Then you will trample on the wicked; they will be ashes under the soles of your feet on the day when I act,” says the LORD Almighty.”  Malachi 4:2-3

I think part of the trouble with the church in America today is not fearing or reverencing the LORD as they should and above all things.  We look at the world as being this monstrous machine cutting down anyone who doesn’t conform to its erroneous opinion but who is the source of this erroneous thinking to start with? Satan.  Yes the people of this world act just like Satan.  They want to kill, steal, belittle, bully, and destroy anything that goes against their erroneous thinking.  BUT hasn’t Satan been defeated? So WHO should we rightfully fear then? Who’s TRUTH will stand forever?

 “Woe (judgment is coming) to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness; Who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!” Isaiah 5:20

How true it is about JOY being a byproduct of reverencing the LORD and JOY bolstering COURAGE.   

Marines are to have Courage…

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” Deuteronomy 31:6

We are to have courage in God who is to be continually our mental, spiritual, moral and physical strength that sees us through the spiritual warfare and daily challenges of this life.  He gives us mastery of fear, to do what his right, lead by example, and make tough decisions under stressful situations.   We take courage in God who gives us a higher standard of conduct.  

As the United States and the world progresses down this downward slippery slope as it has, many churches will be pressured and start to compromise to appease the immoral appetites of the world but their appetites will never be appeased.  As you see churches fall and marry into the culture rather then stay faithful to God, God wants us to take courage in Him and obey Him rather than human authority. (Acts 5:29).   

Marines are to have Commitment...

“Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this:  He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn, your vindication like the noonday sun.” Psalm 37:5-6

We are to willfully, daily commit, surrender, and humble ourselves before God knowing God’s commitment to us.  He is for us not against us.  For in His continual faithfulness- he promotes excellence in every endeavor and to endure.   In His commitment He promotes in us self-discipline.  He prompts concern and love for others.  We see the horrors of the spiritual warfare but we look to His unrelenting faithfulness... He makes certain we finish this race and helps use emulate Christ in this increasing darkening world.  The darker the world becomes the more we will illuminate Christ. It’s His all-empowering grace that does this in us.

God wants to feed and "really" nourish our soul so it can rise above our understanding and soar like He intends.  

 

So in Short, a soldier in Christ is to:

Honor God…

Take Courage in God…

and Commit to God…

“Then those who feared the LORD spoke with each other, and the LORD listened to what they said.  In his presence, a scroll of remembrance was written to record the names of those who feared him and loved to think about him.  ‘They will be my people,’ says the LORD Almighty. ‘On the day when I act, they will be my own special treasure.  I will spare them as a father spares an obedient and dutiful child.’”  Malachi 3:16-17

Amen.

Internalizing Our Faith

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During the Christmas season we often "externalize" our faith with Christian activities and gifts but what needs to come forth as we participate in all these festivities is the light that comes from internalizing our faith.   

Internalizing our faith is the most important thing we can do for others and ourselves. 

What does internalizing our faith mean?

Internalizing our faith is what God has been quietly stirring and growing, producing and maturing in us in our daily relationship with Him.

Let Your Light Shine

 ^“In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:16

We often think of good deeds as “deeds” alone but deeds are to be actions and genuine words that result from us looking  to God.

Think about the moon.  It doesn’t produce it’s own light but has light because it faces the sun. We have light because we are inwardly submitting and looking to God- the source of our light.  We aren’t denying God but allowing God shine from within.

John wrote,

“In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.” John 1:4-5

LIFE! Life isn’t a life of activity and possessions.   Life is experiencing the presence of God working in our life.

One might say when we internalize our faith in God then everything else will take care of it’s self.

IS THIS AN EASY TASK?

“But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.” Luke 5:16

If continually internalizing our faith were an easy task, do you think Jesus would have to go venture out away from the noise, static, clutter, and distraction of world?

Even Satan tries to keep us from internalizing our faith.

