What is Fair?

“His (David) inclusion in the royal family was King Saul’s idea.  His exclusion was Saul’s idea as well.  Had David not ducked, he would have been pinned to the wall by the spear of the jealous king.  But David did duck, and David did run.  For ten years he ran.  Into the wilderness he ran.  Sleeping in caves, surviving on wild animals.  He was hated and hunted like a jackal.”  Max Lucado  Traveling Light

Was this fair?  Heavens NO!  David was hated for no reason.  Saul’s inadequacies led him to persecute David.  Punishment was not earned.  Why comment on such obvious circumstances?  I get hung up on what is fair.  I guess you could say “fairness” is one of my personal hang-ups.  Fairness should be spread around, in my opinion.  So, quite naturally, this bit of history caught my eye.  Circumstances often dictate my cry, “Unfair!”  Yet, looking at David’s circumstances, he ran for TEN YEARS.  Crazy, I say.  We won’t even go into everything else he endured.  David kept his eyes on God and not on his circumstances.  This is a lesson that I must learn.  “For you save a humble people, but the haughty eyes you bring down.  For it is you who light my lamp; the Lord my God lightens my darkness.”  Psalm 18:27-28

kenny

Using Unbelief

God can and will ANOINT unbelievers to be used in His service.

“who (God) says of Cyrus, ‘He is my shepherd, and he shall fulfill all my purpose;’”  Isaiah 44:28A

“Thus says the LORD to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have grasped, to subdue nations before him and to loose the belts of kings, to open doors before him that gates may not be closed:”  Isaiah 45:1

God continues the education about Cyrus.

“I name you, though you do not know me.”  Isaiah 45:4B

“I equip you, though you do not know me,”  Isaiah 45:5B

God’s purpose will be fulfilled whether we know Him or not!

kenny

Sleeping with the Enemy

“’Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel—all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and all whose mouths have not kissed him.’”  1 Kings 19:18

I cannot help but think of intimacy when I read this verse.  All but the seven thousand in Israel had entered into an intimate relationship with Baal.  God is indeed a jealous and zealous God.  Israel had forsaken their communion with God Almighty for the whore called Baal.  They left true relationship to be with a false god.  God called the relationship for what it was.  Amazing how close we can get with our false gods and forsake relationship with the One True Living God!

kenny

Quickly Forgiven

“I shouldn’t have said those things to you.”  Bliss

“Already forgotten, kiddo.”  Bliss’ father   from the movie Whip It

True forgiveness is just that quick!

“Jesus stood up and said to her, ‘Woman, where are they?  Has no one condemned you?’  She said, ‘No one, Lord.’  And Jesus said, ‘Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.’”  John 8:10-11  Jesus did not make her work to get back into His good graces.  He did not nurse hurt feelings.  Forgiveness was instant.

Oh, but it is something to strive for!

kenny

Pool of Light

“He (God) promises a lamp unto our feet, not a crystal ball into the future.”  Max Lucado  Traveling Light

The pool of light from a lamp covers a limited area.  It is not a spotlight that brightens a huge expanse.  When you actually pay attention to what this quote says (and the Scripture that it references Ps. 119:105), the picture becomes even narrower.  (It is just like Christ to narrow our way!  Matt. 7:13-14)  “He promises a lamp unto our feet…”  How long is a stride of the feet?  A foot or two depending on the individual.  The measure is not large at all.  It is enough to get us to the next step!  The light is used to get us where we need to be.  We are kept in the present if we focus on the light, and we avoid the darkness of the past and uncertainty of the future.  Christ Jesus seeks to ease our anxiety if we will but listen to Him.

kenny

Paralyzer

“There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear.”  1 John 4:18A

Pastor Johnny Hunt made a great challenge when it comes to reading the Word of God.  He said, “Look at what the text is NOT saying.”  (paraphrased)  A simple challenge was presented.

I remembered it as I read this verse.  I’ve always fixated on love driving out fear.  But, I never role-reversed.  The truth is that since “there is no fear in love” that these two cannot co-exist.  Since they cannot co-exist, fear is perfectly capable of DRIVING OUT love.  It was a simple yet stunning truth to me!

Fear is the great paralyzer.  It will stop us dead in our tracks (physically, mentally, and spiritually).  Love is the prime motivator to get us moving.  Are we loving and casting out fear, or is fear casting love out of our hearts?

kenny

I Don't

“Pretty soon we start praying like the fellow at the religious caucus:  ‘God, I thank you that the world has people like me.  The man on the corner needs welfare—I don’t.  The prostitute on the street has AIDS—I don’t.  The drunk at the bar needs alcohol—I don’t.  The gay caucus needs morality—I don’t.  I thank you that the world has people like me.’”  Max Lucado  Traveling Light

What did she leave off?

“They all need You, God—I don’t!”

In what direction is our moral compass pointed?  Are we more concerned with comparing ourselves to others (assured “righteousness”) or to God (righteousLESS)?  We assure ourselves of a good feeling when we compare ourselves to other faulty humans, but we fear to compare ourselves to a righteous God!

To whom are you comparing yourself?

kenny

Actually, Not Far Gone At All

“But since I was worse than anyone else, God had mercy on me and let me be an example of the endless patience of Christ Jesus.”  1 Tim. 1:16A (CEV)

No one is too far gone.  Paul persecuted Christ’s body (the church).  “But Saul (aka Paul) was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison.”  Acts 8:3  He was cruel and said malicious words (Acts 9:1, 22:4&19).  No one is beyond God’s grasp.  It does not matter what was said or done; God’s grace is sufficient!

Kenny

A Sign of Greatness

Hi there!  Yes, this is your daily devotional. J  The question is:  What will you get today?

