Hemmed In

You hem me in—behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me. (Ps 139:5 NIV)

The word hem above, translated beset in the KJV comes from a Hebrew word which is translated to bind, besiege, confine, cramp, secure, shut in, shut up, enclose, show hostility to, be an adversary, treat as a foe, form, fashion, delineate.

The NKJV of this verse is: You have hedged me behind and before, and laid Your hand upon me. The NASB renders it: You have enclosed me behind and before, And laid Your hand upon me. Interestingly the AMP words this verse: You have beset me and shut me in--behind and before, and You have laid Your hand upon me.

By now you probably wonder if there is a point to all this. Yes there is! I am telling you where I am. It may begin to make more sense after you read the following quote by Dr Larry Crab: “Authenticity says, Here's where I am in my journey to knowing God better, as opposed to vulnerability, which is Here's where I am hurting most. Vulnerability can be narcissistic.”

Here's where I believe I am in my journey to knowing God better. I am hemmed in by God. I can’t go forward and I can’t go backward. Side steps are out of the question, so here I am, standing still and unable to advance and unable to run. It is a place of immobility but also of protection. I have been shut in and shut up. God seems to have confined me and has me right where He wants me.

I know I will make it through, because of God’s promises and because His hand is upon me. He has cramped my style and is fashioning me as He sees fit. He is strengthening, changing, molding, and forming me. He is describing who He is, who I am, and defining how I fit into His purposes. He is making me who He has called me to be, so He can put me where He wants me to be, doing what He has called me to do, when He wants me to do it.

Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain. (Ps 139:6 NIV)

Psalm 139

For the director of music. Of David. A psalm.

1 O LORD, you have searched me and you know me.
2 You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar.
3 You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways.
4 Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O LORD.
5 You hem me in—behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.
7 Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?
8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea,
10 even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.
11 If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,"
12 even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.
13 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb.
14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
15 My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,
16 your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.
17 How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them!
18 Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand. When I awake, I am still with you.
19 If only you would slay the wicked, O God! Away from me, you bloodthirsty men!
20 They speak of you with evil intent; your adversaries misuse your name.
21 Do I not hate those who hate you, O LORD, and abhor those who rise up against you?
22 I have nothing but hatred for them; I count them my enemies.
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.
24 See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

SPIDER WEBS!

Spider Webs! I couldn’t believe my ears! He just told me I was caught in the spider webs of life! That is not what I wanted to hear! I wish I had said it to him!

Some people, when they complain about things in their life get the “poor baby” routine or the “everything’s going to work out alright.” Not me! I never have! People have always seemed compelled to tell me the truth about myself!

Of course, I looked at some things about spider webs, and some possible meanings in reference to life, God, and church. I didn’t like any of it at all! It was all bad! I wouldn’t mind referring that way to some one else’s life but not my own! I’m not even going to tell you about some of the stuff I found!

Do you remember what it is like to walk through a spider web? It totally distracts you from what ever you were doing and you just want to get it off. Being as spider webs are sticky, this is easier said than done, and the whole time you are imagining a spider heading for you.

The purpose of a spider web is to trap or ensnare. It is sticky and holds its prey tight until the spider moves in for the kill. There really isn’t much about a spider web that I like.

I would liken the “spider webs of life” to the thorns found in Mark 4:18-19.

“Now these are the ones sown among thorns; they are the ones who hear the word, and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.”

It doesn’t take any explaining to understand what this verse is talking about, nor what in this context the “spider webs of life” are.

Is there anything in your life that is choking and inhibiting the Word and Life of God in you? Is there anything that is distracting you from the purpose of God in your life? Is there anything holding you tight that you can’t seem to get free from?

Realize what is happening,
Refocus on God’s purpose for your life
Realign yourself with the Word of God

Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world—the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever. (Jn 2:15-17).

Obsession

And that is just what I did in Jerusalem. On the authority of the chief priests I put many of the saints in prison, and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them. Many a time I went from one synagogue to another to have them punished, and I tried to force them to blaspheme. In my obsession against them, I even went to foreign cities to persecute them. (Acts 26:10-11 NIV) (Emphasis mine)

Obsession is the word, or more accurately the idea it conveys, that I want to pull out here. The Merriam Webster Dictionary defines obsession as a persistent disturbing preoccupation with an often unreasonable idea or feeling.