Remember when the Holy Spirit took Jesus into the wilderness for forty days? Satan showed up to try to divert Jesus from the Father’s objective to save humanity from their sin and restore their relationship with Him.  If Satan did that to Jesus do you not think he will command his demons to divert our attention away from God as well?

No it’s not easy.  We live in a world of go, go, go.  We go from one activity to another activity and even when we have a chance to sit and be still we become preoccupied on our electrical devices.   If you ask some who have retired, they are busier now then when they had a full time job. 

We need to continually be reminded to take time to be with the Lord.  We have a brother in Christ who set’s reminders on his cell phone to take a few moments to retreat into God.

We can get carried away and overwhelmed in this world.   The mud puddles of world can soak us as we pass by.  The thorns of agitations can take hold.   We can forget what good bread tastes like or there is a sun above the gray clouds.  We get the dust of world to clog our spiritual filter and if we not checked and maintained we can reflect the fallen mindsets and conditions of humanity.

 “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6

 

Think if Jesus had to get away from the messes of everyday life to pray then we ALSO must do this to find that CENTER- that sweet spot.

That CENTER where GOD enables us to live in “this quiet satisfying resilience” which comes when one internalizes their faith

This CENTER is impossible to have without prayer. 

The word says,  ^“pray without ceasing;” 1 Thessalonians 5:17

Prayer is a constant surrendering- a humbling submission that includes a genuine heart of gratitude where the seed of self -dies and we grow and abide in Christ but what happens when the plant or tree isn't watered and the warmth of God isn't allowed to shine on it?  The plant or tree will wilt, it's leaves will fall from it and it's fruit will turn and dry up on it's branches and it will die.

“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” Hebrews 11:6 

What happens when we pray?

I don’t know about you but when I challenge my doldrums and my lowest low in prayer, I am lifted out of those conditions.  I knock on God's door and door opens.  There is an unexplainable spiritual change that takes place inside of me.  What was impossible to reach moments before becomes possible through prayer and even song.  God gives me something to eat to nourish my soul and encourage me on in the day ahead. 

If I don’t seek God, who is the light, I can slip into deeper darkness and I can become ineffective as a vessel of God.

Think how the devil uses this to his advantage because so many do not challenge what comes against them in prayer.  

When we pray we are turning, submitting to God.  When we pray we are challenging everything that comes against us/ everything that tries to put our light out and get our focus off of God.

^“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7

Let’s take a moment….

Thank You LORD that you sent Jesus Christ to die on the cross and he rose from the grave to forgive our sins and empower us with a relationship with you through your Holy Spirit.  Lord, forgive me for offenses. Thank you LORD for your correction.  Thank you for your mercy and grace and unfailing love.  Thank you LORD that you are protecting and touching my family and providing for all their needs this day.  Thank you are protecting our minds and hearts this day.  Thank you LORD you are giving me renewed strength this day.  Thank you LORD for your guidance this day and ability this day. Thank you LORD you are touching “this need” right now.  I thank you LORD for your provision.  I thank you LORD for all the things I take for granted such as clean water, a bed and a pillow, electricity, a vehicle, a heater, a job, warm clothes, food in my refrigerator.  I thank you LORD you know my every need.  Thank you LORD you are giving me the words to speak.  Thank you LORD for ironing and straightening “this” situation and closing the doors that need to be shut. Thanks for the Spiritual bread you have for me to feed my soul this day and spiritual oil to keep my lamp burning bright for you.  Thank you LORD you are healing this person this day.  Thank you LORD you are encouraging this person this day.   Thank you LORD you touching this leader with your Spirit to make the right decisions.  LORD direct my footsteps and enable me to reflect your light to others around me this day.  Help me to stand fast when it is needed and difficult. In Jesus name Amen  

It’s amazing what happens throughout our day when we watch and take note and are made aware of what God does for us everyday.  Thank Him and watch what He does to gladden and enrich your soul.

… And the peace of God, which transcend all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. 