Well, I’m gonna take it easy on you, per se.  The drive to work can be a good time to reflect and pray on things (when you aren’t jamming out to music or dancing in the driver’s seat that is!).  I was pondering and praying this morning on the way in to work.  And so, you get my thoughts today. 

What were they?  What does the name of this devotion, “A Sign of Greatness” mean?  Glad you asked…..

I was thinking about my girlfriend.  And NOW, you are like, “I don’t want to hear about this!”, or “I don’t want to hear any mushy stuff!”  Well, TOUGH!  ;)  My thought about her was that she is great….because she wants to be with me!  I know this might sound a little self-centered, but oh well.  Think about it….you hang with people and people hang with you because they want to be with you.  They enjoy your presence and like you for who you are.

And it was these thoughts that led to the next jump…..God Almighty wants to be with me.  Abba God wants to spend time with me.  Why else would He tell me that He wants to be with me, AND send His only Son to die an atoning death in order to restore relationship with me.  “In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”  1 John 4:10  Yes, God does love us and wants to be with us.  Too often, we do not think about it….let alone embrace it.  It is something that we should think about and act upon.

kenny

A Meal Shared

“He (Jesus) invited Peter to breakfast.  Jesus prepared a meal.”  Max Lucado  Traveling Light

A meal is shared in order to have an intimate relationship.  It is used to get to know each other better and to grow closer.  Well, doesn’t Peter already know Peter?  This invite occurs post-Resurrection.  Peter has denied Christ Jesus three times.  He probably feels that a sea separates himself from Christ.  And, it does.  “When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment, for he was stripped for work, and threw himself into the sea.”  John 21:7B  While roughly one hundred yards separates Peter from Jesus on the shore, the distance COULD seem like a mile.  The distance is crossed quickly by Peter.  And by inviting Peter to the dinner “table,” Christ says, “Our relationship is not over!”  Jesus affirms Peter to combat the betrayal that Peter feels in his heart.  Christ brought peace to the turbulent storm in Peter’s heart.

kenny

Twisting the Word

“When Saul returned from following the Philistines, he was told, ‘Behold, David is in the wilderness of Engedi.’  Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel and went to seek David and his men in front of the Wildgoats’ Rocks.  And he came to the sheepfolds by the way, where there was a cave, and Saul went in to relieve himself.  Now David and his men were sitting in the innermost parts of the cave.  And the men of David said to him, ‘Here is the day of which the LORD said to you, “Behold, I will give your enemy into your hand, and you shall do to him as it shall seem good to you.”’  Then David arose and stealthily cut off a corner of Saul’s robe.”  1 Samuel 24:1-4

Isn’t it funny how we can trust Scripture to meet our needs and desires?  David had suffered unjustly at the hands of Saul, and his men knew this fact.  So, they brought to mind what God had told David.  “Behold, I will give your enemy into your hand, and you shall do to him as it shall seem good to you.”  The men were thinking REVENGE; they thought God had ordained it.  Yet, after David simply cut off a strip (corner) of Saul’s robe, his heart was pierced.  Saul was God’s anointed, and David could NOT bring harm to Saul (regardless of whether Saul ACTED like an anointed of God).  “He said to his men, ‘The LORD forbid that I should do this thing to my lord, the LORD’s anointed, to put out my hand against him, seeing he is the LORD’s anointed.’  So David persuaded his men with these words and did not permit them to attack Saul.  And Saul rose up and left the cave and went on his way.”  1 Sam. 24:6-7
I think it is awesome to look at it from God’s outside perspective.  I can see God looking at these events from His place outside of time.  He gave the words “you shall do to him as it shall seem good to you” to David.  The key to all this drama was God knew David’s heart.  He knew David’s heart would be pricked, and David would not act rashly.  We have to remember that God chose David for Himself.  Saul was chosen for the people (gave them a king after the nature of the other nation’s kings), but the Almighty chose David for Himself (1 Sam. 16:1).  God knew how David would handle this situation.

Let us be wary of twisting God’s words to suit our wants.  The downfall could be quick and harsh.  Thankfully, David did not find this one out with Saul!

kenny

The Line Between

“Anyone would have known without His coming that it was wrong to take life; the law is written in him.  Anyone would have known that immorality was wrong; but no one apart from Jesus Christ would believe that “my right to myself” is the very essence of sin.”  Oswald Chambers  Daily Thoughts for Disciples

The line between morality and immorality is blurred by the simple, yet rebellious thought:  “I have my right to myself.”  “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God?  You are not your own, for you were bought with a price.  So glorify God in your body.”  1 Cor. 6:19-20

kenny

The Danger of Self-Righteousness

Self-righteousness can be dangerous.  We do not feel that we need to listen to other’s views on Scripture or religious takes on things.  We discredit or immediately discard their thoughts from our heads.  A chance is not even given due to whatever HIGH and MIGHTY feeling that is being embraced to look down upon them.  These thoughts diminish them and elevates us.  But, God speaks to ALL of His children.  Each person hears on a different level depending on our sensitivity to the Holy Spirit and maturity level.  You never know what God will share with someone else to speak into your life or other’s lives.  By not giving you ALL the info, it makes us rely on God and the relationships He has provided.  The Almighty is very serious about relationships:  His with us, and our relationships with each other.  Independence is torn down while dependence is built.  With dependence in the mix, it keeps us all on equal footing with each other….looking up to the Father for answers, strength, and love to make life happen.  Relationships require humility before God, the cross, and each other.  Humility before the man looking back in the mirror.  No self-exaltation.  Just exaltation of God and Jesus, exaltation of our relationships, and exaltation of grace manifested in our lives consistently every day.

kenny

The Beauty and Legitimacy of Salvation

“He entered Jericho and was passing through.  And there was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector and was rich.  And he was seeking to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was small of stature.”  Luke 19:1-3

Zacchaeus’ heart wanted to know WHO Jesus (God) was.