The phrase worded “obsession against them” in verse 11 is worded “being exceedingly mad against them” in the KJV Bible.
"Exceedingly" is from the Greek word perissōs meaning beyond measure, extraordinary. "Mad against" is from the Greek word emmainomai which means to rage against or to be exceedingly mad against. Emmainomai is made up from two Greek root words. En meaning in, by, with etc. and mainomai meaning to be mad, to rave: said of one who so speaks that he seems not to be in his right mind (from Thayer’s Lexicon).

Based upon the above, a more elaborate description of the idea conveyed by the word obsession is an exceedingly great and unhealthy preoccupation with, or against, someone or something. Its effects are that it inhibits clear thinking, hinders correct actions, distorts understanding, shipwrecks morality, derails justice, and stands against all righteousness. It is not only destructive, deceptive, and debilitating, but is also unhealthy mentally, emotionally, and physically.

Obsession is progressive and will carry one to the point of being excessively preoccupied with or against someone or something to the point of the exclusion of all other things. It will capture your mind, enflame your emotions, and consume your soul.

Paul said in Acts 26:11 “In my obsession against them, I even went to foreign cities to persecute them.” How far off course will we let our obsessions carry us? Each of us as an individual is responsible for who or what we give ourselves to. Paul’s obsession carried him to foreign places where he should have never gone to do what he should have never done.. Our obsessions will do the same to us.

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. (Col 3:1-3 NIV)

Look For Character

The following was written by another friend who makes a good point:

In a day when giftedness trumps character, let us pay careful attention to what God says in Matthew 7:15 "Don't be impressed with charisma; look for character..." (The Message) No amount of spin will ever change God's sovereign order. He cares just as much about our behavior as He does our message. What we do, is not any less important than what we say.

Randy and Paula White, founders and co-pastors of Without Walls International Church in Tampa… announced their pending divorce to the 23,000-member congregation on August 23, citing lives heading in different directions. (Christianity Today - October 2007)

“Lives headed in different directions,” come on, is that the best they could offer the 1000's of people who look to them for spiritual guidance. I do not doubt for a minute that more problems will surface later, but according to Christianity Today that’s what their faithful followers have to base this train wreck on for now.

It appears from Paula’s web site that her sky rocking career will not miss a beat as she travels around to promote her latest book entitled, You’re All That! Understand God’s Design For Your Life. I can’t help but ask: “You're all what?”

Are these people Biblically illiterate, or just stupid. To pretend that this kind of behavior is acceptable while jet-setting around, signing your latest book and holding conferences, is not just intolerable, it is mindless, and devoid of God-centered conviction.

If there is anything clear in Scripture, it is how much God values and holds dear to his heart the hallowed covenant between man and woman. Mark 10:5 says: "In the original creation, God made male and female to be together. Because of this, a man leaves father and mother, and in marriage he becomes one flesh with a woman—no longer two individuals, but forming a new unity. Because God created this organic union of the two sexes, no one should desecrate His art by cutting them apart." (The Message)

May God impart to us today a new and profound reverence for what he loves and treasures. And may we all be reminded that "Man looks on the outward appearance, but God looks at the heart" (1 Samuel 16:7).

Striving together, to finish well
gary

Dancing With God

A friend sent me the following - I like it!

Dancing With God

When I meditated on the word "Guidance", I kept seeing "dance" at the end of the word.

I remember reading that doing God's will is a lot like dancing because ...

When two people try to lead, nothing feels right. The movement doesn't flow with the music and ..........................everything is quite uncomfortable and jerky.

When one person realizes that, and lets the other lead, both bodies begin to flow with the music. One gives gentle cues, perhaps with a nudge to the back or by pressing lightly in one direction or another. It's as if two become one body, moving beautifully.

The dance takes surrender, willingness, and attentiveness from one person and gentle guidance and skill from the other.

My eyes drew back to the word "Guidance". When I saw "G": I thought of God, followed by "u" and "i". ............ "God, "u" and "i"

God, you, and I dance.

As I lowered my head, I became willing to trust that I would get guidance about my life. Once again, I became willing to let God lead.

My prayer for you today is that God's blessings and mercies are upon you on this day and everyday.

May you abide in God, as God abides in you. May your heart trust in HIm so that you can dance together with God, trusting God to lead and to guide you through each season of your life.

And I Hope You Dance Your Whole Life With Him!

ONE DAY AT A TIME

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. (Mt 6:34)

I remember seeing a poster hanging on a wall one time that said I TRY TO TAKE ONE DAY AT A TIME,BUT SOMETIMES SEVERAL DAYS ATTACK ME AT ONCE. (-- Author: LARA LATOURELLE). It brought a chuckle out of me because I sure could relate. As a matter of fact, there have been times in my life that would have been great if it had only been a few days attacking at once!