Something NEW

In learning to drive a stick shift, there can be a lot of jerking and grinding.  It can be pretty frustrating...  Maybe learning to drive a stick shift was at first a frustrating process … because we presumed it would be easier or maybe because we are.... perfectionists.... but how can learning to drive a stick shift pertain to daily life and how we look at life?

If we don't look to God first thing in the morning... our morning can start off jerking and grinding...   and we might not even get out of park or even first gear.  Forget coffee... without God you might as well had stayed in bed because coffee doesn't restrain what comes out of your mouth.  

Some people wake up and turn on the radio or television filling their heads with garbage first... how do you think that effects your thoughts?

And they wonder why they feel so negative about life.... without God -looking at the world our righteous anger might turn to hate, revenge, slander, bias, cursing, and violence.  God says to be angry but do not sin.  Looking at the world our feelings of oppression might turn to depression, hopelessness, self-pity, and loss of self worth.

Even our uncanny trait to presume something of the day can hinder us like a curse.  Have you ever heard someone say, “I dread Mondays”?  Why do they dread Mondays?  Are they looking only to their own understanding?  Where is their mindset?   Presumption is assumption by us not God and certainly not God living through us?  Might as well put blinders on and not even consider what God has for you on Mondays.

We live in a world where there is little or no certainty.  The only certainty people have is in God but what certainty do you have if you don’t have God?  Where are your hopes and dreams if you don’t have God? Can you make a positive difference if you don’t have your eyes on God?

The world jerks and grinds enough but our soul doesn’t need to jerk and grind with it. 

God’s word says…

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.  Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is- his good, pleasing and prefect will.” Romans 12:2

We might live in this disturbing world and clamors for our attention but we need to have a spiritual disconnect from the world because if we are Christian then our real life is hidden in Christ. 

“For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God.” Colossians 3:3

Stability doesn’t come from the world but God.  Why do you think the founding fathers of the United States based our country on the principles of God? They knew God gave them stability even in uncertain times.

We can see and hear and experience the murders and the injustices to Jews and Christians around the world but for us to function, as God wants us to we must keep our hearts in Godly perspective where God is to sit on the throne of our hearts.  Time is growing short for Satan so he is pulling out all he can to corrupt the world and turn against God’s own… to steal our rights- forget the constitution, kill the innocent and destroy what is right.  But for those saved in Jesus name… we have already WON.  And we must stand in our position Jesus Christ has WON for us. 

Jesus said…

 "I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”  John 10:9-10

God says, “For I will satisfy the weary soul, and every languishing soul I will replenish.” Jeremiah 3:25

David says, “He refreshes my soul.  He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.” Psalm 23:3

God says, “Those who hope in me will not be disappointed.”  Reference: Isaiah 49:23

We have WON in our INFINITE GOD. 

God being Infinite is about making things new in our life.  He isn’t stuck in thoughts of yesterday.  His mind isn’t seasoned by days of the past.  Nothing is routine or mundane with God.  He isn’t even surprised by the happenings of the day.  In our living, active, all knowing God we are not to go around and around- like some religious merry-go-round or listening to the enticing forked tongue earworm that works hard at trying to taint our thoughts.

We are striving to be and do what God wants us to be and do.   Seek He who is infinite, abide in He who is infinite and FIND.   Find the CHANGE of our lookout and in the CHANGE we CAN touch those around us.

The word says the uncompromising, the righteous are as bold as lions. [Reference: Proverbs 28:1] So do we believe it?   

God who makes a NEW DAY also makes us NEW… changing us from glory from glory. He does not save us and leave us but has given us Himself that we might turn away from the old and be renewed and empowered!

“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.” 2 Corinthians 3:17-18

He isn’t about religion but a faith that is living in the here and now.   He is about speaking to the here and now.  He is about making things fresh in the here and now.  He is the FIRE to makes the lasting flame not some flame that goes dim in the night!

Example: If a church stays in the past, it is the same as a mind that stays in the past- it isn’t living in the Spirit and truth for the Spirit makes the truth come ALIVE! The truth of word of God will always remain but the Spirit causes the truth to LIVE in US!    