“So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was about to pass that way.  And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, ‘Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for  I must stay at your house today.’"  Luke 19:4-5

Jesus extended an invitation to Zacchaeus.  What is required of an invitation?  A receipt—it has to be received.

“So he hurried and came down and received him joyfully.”  Luke 19:6

The beauty of this verse is great!  Zacchaeus HURRIED to Jesus, and he received Christ joyfully.

True salvation is proved by confirmation of life change.  The thief (Zaccahaeus-a tax collector-was known to take “extra” taxes for themselves) became a magnanimous giver.

“And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, ‘Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor.  And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.’’  Luke 19:8

And, Jesus even vouchsafed it in Luke 19:9:  “And Jesus said to him, ‘Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham.’”

kenny

Strengthening the Lifeline

“Simon, Simon, look out!  Satan has asked to sift you like wheat.  But I have prayed for you THAT YOUR FAITH MAY NOT FAIL.  And you, when you have turned back, strengthen the brothers (vv. 31-32).”  Beth Moore  Jesus  (My emphasis in Luke 22:31-32.)

Notice what Jesus said, “But I have prayed for you THAT YOUR FAITH MAY NOT FAIL.”  Jesus didn’t pray that Peter himself would not fail (stay true to God), but prayed that his faith would stay strong.  Satan was going to sift Peter, and Peter would fail.  Jesus knew this fact, but didn’t want Peter to fall completely away from God.  Thus, Christ Jesus sought to strengthen Peter’s lifeline to God.  And, it would work; Peter would become a rock that the church was built upon (Matt. 16:18)!

Kenny

P.S.  “I do not doubt that Christ’s face was painted with pain when His and Peter’s eyes met in the courtyard, but I think the conspicuous absence of condemnation tore through Peter’s heart.  I wonder if Christ’s fixed gaze might have said something like this:  ‘Remember, Peter, I am the Christ.  You know that and I know that.  I called you.  I gave you a new name.  I invited you to follow Me.  Don’t forget who I am.  Don’t forget what you are capable of doing.  And, whatever you do, don’t let this destroy you.  When you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”  Beth Moore  Jesus

Sanctification is Abiding

“A sanctified saint remains perfectly confident in God, because sanctification is not something the Lord gives me, sanctification is Himself in me.”  Oswald Chambers  Daily Thoughts for Disciples

We grow by effort and pain; growth is not a gimme nor is it handed over to us.  Sanctification does not come in a cute box with a pretty bow.  And when it is unwrapped, BLAM!—we are instantly sanctified.  Our sanctification level is dependent upon the choices that we make:  how often we talk to God, read His Word, and ACT on His Word.  If we aren’t doing these things, how much further are we in the sanctification process?  There is a responsibility that we have in this life.  Participation is required; participation with Jesus Christ in us.  Abiding (living) in Christ is the most sure way to participate in the sanctification process.  And, the effects WILL BE manifested!

kenny

Oh, the Arrows

“For the arrows of the Almighty are in me; my spirit drinks their poison; the terrors of God are arrayed against me.”  Job 6:4

Flesh is pierced by the sharp heads of arrows.  I’ve seen men’s flesh pierced and the bodies of animals as well (all thanks to TV, mind you!).  The corporeal body is what suffers the pain of the arrow.  Job is NOT talking about such things.  “my spirit drinks in their poison;”  Job says that “the arrows of the Almighty” have pierced him, but it is his soul that drinks the poison.  Does this not have the sound of the ethereal (spiritual)?  God Almighty was Job’s primary concern; his eyes were always on the spiritual aspect of life.  I believe this to be true by God’s own mouth.  “And the LORD said to Satan, ‘Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil?’"  Job 1:8  Spiritual warfare is going on against Job, BUT God’s goodness and righteousness is never called into question (Job 6:8-10)!

Isn’t it amazing…the fortitude of Job?  I have often wondered whether I would have such fortitude in the face of similar circumstances.  Job had a motto though…nay, a way of life that is summed up in Matthew 10:28:  “’And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul.  Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.’” 

kenny

Living on the Edge

“Let no one say when he is tempted, ‘I am being tempted by God,’ for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one.  But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.  Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.”  James 1:13-15

Desire leads to temptation; temptation leads to sin.

Desires bring us to the edge of a decision:  do we take what we want or do we wait for God to give us what we need?  In other words, do we satisfy ourselves or let our Heavenly Father do it?  We must remember 1 John 2:16, “For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world.”  The desires of the flesh and eyes are not from God but are from the world.  And this is on display 24/7.  It seems that our culture pushes us towards a hedonistic style of living.  I see it everywhere.   Indulge.  Satisfy yourself.  Take care of yourself because no one else will do it.  Sin blooms like crazy in this atmosphere.  We need to keep a watch on the desires of our hearts.  Those desires can subtly warp our Godly lifestyle.  And, it is all because of what we think we want—the promise of satisfaction!

Kenny

P.S.  I love how Scripture is so intricately woven.

Two men:  James and John.

One spirit:  the Holy Spirit.

1 John 2:16 tells us what God does NOT give us (fleshly desires).

James 1:16-17 tells us that every good and perfect gift comes from God the Father.