If you are like me, you probably try to settle tomorrow, or multiple tomorrows, today. We can get so caught up in that, that we have no peace, and miss out on what today had to offer us. According to Mt 6:34, we are not supposed to worry about tomorrow. Today has enough things going on all by itself without adding tomorrow to it. As a matter of fact, we are not wired to handle too much fretting without it having a negative effect upon us.

Notice that Mt 6:34 begins with therefore. That means that something was written before the verse that is the basis for this verse being true, or as one of my teachers used to say, “What is the therefore there for?” Let’s go all the way back to verse 25 of Mt 6 for the answer.

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. (Mt 6:25-33)

Now that was a mouthful that basically says life has issues that are far more important than what we will eat, what we will wear, or where we will sleep. Life is not about those things. God takes care of the birds, He clothes the fields with flowers, and He says we are more important to Him than the birds, the fields, or the flowers. He goes on to say that worry cannot solve any of these problems, or add anything positive to our lives. God knows we need the necessities of life, but does not want us to live a life focused on those things, for that would be to model our lives after people who do not know God. The necessities of life would become our focus instead of God.

So what is God’s answer to the needs of life? But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well (Mt 6:33). God says that if we will put Him first, He will take care of everything else. But there is more to this, for we are really talking about life focus - what is our life focus, or the focus of our lives.

Did you ever put a piece of meat into your mouth, and as you began to chew, it got bigger and bigger? I’ve had it get so big that I’ve had to take half of it out and eat it in two bites instead of one. Well, these scriptures are kind of like that. As you look at them they get bigger and bigger. The more you see, the more you can see. As you may have noticed, verse 25 begins with therefore also. What is the therefore there for?

We have to go back to verses 19-24, which say: "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness! No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money“.

To be worried about the necessities and pleasures of this life is to serve Money. Worry is a form of worship that sees money as the answer, the problem solver, the great fixer, the all in all. God says we cannot serve Him and Money. One or the other has to be our master, and the fruit of which we serve will be evident in our lives. Devotion to money and all it brings is idolatry. Worry is the proof of misplaced devotion, and those who drink at its well will suffer the consequences.

Devotion to God brings trust in Him and His promises, and looks to Him as Provider. If our life focus is God, His kingdom and His righteousness, then His promise says He will take care of us. The Amplified Bible words verse 33: But seek aim at and strive after) first of all His kingdom and His righteousness His way of doing and being right), and then all these things taken together will be given you besides.

Today, fulfill your daily obligations, be obedient to the Word and the Holy Spirit, join God in what you hear and see Him saying and doing, welcome what and who He brings into your life, be willing to drop your plans for His, and do not try to take on tomorrow while it is still today. Live for God today and live in today, not yesterday or tomorrow. If we will trust Him and be devoted to and serve Him, He will take care of yesterdays, todays, and tomorrows.

Jesus’ Peace

All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. (Jn 14:25-27)

I think I can safely say that most of us would like to have peace, we would like to have great peace, all the time. Jesus has said that He has given us this peace, so how do we appropriate it into our lives?

First of all , through the Holy Spirit. If we belong to God, the Holy Spirit is within us, and Romans 14:27 says “the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” This is a relationship that must be developed through time spend with God, through the fellowship of the Holy Spirit (2 Cor:13:14).

Also as we do this the fruit of the Holy Spirit will begin to develop and mature in our lives and “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” (Gal 5:22-23)

Secondly, through applying ourselves to the Word of God, and applying the Word of God to ourselves. Psalm 119:165 says “Great peace have they who love Your law; nothing shall offend them or make them stumble.” This is not just reading the Word of God, but also letting it speak into our lives and change us and our behavior, being obedient to it, and speaking it over our lives and circumstances.

Thirdly through prayer. Philippians 4:4-7 says “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, 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.”

Fourthly, this is followed very quickly with what we choose to think about. Paul suggests in Philippians 4:8-9 “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.”

And let’s not forget Isaiah 26:3 AMP “You will guard him and keep him in perfect and constant peace whose mind [both its inclination and its character] is stayed on You, because he commits himself to You, leans on You, and hopes confidently in You.

Fifthly, it take faith. Hebrews 11:65 says “without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”

If we think our faith is too small, the doing of these things will bring about increased faith, and it only takes faith the size of a mustard seed to get a mountain into the sea or to do the impossible. Jesus said in Matthew 17:20 “if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."