ALIVE IS CHANGE… it isn’t a stagnate pond that collects blood sucking mosquitoes.  It is a river that supports life and brings life.

Our Infinite God is about NEW. 

“For I am about to do something new.  See, I have already begun!! Do you not see it?  I will make a pathway through the wilderness.  I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.” Isaiah 43:19

No one wants to live in the dry wasteland of ourselves, looking for something to satisfy our souls… no one want to live off the scraps of this world that acts like a bunch of vultures huddled around some smelly decomposing road kill.  Nor can anyone live off yesterday.  No one in their right mind says, “let’s eat that yesterday’s manna that now has maggots gathered on it.”  Does a fresh mountain stream come back the same way it came?   No! Only the decaying and dying do that.  God’s rivers bring refreshing, nourishment and LIFE! Forests and green pastures…

When we don’t seek God we end up flapping our wings wildly trying to get somewhere like a mad bee trapped in a clear vase.  We think we see clearly but we are stuck behind glass of our own understanding only wasting time and energy.  God says seek me and I will make you soar!

“Though youths grow weary and tired, And vigorous young men stumble badly, Yet those who wait for the LORD Will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary.” Isaiah 40:30-31

There is only ONE remedy to all this…. there is only ONE remedy to see and experience and live all the plans and possibilities God has in store for each one of us.  There is only ONE remedy that will make us prosperous and will be feed, sustained and cause our souls to flourish.

"Then the LORD your God will prosper you abundantly in all the work of your hand, in the offspring of your body and in the offspring of your cattle and in the produce of your ground, for the LORD will again rejoice over you for good, just as He rejoiced over your fathers; if you obey the LORD your God to keep His commandments and His statutes which are written in this book of the law, if you turn to the LORD your God with all your heart and soul.” Deuteronomy 30:9

Living, heart and soul, in God’s Spirit is our remedy to living life FRESH and NEW.

Here are some notes I have jotted down in my quiet time with the LORD.  Some these things say the same thing but that isn’t bad… sometimes it helps us think of the same content in a different manner.

-Ask God to refresh your soul and mind daily. Cleanse you the grit and dirt of yesterday and the past.

-Submit to God in living in Spirit and truth.

-Let God give you the spirit you need for the task- Any task.

-Be Spirit guided not flesh guided.

-Go at the speed of the Spirit not the speed of your want or presumption.

-Do not try to predict or control.

-Know God will provide in what you need and in your call.

-Know there are eternal ramifications in your actions.

-Be in one accord in Spirit for a task to be accomplished successfully.

-Know God wants do something new everyday of your life.

-Know God wants us to come to the knowledge of the truth and live in the knowledge of the truth as Christ is our mediator, teacher and guide.

-Liberty comes with us letting go and letting God do through us.

Did you notice all these things speak of God doing something new in our life?

God is not about putting you in park.  God is not about you grinding and jerking your way through life.  God is not about putting you in first gear where you hold up a line of traffic behind you for miles.  God is about letting you find the hope, peace, joy, love and wisdom of driving with Him- where the drive is refreshing and new and encouraging. 

God we ask that you refresh our souls… guide and direct our lives, empower us to see life not through our own limited understanding but through your enriching infinite Spirit that causes us live this life you have promised in abundance and boldly in you.  In Jesus name Amen. 

 

       

Bias 1

Photo by M.Smith

We have all acted upon biases, seen biases and have even read about biases.  Biases are made by how we see the world and understand the world.  We are either for someone or something or against someone or something.  We often think about bias in terms of prejudice, favoritism, a preconceived notion or forgone conclusion.

Biases can be based on mere speculations and perceptions that “look” as fact but are not.

Biases built “on” facts help us rule out counterfeits, lies and deception meant to build up strongholds and arguments in our lives and other people’s lives.  As the saying goes, “Not everything or everyone is as they seem.”

I find biases can be emotional responses or feelings, which can be influenced by our own desires and temporary impulses.  They can be based on our selfishness and even fictitious imagines.   

Biases can be dangerous and yet some are the most beneficial.  