Judging Wrongly

“Do you suppose, O man—you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself—that you will escape the judgment of God?  Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?”  Rom. 2:3-4

Oh, we humans rationalize so grandly.  To think that we could judge others (while guilty of the same sins our selves) and get off the hook!  Paul says, “…you presume on the riches of his (God’s) kindness and forbearance and patience…”.  We presume we will be left off the hook, but for what reason?  How did we manage to avoid a fate that “those sinners” did not avoid?  Has God favored us?

God’s purpose in forbearance and patience is totally missed.  Eyes are blinded to these graces.  Wrath and judgment are held off for the sake of one thing:  so that we might repent.  Ask forgiveness for the sins we have committed.  See that Jesus Christ alone has paid the sin debt and conquered death.  Accept Him as Lord and Savior.  THEN, we are covered by God’s grace; we are in His family.  Not free to judge, mind you.  Ambassador of grace is each convert’s new title.  Proclaimer of patience.  Filter of forbearance.  We are meant to tell others of this great gift.  Let us not view forbearance and patience in arrogance!  Why?  “But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed.”  Rom. 2:5
kenny

God is Unfair

“Remember those words from Isaiah’s pen as he repeats God’s message?

‘For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,’ declares the LORD.  ‘For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways And My thoughts than your thoughts.’  (Is. 55:8-9)

Look carefully at the contrasts.  There is a vast difference between “My thoughts” and “your thoughts” says the Lord.  “My ways” are not like “your ways.”  They are higher; they are far more profound, deep, mysterious—and I would add, surprising.

Our human ways are based on what seems fair.  We firmly believe that when someone does what is right, rewards and blessings result.  When someone does what is wrong, there are serious consequences, even punishment.  But that’s our way, not necessarily God’s way.  At least not immediately.  He’s been known to allow unfair treatment to occur in the lives of absolutely innocent folks—for reasons far more profound and deep than they or we could have ever imagined.  How slowly He steps in!”  Charles R. Swindoll

Could it be that our God is unfair?  I believe so.  The above quote is from a devotion about Joseph.  One of the most “unfairly” treated guys in the Bible.  You and I would be hard pressed to find some glaring sin that caused him to get sold into slavery and then thrown into prison.  We won’t because of the purpose behind Joseph’s woes.  “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.”  Genesis 50:20  God meant those “unfair” circumstances for the salvation of a nation.  The Egyptians and Israelites would be saved by Joseph’s savvy.  This is a very awesome story.  Why bring it up?

I get totally bent out of shape ALL the time due to what I deem as UNFAIR!  This devotion by Swindoll struck me.  God is unfair.  Evil?  By no means.  Unfair?  Yep!  You could say that Job was treated unfairly, yet his character (God’s character) shown through like pure gold amidst Satan’s persecutions.  I have the uncanny ability to get entirely too wrapped up in circumstances.  Fair or unfair, it doesn’t matter.  God is good, and THAT is what matters.  The purpose of the circumstances are for God to know.  I need to trust in Him.  I lose trust in Him when I focus on unfairness.  May I be more sensitive to You, O Lord!

Kenny

P.S.  “The word ‘burden’ is described in my Bible commentary as being ‘what Jehovah has given you.’  The saints’ burdens are God-given, leading us to wait upon Him.  And once we have done so, the burden is transferred into a pair of wings through the miracle of trust, and the one who was weighted down ‘will soar on wings like eagles’ (Isa. 40:31).”  L.B. Cowman  Streams in the Desert

Generous Guidelines

“As it is written, ‘Whoever gathered much had nothing left over, and whoever gathered little had no lack.’”  2 Corinthians 8:15

The Lord is not a fan of hoarding wealth or abundance for selfish reasons.  A story is laid out to illustrate this fact.  “Someone in the crowd said to him, ‘Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.’  But he said to him, ‘Man, who made me a judge or arbitrator over you?’  And he said to them, ‘Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.’  And he told them a parable, saying, ‘The land of a rich man produced plentifully, and he thought to himself, “What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?”  And he said, “I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods.  And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.”  But God said to him, “Fool!  This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?”  So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.’"  Luke 12:13-21  Generosity is an attitude that God wants us to hone.  “…see that you excel in this act of grace also.”  2 Cor. 8:7C  (Look at the previous three verses to see Paul is talking about generosity.)  Paul also gives us guidelines as to how generous we should be.  “For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened, but that as a matter of fairness your abundance at the present time should supply their need, so that their abundance may supply your need, that there may be fairness.”  2 Cor. 8:13-14  We shouldn’t go into debt, bankruptcy, or put our selves/families through the ringer to give.  Prudence should mark our contributions.  Fear, greed, and covetousness can lead us to hoard for our selves.  There is nothing at all wrong with an emergency fund, but to stockpile massive amounts of wealth to make life easy when you are old takes God out of the equation.  It is like you don’t trust Him to provide later in life.  He will; just trust!

kenny

Full of It

“…and our heart flutters with an inexpressible anticipation of the joy of seeing Jesus and ‘the glory that will be revealed in us’ (Rom. 8:18).”  L.B. Cowman  Streams in the Desert

What is this “glory that will be revealed in us” that Paul talks about?  A finished work possibly?  Philippians 1:6?  If….NO…since man is NOT inherently good (only God is good), what might this “glory” be?  It is not what but Who!  Who is worthy of getting glory?

“And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, ‘Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?’  And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it, and I began to weep loudly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it.”  Revelations 5:2-4

Who indeed is worthy?

“saying with a loud voice, ‘Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!’"  Rev. 5:12

Jesus Christ alone is worthy of glory; He alone can be equated with glory.  And, equated He shall be….