As I scrolled through pictures of abandoned places in this world I saw castles, mansions, cathedrals, libraries, subways, and even cities…

 

These were places where people once lived and worked but now, for one reason or another, they were left behind as useless. 

 

I wondered how these places that seemed so beautiful, wise, beneficial and useful for a time came to be considered “nothing”.

 

I began to ponder the things people construct, study, work, and are educated to great degrees but how it benefits them nothing when they take their last breath.  

 

Why stop there… look at the bodies in which we live in now… how we go to great efforts appease the mortal flesh but do little or nothing to secure the immortal soul within which will live on into eternity in either heaven or hell. 

 

Is life really what we consider “life”?  I find this place and time in which we temporary exist is not really life but where we see if what we believe stands true or not in all the experiences and conditions we face in this place and time.  In other words, God allows us to see our ignorance of what we think “life” is about.    

Think about it…. How can something that isn’t meant to last and is temporary be life?  If the tangibles are to temporary define us in this life what defines us when the tangibles are left behind?  What gives life to the soul?  What gives life to the soul when the tangibles are gone?  What gives reassuring hope to the soul? What gives peace to the soul?  What gives grace and mercy to the soul?  It certainly isn’t things or myself.  

C.S. Lewis wrote: “If you think of this world as a place simply intended for our happiness, you find it quite intolerable: think of it as a place for training and correction and it's not so bad.”

 

This place and time is not so much about the tangibles but the finding and understanding the intangibles in God that are life but when we think about life only in the tangibles we are biased to life itself- who is GOD.

Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.” Johns 14:6

Where is life?

Jesus said “The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.” John 10:10

Where is life?

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell you the truth, it is very hard for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of Heaven.  I’ll say it again—it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God!” Matthew 19:23-24

Where is life?

Jesus said “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing?  Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are?  Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are.  And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?  So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God  above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.” Matthew 6:25-34

Where is life?

I am reminded of a lake.  It mirrors the day and night sky.  It shows the colors and moods of the mountain cradling it.   The lake like our existence is occasionally rippled.  It is ripped by mountain trout living underneath its surface and by the tiny bird taking a bath along its edge.  It is rippled by a tossed stone and the fallen branch.  It is dotted by cold raindrops and brushed by winds and even cools the occasional bear but after those things have gone… the surface returns to its glass like state.   The water “reacts” to what lives within it and what surrounds it.   

How do we “react” to what lives within us and surrounds us?  Are we just a biased as that lake surface- are we at the mercy of whatever befalls us?  

How IS the frailty of the human condition soothed? In what must a man be invested in intimately to focus and encourage and stabilize his soul?  I say this with knowledge of failure and success… God. 

Any other source gives only headache, heartache, shame and hopefully some heavenly correction. 

GOD by his loving grace and mercy should set the sails of our soul and be our course of daily influence.  

HE alone needs to be our bias.  Honestly it takes some time to find our bearings…. but this might help.  I had a friend who was a marine.  One of the trainings was to fall backwards off a speeding boat where it was easy to temporary lose your equilibrium but he found if he just relaxed, his body would naturally float upward towards the surface of the water.   Spiritually it is the same with us.  If we just relax the Spirit of God living us will guide mentally in the right direction and lead us out of dark swirling circumstances around us.

GOD doesn’t want us to succumb to peer pressure or feelings or thoughts or circumstances but be succumbed in HIM.   GOD wants us to be biased to anything that wants to take HIS place in our mind and heart. 

 Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.”

People may know there is a GOD but the reason they don’t have peace and strength in GOD is because they don’t acknowledge HIM as GOD of their life. They make others and things gods of their life.   And the bible says when people don’t acknowledge GOD he abandons them to their foolish/biased thinking.