“But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness.”  Rom. 8:10

“but Christ is all, and in all.”  Col. 3:11

Christ IS the glory within us today, but though “we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face.  Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.”  1 Cor. 3:12  We shall not only see our Savior fully but ourselves as we were truly meant to be…fully in His image!

kenny

Cries of the Word

“As you submit to the Holy Spirit, obey His Word, and rely on His leading and strength, you will be drawn into close and deep fellowship with the Father and the Son.”  John MacArthur  Alone with God

“rely on His leading and strength” is so elementary, yet I can’t get it.  It is like Are You Smarter than a Fifth Grader?  Obviously, I am not!  “leading and strength” is His Word.  We cling to it for strength, and we rely upon it for direction.  The Word of God is our map book and guide for how to handle situations, yet we do not use it.  Laziness or pride wins out.  Or, we wait for the audible words/sounds from God, while the Word of God cries out to be heard, “Here am I; Here am I!!!”

kenny

Cast, Down-and-Out, and Undone

“One of the great revelations of the heart of God given to us by Christ is that of Himself as our Shepherd.  He has the same identical sensations of anxiety, concern, and compassion for cast men and women as I had for cast sheep.  This is precisely why He looked on people with such pathos and compassion.  It explains His magnanimous dealing with down-and-out individuals for whom even human society had no use.  It reveals why He wept over those who spurned His affection.  It discloses the depth of His understanding of undone people to whom He came eagerly and quickly, ready to help, to save, to restore.”  W. Phillip Keller  A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23

“…for cast men and women…”

“…down-and-out individuals for whom even human society had no use.”

“…undone people…”

When you are hanging to the bottom rung or you are flat on your back, pride is no longer an obstacle.  Eyes are opened wide to the Savior.  Jesus Christ talked about it in the book of Matthew.

“’Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.’”  Matthew 5:3

“’ Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.’”  Matthew 5:5

These are just a few ways of how clarity of sight is given.  With pride out of the way, the kingdom of heaven and the inheritance of the earth are blessings from God.

kenny

Be Steel My Beating Heart

“Why did Jesus make forgiveness such a strong command, even when human logic would tell you that ‘seven times a day’ is an impossible directive to follow?”  Beth Moore  Jesus

If you want, read Luke 17:3-4, and then answer the question on your own.  If not, read on for my response to the question.

Forgiveness keeps us from steeling/hardening our hearts.  We do not want our hearts to be impervious, impenetrable, or invulnerable.  This denies the very beauty of our being.  It seems I have read often over this last week that pain is a natural part of life.  The pain of the heart-of love-of being hurt by others.  “So, if he wanted the heights of joy, he must have, if he could find it, a great love.  But in the books again, great joy through love seemed always to go hand in hand with frightful pain.  Still, he thought, looking out across the meadow, still, the joy would be worth the pain—if, indeed, they went together.  If there were a choice—and he suspected there was—a choice between, on the one hand, the heights AND the depths and, on the other hand, some sort of safe, cautious middle way, he, for one, here and now chose the heights and the depths.”  Sheldon Vanauken  A Severe Mercy  Besides which, we take on God’s nature.  He loved and knew pain; He loves and knows pain.  May our hearts stay soft and fleshy; may we stay in heartbeat with our forgiving God!

kenny

In Spite Of

“If we suffer for Jesus because we love Him, we are not only happy in spite of the cross, but because of it.  For love rejoices at the privilege of suffering for the Well-beloved, and the cross which forms us into His image is a comforting bond of love.”  Francois Fenelon  Let Go

I have often wondered if I am capable of such faithfulness to and joy in God.  The apostles were in the first century.  “and when they had called in the apostles, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.  Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name.  And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.”  Acts 5:40-42  They were beaten and rejoiced to suffer dishonor for Christ’s name.  I am ever amazed by this verse and Godly character!
kenny

Reactive Thoughts

“Happy is the one who pays no attention to his own hasty judgments nor to the gossip of others!”  Francois Fenelon  Let Go

You might have thoughts coalesce in your mind, but all sinners have thoughts that do such.  Let us call them reactive thoughts.  The key decision comes in what we do with these reactive thoughts.

Take road rage, for instance.  I hardly ever get it.  But, I do often find myself calling people “idiots”, “knuckleheads”, or other names for their driving ability.  What I’ve come to realize is that they are driving just like I do sometimes.  Every now and again, my attention wanders while behind the wheel.  I am oblivious or simply slow at times.  A multitude of variables are out there, and none of them worthy of me calling them names.  The names tend to slip out, BUT I try to make sure that I don’t let it get me so riled as to start cussing, flipping the bird, or any other immature maneuvers while driving.  It simply is not worth it.  We must watch our thoughts, and act only on Godly ones!

Kenny

P.S.  “It seems to me that you need to be a little more big-hearted about the imperfection of other people.  I know you can’t help but see these imperfections when they come right before your eyes and neither CAN YOU PREVENT INVOLUNTARY OPINIONS ABOUT OTHERS FROM POPPING INTO YOUR MIND.  And nobody will deny that the imperfections of others cause us a lot of inconvenience!  But it will be enough if you are willing to be patient with imperfections, whether they be serious or not so serious.  Do not allow yourself to turn away from people because of their imperfections.”  Fenelon  (My emphasis added.)