^“Since they thought it foolish to acknowledge God, he abandoned them to their foolish thinking and let them do things that should never be done.   Their lives became full of every kind of wickedness, sin, greed, hate, envy, murder, quarreling, deception, malicious behavior, and gossip.  They are backstabbers, haters of God, insolent, proud, and boastful. They invent new ways of sinning, and they disobey their parents.  They refuse to understand, break their promises, are heartless, and have no mercy. They know God’s justice requires that those who do these things deserve to die, yet they do them anyway. Worse yet, they encourage others to do them, too.”  Romans 1:28-32

Recipient of God's love

"To know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God."  Ephesians 3:19

Nothing edifies the soul more then accepting and being recipient of God's love.

A submitted soul living and growing in the knowledge of God's love builds a house on a solid foundation.  This love that not only builds but restores a house and repairs a house.

The real heartfelt knowledge of God’s love establishes one's soul in Christ.  Promotes growth in ways the soul will probably never fully understand.    God’s love gives a wisdom that renews the chambers and hallways and rooms of our heart.  It grows and promotes affection for others.  It gives the warmth of grace where once only hardness fossilized the attitudes of the heart.  It bestows virtue by means of understanding the Lord of one’s life.  It waters with a blessedness that rust and moth and even time itself cannot touch.  God’s love preserves the soul as the petals of the heart seek and face the light of His love.

In short God loves helps us do all these things....
“Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” 1 Corinthians 13:7

The more we accept God's love, his Lordship and his authority as overseer of our life the more we can live in His love. 

His love emboldens an individual- not in himself/herself but in Christ Himself.

What is understood in the understandings of man as obligations of faith are carried out not in some kind of chore or rule but the freeing Spirit of God.  It as if the religious laws have disappeared because we accept God love that enables us to endure all things.       

God’s Spirit helps us live in the moment instead of our own thoughts of the moment.   Not by some human plan but God's plan.   Someone say that is crazy to relinquish control to God but I say if God knows what is best for me- then God's will be done.  Romans 8:28  says "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose."  

Besides who are we fooling by thinking we have control.  Do you really in the scope of things have control?  And what happens when you try to control?

Spirit and Truth- It is not us but Him....

In high school a couple of my friends and I went on an overnight hike up in the mountains.  We camped next to this lake and when we awoke and emerged from our tent the lake was still and it perfectly mirrored the majesty of mountain standing over it.  

I find some of the most powerful times we can have with the Lord are times were we have just quietly submitted ourselves to the Lord.  Where the waters of our soul have become still like that lake in the mountains.  Where the waters of our thoughts mirror God’s loving majesty standing over us.

“As in water face reflects face, so the heart of man reflects the man.” Proverbs 27:19

We all have to ask ourselves everyday, where is our heart looking?

Example: I find when we have a powerful time of singing, worship and praise together... it is very organic. It is very genuine and very sincere.   It is often very spontaneous in how things are carried out, gifted and given -as souls are yielded to the Spirit of God.  And though things are spontaneous, they are somehow still orderly.  The time is not filled with disorder but harmony.   It reminds makes me of a tapestry or a patchwork quilt.  One might be singing with ordinary words, another words of angels, another utterances of praise, one words of prophecy, some dancing, some bowing, some with hands raised high, some hands spread out low as giving an offering and then you have the musicians and singers who are also playing and moving according to the Spirit.  All different yet we see each piece is sewed and threaded together in the Mastery of the Spirit of God.  Again this wasn't birthed out of some human plan but God's plan as we submitted ourselves to Him and mirror what we receive from His majesty.

When we strive for “some” affect.... because we had or someone else had previous success we resort to shallow “fleshly” thinking- where we are not submitted to God’s Spirit.

Success only comes when God works through the vessels and hearts of those vessels.

"And though they worshiped the LORD, they continued to follow the religious customs of the nations from which they came. And this is still going on among them today.  They follow their former practices instead of truly worshiping the LORD and obeying the laws, regulations, instructions and commands he gave the descendants of Jacob, whose name he changed to Israel." 2 Kings 17:33-34

How often do Christian denominations and churches follow "religious" practices they have passed down from generation to generation instead of truly worship the LORD?  They do it "this" way because that is the way they have always done it. 