A Powerful Realization

“You can’t change men from being men.  People will always be weak, vain, unreliable, unfair, hypocritical and arrogant.  The world will always be worldly.  And you cannot change it.  People will follow their own inclinations and habits.”  Francois Fenelon  Let Go

A powerful realization is given here.  It has helped me many, MANY times over the last couple of months.  The Word of God gives the best insight though…

“…bearing with one another in love,”  Ephesians 4:2

“bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.”  Colossians 3:13

Key words are BEAR WITH ONE ANOTHER.  We are ALL different, and some are weaker or stronger than us.  For me, it has been the burden of bearing with those weaker than myself.  I would get incredibly frustrated (and still do), but these verses have helped me to understand that bearing with one another is part of life.  Don’t resist it, and fight an uphill battle.  Don’t simply view them as “stupid” or inferior to you.  This is an entirely wrong thought process as pertains to those made in the image of God.  The Almighty made them as He saw fit.  Are you calling God’s work, His handcrafted creation, stupid?  Maybe, just maybe, it is our own “stupidity” (lack of desire to bear with our weaker or stronger brothers and sisters) that God wishes to work on….

Kenny

P.S.  “It should be remembered that even the best of people leave much to be desired, and we must not expect too much.  We need to be very patient with the faults of others.  The most perfect people in the world have many imperfections, and so do we.  And sometimes it is quite difficult for us to tolerate each other.  We are to ‘bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ’ (Gal. 6:2), and I think this means, among other things, that we are to bear the burden of each other’s imperfections.  Peaceful and harmonious relationships can be helped a great deal if people just learn to be quiet, to be prayerful, and to keep surrendered to the Lord.”  Fenelon

The Wrong Kind of Practice

“envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”  Galatians 5:21

“practice such things”

When you want to be good at something, you usually invest time into it.  Playing the guitar, basketball, or crocheting all requires practice time to get better and more proficient at it.  To me, the word “practice” just says so much in this verse.  Individual incidents are not happening.  Practice means that it is becoming a habit or a permanent part in your life.  If someone is doing this, I must question:  where is the Holy Spirit?  Have you ignored Him?  Pushed Him out?  Was He ever there?  To turn your back on the ways of God and embrace the ways of the flesh leads to one end:  “that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”

Kenny

P.S.  Apostasy is very much an option (though a very bad one!).  Look at Dan, one of the tribes of Israel.

The Other Desires

“How much like the leper are you (Luke 5:12-16)?  Are you convinced (first of all) that Christ can do absolutely anything?  And secondly, are you also seeking His purposes in everything?  Are you more desirous of His work and will being done through your life than you are to be healed of your hardship or handicap?  If so, don’t lose courage.  As long as this remains the desire of your heart, come to Christ as the leper did—humbly making your request while seeking His purposes for your life.”  Beth Moore  Jesus

1 John 2:16 is pregnant with desires and pride that comes from the world.  “For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world.”  The desires of the flesh and the eyes do NOT come from the Father God.  I pretty much left it at that when I read it.  But, when I read what Beth Moore wrote, “the desire of your heart”, my eye was caught.  I thought, “Surely, God must give us desires as well.”  I must be able to have Godly desires to combat these fleshly desires.  And this my friends is EXACTLY the warfare I have been in the midst of for weeks now.  The desires of the flesh and eyes are seeking to lead me astray from Godly desires (to stay pure and true to God).  Jesus Himself addressed this in Matthew 26:41:  “’Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation.  The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.’"  If I love God with all my heart and have given Him dominion over it, I must keep a sharp guard to protect the desires of the heart that are pure and true to God.  Other desires seek to have their home back.  I once lived by the desires of the flesh and eyes.  But I take comfort by keeping the fires fresh for God’s desires in my heart!

kenny

No Generic Faith

“Desperation is better than despair.  Remember, our faith did not create our desperate days.  Faith’s work is to sustain us through those days and to solve them.  Yet the only alternative to desperate faith is despair.  Faith holds on and prevails.”  L.B. Cowman  Streams in the Desert

Not a generic faith in the concept of God, a faith is required in the PERSON of God!  I don’t trust my business to the concept of a friend; I trust my business to Jeremy Cochran, Matt and Jeanne Barron, and Scot Luman (just being a few of the recent ones, but definitely not limited to those!), etc.  Trust has been earned by these people through their friendships.  My faith was not placed in the concept of God, but in the Person that God showed Himself to be by the light of His revelation.  My eternity is not based on a concept, but a faith in God.  The daily life I lead is buoyed to Jehovah, and it is a talking relationship that helps me in the daily grind (or desperate times)!

kenny

Tear Catching

“I’m sorry that I hurt you

It’s something I must live with every day

And all the pain I put you through

I wish that I could take it all away

And be the one who catches all your tears

That’s why I need you to hear”  Hoobastank’s The Reason

Such an intimate moment is described.  I cannot help but envision the beauty of it.  The care and concern that goes into catching the tear of the beloved with a finger to cast it away.  ‘Tis a magnificent triumph of love; one that will be dwarfed in the future….

“And he will swallow up on this mountain the covering that is cast over all peoples,
the veil that is spread over all nations.  He will swallow up death forever; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from all faces, and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth, for the LORD has spoken.  It will be said on that day, ‘Behold, this is our God; we have waited for him, that he might save us.  This is the LORD; we have waited for him; let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation.’"  Isaiah 25:7-9

kenny

Holy Movements

“Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him,”  Colossians 2:6

Walk in the movements of the Holy Spirit upon your heart.

In step.

In synch.

But, on a spiritual level that brings the depths of the Holy Spirit’s guidance into the physical reality of our existence.

Telegraph.

This is how we walk IN Him (Jesus).  We are in step with the movements and whisperings of the Holy Spirit.  “but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected.  By this we may know that we are in him:  whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.”  1 John 2:5-6

kenny

A Sweet Heaviness

“Take your memories, I don’t need ‘em.”  Keith Urban’s You’ll Think of Me

As I drove into work this morning, Keith Urban was playing loud.  The lyrics hung heavy on my heart.  Though, it was not an oppressive heaviness at all.  A sweet heaviness shrouded my heart.  I started thinking about past girlfriends, and God brought something to mind.

How to let go in love.

I don’t want to lose my memories of past girlfriends.  Do I dwell on them?  Heavens, no!  But, I don’t want them banished either.  We learn from everything in life—the good and the bad.  It is the ability to let go in love that I believe God gave me.  To look back on those experiences and wholeheartedly WISH and WANT nothing but the best for those women.  I even pray regularly for one of them (though they don’t know it).  Some people might call me crazy, but I don’t and won’t regret those past relationships.

A beautiful experience and realization was given this morning.  Love does cover much!  I believe we can look on the past in love.  For, it is no longer a passionate love but has been healed and turned into a brotherly, Godly love.  Thank you, Jesus!

kenny

James 1:21

"Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls." James 1:21

Filthiness and naughtiness may seem like extreme adjectives for some of us! Many definitions are given for filthy: vile, nasty, obscene, disgustingly dirty, and covered with filth. It is hard to imagine our souls in such a state(even though we know we are sinners and beg for the cleanliness of Christ in our heart daily). We have to keep in mind any sin is filthy, vile, and nasty in God's eyes. Whether it is a little lie or murder, a sin is a sin. It causes blemishes or dark spots to grow upon our soul. How do these blemishes or dark spots affect us?

They affect the absorbtion of the word. When the filth of sin(the world) is prevalent or in excess(superfluity) in our lives, our heart is like a strainer for the Word. I find it funny that a strainer is a device which separates liquids(Living Water) from solids(our hearts). These black spots act as holes. The knowledge of God cannot be held inside the solidness of our heart. Our hearts cannot contain the Word with sin blocking the retention or allowing the Living Water to flow on through us. We pick up bits and pieces, but greater understanding and growth is sacrificed. Instead of sacrificing a growing knowledge of God, how about we sacrifice ourself?

We must cleanse our minds, hearts, and lives before digging into the Word! Humbly beg Jesus to cleanse the sins from your life and heart. Mend the holes in our heart. We will have a new vessel to catch and retain the Word of God. A fleshy heart-shaped bowl catching and soaking in God's light-filled word. It is in meekness and humbleness of heart that we must open ourselves to the penetrating and cleansing light of the Lamb. He will mend and cleanse our heart so that we might grow in God's light. A tiny flower absorbing the nourishment needed. It is needed. Put your heart daily in the light of the LORD. It is of the utmost importance! We must never become stagnant or plateau out. Keep climbing like a vine towards the loving light of God, for you can never be too close to his radiant light!

kenny

Ezekiel 16:14

"And thy renown went forth among the heathen for thy beauty: for it was perfect through my comeliness, which I had put upon thee, saith the Lord God." Ezekiel 16:14

"Beauty, like ice, our footing does betray; Who can tread sure on the smooth, slippery way; Pleased with the surface, we glide swiftly on, And see the dangers that we cannot shun." John Dryden Physical beauty is a national obsession in America. It is a priority in most nations. The elite and popular people are usually those of a beautiful nature. Beauty holds power and popularity nowadays. The corruption of beauty is a slow spreading disease in a person. I know....

My youth was not characterized by a beautiful face or a good body. Time tends to have a way of changing things. I began to work out and train my body. The Marine Corps was kind enough to assist me as well. Sometime, God was nice enough to bless me with an attractive face(by no means beautiful, thats for sure!). Well, the moment comes when awareness of your physical attributes kicks in-that is a dangerous area. I embraced the danger. For at the time, I saw no danger. Pride crept into my heart. It changed my perception of people. You might ask how....

Two classes of people existed: those more attractive than myself and those less attractive. It is how I judged people. A person would out perform me in a task, but at least I looked better than they did. Pride, in my looks, became a crutch or excuse. A crutch tearing down others and lessening their value in my eyes, while "building up my value." Beauty is not an edge or advantage to be plied against one another. It is a blessing of God and a direct reflection of His glory and beauty. The simple beauty, possessed by us, compares little to none with the majesty of the universe.

We are constantly surrounded by an awe-inspiring beauty of creation that makes ours insignificant. The Big Dipper in the early a.m., the majesty of Mt. Fuji stark against a blue sky, the setting over the Mojave Desert-rays of light scintillating across the sand, and the cold snow laid out like a blanket in Anchorage Alaska....I've been blessed to lay eyes on the true simple beauty of God that reflects his creative and beautiful heart. These things shout out the glory of the LORD. "Let the heaven and earth praise him, the seas, and everything that moveth therein." Psalm 69:34 It is their job, and they perform it with a single mind. We do not do the same thing. I did not and do not do the same thing.

Beauty is a gift. It is not meant to be used in a condescending or negative nature. The self will try to use it as a destructive and enslaving force on your soul, my soul, and to anyone's soul! We must keep a humble mindset. Equality is a fact. God sees and loves us all the same no matter the clay shell enshrouding our soul. Here is but one picture of humbleness. "For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him." Isaiah 53:2 Jesus could have been the most beautiful man in history, but he chose complete humbleness. Keep in mind the actions of the Christ!

kenny

Proverbs 18:1

"Through desire a man, having separated himself, seeketh and intermeddleth with all wisdom." Proverbs 18:1

Selfishness has no place in this world. Before the world was formed, a family of three existed: Jesus, God, and the Holy Spirit. Family has been the main theme from the get-go. God created man. "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them." Genesis 1:27 The family was enlarged. I believe that God has always wanted a large family. Now, here comes the question! If we were established as a family, where are we now? The world is definitely not known for it's family atmosphere. It is time to return to the the days of our ancestors!