"Religious" practices do nothing for the soul.  I do not mind people thinking about former days -especially if it stirs them up in the Lord but there are these days as well.  For the word of God mentions times when people no longer called on God and stirred themselves to take hold of Him. Note Isaiah 64:7 

Live in these days as well as you remember the faithfulness of the Lord, looking forward and anticipating what else He wants to do in our lives.  

"He" not us... (think about Psalm 23) 

How we forget and allow ourselves to be thought of less of by circumstances and actions of others when God has called us into his kingdom and for  “such a time as this.”

 As the body of Christ, the Apostle Paul says we shouldn't hold on to the past or live in the past.

I find no maturing and knew revelation of Christ can be built upon just living in the past and even more foolishly deciding that we have already apprehended all there is to know of God.  Paul says he's forgetting what is behind and reaching forward to those things that are ahead that he might walk deeper in the call that Jesus Christ apprehended him for.

You and I cannot walk deeper in the call/purpose/the love unless our revelation of Jesus Christ deepens in our heart not just our mind.   That we might know how wide, how long, how high, how deep his love really is....  For in Christ our Father has glorious unlimited resources for us to gain a greater confidence in him, to be encouraged, to grow and mature, and have a growing relationship with Him which is made possible by His Holy Spirit.

Remember what Paul wrote:  [For my determined purpose is] that I may know Him [that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly], and that I may in that same way come to know the power outflowing from His resurrection [which it exerts over believers], and that I may so share His sufferings as to be continually transformed [in spirit into His likeness even] to His death….” Philippians 3:10

It is not by might or power but by His Spirit! (Note Zechariah 4:6). Those lost in the world cannot receive from His Spirit because they aren't looking for Him and don't have Him living inside of them- for when we gave our lives to Christ He not only changed our heart but gave His Spirit to us as well so we might (by our choice) become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly. 

Jesus says, "I am the truth, the way and life, no one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6.   I have found this statement to be more then true.

No one can receive from God deeper building revelations of God unless they give their lives to God.

 1 Corinthians 2:9-12 says  "But as it is written: "Eye has not seen, more ear heard, nor have entered the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him. But God has reveal them to us through His Spirit.  For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.  For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him?  Even  so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God.  Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God." 

God wants us to have a deeper growing revelation of Himself so that we might live in the fullness of life and power that comes from God.  I am reminded of all .... Ephesians 3:14-20

To think that the Creator of all the universe wants to share this with us is amazing yet so many ignore this fact. 

I read this morning- there is no such thing as chance. "For since the beginning of the world Men have not heard nor perceived by the ear, Nor has the eye seen any God besides You, Who acts for the one who waits for Him. You meet him who rejoices and does righteousness, Who remembers You in Your ways." Note: Isaiah 64:4-5

It is important to wait for Him.  To thank Him, to do right,  and remember in thought and deed the ways of God.  All very difficult and even impossible without the assistance of God in one's life.  

How often does God do the same thing the same way every time… even during our personal devotional time with Him?   For He makes all things new does he not?

Our devotional time may start with us submitting to Him but from then on out it is Him that is guiding and directing.  And sometimes this can be frustrating because just about the time we think we know how God works it seems He changes it on us.

 I have found God doesn’t like when we try to fit Him in a box in our mind.  I think He doesn’t want us to put Him in a box because He doesn’t want us to live in a box.   After all we are to live/abide in Him and His Love.   We are to discover nothing is impossible with God but with a box you are limited to the possibilities and you are limiting God as well.

God wants us to know that He works in many ways- not just in the ways we think He works in.   

Have you ever seen the wind caught in a box?  Me either.      

     

So trust Him…. Let God work and He will reveal more of Himself to us and as we mature in His wonderful loving revelation of Himself -we will manifest Him in ways we didn't think possible because He was allowed to have control.  We come open handed, no agenda, no presumption, submitted and seeking Him with anticipation.  All eyes and hearts on Him, who is our hope, strength and all and all.    

How I ponder these things in my heart and am thankful for them.