The idle chit chat has to stop. False movement of the lips and the hypocrites can go to Sheol. True bonding, a true return to what once was before time began. We must view each other as family and not competition. No need to compete for each others favor. No need to compete for God's favor. He is more than 1000 universes combined can handle. No lack of God. We each have a personal savior in Jesus. No reason for competition! The church after Pentecost had the right idea to a degree in my opinion.

"And all that believed were together, and had all things common; And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, " Acts 2:44-46 I do not quite believe that we have to sell all and have a community pool of money. I do believe God has financially blessed some in order to help others. If we see another in need, well family takes care of family. We are also here for moral support and accountability. We must know one another's weaknesses in an effort to keep each other safe and held true to God's Word. Family does not view them as weakness. I do not see it as such. Every piece of armor made is susceptible to piercing. We must know where to keep an eye out for the Enemy. Keeps the family strong! I believe this only makes us stronger by the showing of these areas. Bonding and endearment to each other occurs. Our spiritual gifts are sharpened and encouraged by closeness of others. When they truly see into our hearts, counsel will be bountiful.

Singleness of heart is a wonderful statement. What does it mean? Distraction of self must be thrown aside. Personal goals, desires, and needs are tossed out the window. We must truly be sold out for God. His mission and needs are all that matter. Once we truly understand that and embrace it, a singleness of heart will be established. We will truly be on track with God. A unification of our will and God's Will.

Unification is how we will stand against the tide of rising darkness in this world. Satan prefers singles. He loves to try and break apart families. We must not let this happen in the church or in our personal lives. A unity of love with God will keep us strong. A wall of Jesus encompassing the hearts of our families(personal and church). We cannot and will not allow the Enemy to prevail against us. What the Enemy views as the chinks in our armor will be used to form a cohesive family unit. It will bring forth that unquenchable love. A fire that burns bright in a world of darkness. The lost, like moths, wil flutter in from the darkness. They will be attracted by the sense of family. The warmth will bring them in. When they are touched by it, oh what a change will occur! "Praising God, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved." Acts 2:47

kenny

Luke 5:29-32

"And Levi made him a great feast in his own house: and there was a great company of publicans and of others that sat down with them. But their scribes and Pharisees murmured against his disciples, saying, Why do ye eat and drink with publicans and sinners? And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." Luke 5:29-32

Preoccupation. Websters has a few definitions for this word. 1) The state of being preoccupied. 2) Something that preoccupies or engrosses the mind. 3) Occupation of a place in advance. I am guilty of preoccupation to the point of God's mission and business not being done. Time is available for fun, friends, and myself, but not for those truly in need. The publicans and sinners.

My weeks are normally planned out. My evenings are designated. Tuesdays and Wednesdays are "me" days. I go home and try to relax and read in a novel and the Bible. Thursdays are either Awakening or an accountability group meeting. Both of which serve more to help myself or for the companionship of friends, with some emphasis on others(which are primarily Christians). Fridays and Saturdays are the fun days. Social events are going on during these days and nights! Who benefits from the movies, bowling, coffee shops, and concerts? ME! Sunday is the LORD's day. Now, I left out Mondays. I did manage to squeeze some Upward Basketball practices in on those days. The feeling, when leaving, was not of a high contribution factor. Mainly, I got chased around by the children. While it was very fun, the children did manage to wear me out! Where is my focus on those truly in need? The sinners and publicans?

Time does need to be given to our personal growth in the LORD, encouragement and teaching of others in the LORD, and some fun social time! BUT, time management needs to be better used! I need to cut back in some areas and give more of myself and the Lord Jesus Christ to those in need. The Social Life time could definitely be chopped back a bit. We need to be more active in society. Make the LORD known to those in need! We need to delegate more time of "they that are whole" and put it on "they that are sick."! A schedule shuffle needs to occur! Where and when can you contribute? Shift the attention of enriching our own lives, and enrich the poor's life! We must preoccupy some time for the sick!

kenny

Proverbs 8:17

"I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me." Proverbs 8:17

Diligence is the word to describe how we must dig into the Word of God. We must be persistent. There have been times when the Word and the Spirit has brought brand new revelation to me. However the majority of the time, the Word brings past experiences to mind. This is how enlightenment is brought. Wisdom gained.

I heard Steve Gillis say that he likes to read the Bible until it speaks to him. After hearing this, I modified my way of reading. Enough time had not been devoted to study. Now, my reading is not finished usually until a verse speaks to me. It isn't like God comes over the intercom in my head and provides an explanation. My life experiences are what He uses. The life experiences of others are used. Movies and songs speak to me. Anything based off life experiences. Experience is how we make it personal. It is how things stick in our mind and make us cling to it more passionately. A total understanding is possessed. It is not just remembering the knowledge, which can be impersonal. God shows us wisdom in a personal way! He shows how and when we've made mistakes. How we should have dealt with a situation or person. Mistakes are how we best learn. Knowledge and wisdom are ground into the heart. God's Word reflects our lives back into our faces. "A real book is not one that we read, but one that reads us." W.H.Auden

Knowledge and wisdom is best gained when it is personalized. I have gained it in different ways. It sticks best when I realize how I goofed up, and God shows me what to do to fix it. The wisdom of God will help keep your course in the future. For when the same situation comes up, you now know how to handle and face it! God allows us to experience circumstances to mature and grow us in His wisdom and love. We do not always understand what is going on in the heat of the fiery trial. But if we dig into God's Word consistently, He is faithful and will shed light into our heart. Wisdom will grow. Christlikeness will be acquired bit by bit. "The Word of God must be Read and Heard with Diligence that so you may arrive to the Knowledge that is needful for you." Cotton Mather

kenny