Peace I leave with you; My [own] peace I now give and bequeath to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. [Stop allowing yourselves to be agitated and disturbed; and do not permit yourselves to be fearful and intimidated and cowardly and unsettled.] (Jn 14:27 AMP)

Intimacy With God

He made known his ways to Moses, his deeds to the people of Israel (Ps 103:7)

The people of Israel were content to know God by what He did. Moses was not satisfied with that level of knowing. Moses wanted a more intimate relationship with God. He requested of Him “teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you”. God’s answer to Moses is the same as to any who request to know Him, “I will do the very thing you have asked, because I am pleased with you and I know you by name."

The choice is ours as to the depth of our relationship with God. Some have no interest in nor desire to know God. Some have a shallow knowledge Him, not being rooted and grounded in love, and fall away at any resistance. Some have lives crowded with worry, are attracted by the lure of wealth, or desire other things more than God and have an unfruitful acquaintance with Him. Some fully embrace God’s call, submit to the transforming power of His Word and His Spirit, are passionate about their relationship with God, and pursue Him.

As we begin to nurture our relationship with him we will hear the call to come away, to spend time with Him, in fellowship, worship, prayer, adoration and the Word. We will a enter into intimacy with Him.

God not only desires that our relationship with Him have first priority in our lives, He wants to have intimate communion with the believer. The Amplified Bible words Proverbs 3:32 as … His confidential communion and secret counsel are with the [uncompromisingly] righteous (those who are upright and in right standing with Him). (Prov 3:32)

A secrete life with God will empower a daily life lived for Him. Prov 3:32 in the NASB says "... He is intimate with the upright." God both desires and enables us to have an intimate relationship with Him, but we must spend time with Him for it to be developed.

One of my daughter’s projects for school this year was to make a notebook on the state of North Carolina. I was quite taken by the NC State Motto which is found at the bottom of the State Seal. It is Esse Quam Videri which is latin for “To be, rather than to seem”. I was quite taken with it.

Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia says of this motto: It is found in Cicero's essay "On Friendship" ("De amicitia", chapter 98). ("Virtute enim ipsa non tam multi praediti esse quam videri volunt." roughly "Many are not so endowed with virtue as they wish to seem.")

We do have a tendency to want to appear more virtuous than we really are, and for the sake of this post, we also, but not limited to, like to appear to be better, more spiritual, more in touch, more together, farther along, than we in actuality are.

God says we are play actors when we pretend to be something we are not. Actually, He uses a stronger word … hypocrite.

Dictionary.com defines a hypocrite as a person who pretends to have virtues, moral or religious beliefs, principles, etc., that he or she does not actually possess, esp. a person whose actions belie stated beliefs.

Mark 15:7-8 says: You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you: “These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.”

These folks were saying one thing but living another. Their mouths said one thing, but their hearts another. They said they were in allegiance with God, but their lives said they were in allegiance with another. Their mouths said they belonged to God, but their hearts belonged to another, and their lives proved it.

The oblivious message for us as Christians is don’t be a hypocrite, don’t put on an act, be sincere, be who you appear to be, be real, be in reality who you are in presentation, don’t be a pretender, a play actor. Our hearts, our affections, are to belong to God and are to be evidenced in our lives.

Worry Wart

"No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money. Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?" (Mt 6:24-25 NIV))

To worry about what we are going to eat, drink, or wear is to make Money the one we serve, the object of our worship. We will serve it because through it we are provided with food, drink, remnant and housing. We have to be careful not to get caught up in the needful things of this life, having a negative effect upon our spiritual lives. Mark 4:18-19 says “Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful. (NIV)

• What we worry about becomes the center, or center cluster, of our lives.

• Worry makes its subject the focus of our attention and our lives.

• Our priorities becomes rooted in and identified with the object of our worship .. er .. worry.

• Worry captures our thoughts and drives our emotions.

• Worry strangles the root of Life found in the Word of God.

• Worry causes the Word to be fruitless in our lives.

• Worry stagnates our spiritual life.

• Worry impedes our spiritual growth.

Worry causes us to view the future through “eyes of fear“. God has told us in Is 41:10 “Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.' (NASB)

God’s remedy for this kind of worry is found in Mt 6:33 “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” (KJV). We have to re-focus and re-prioritize. We are called to be citizens of the Kingdom of God and are now to live our lives guided not by the basic principles of the world, but by the underlying principles of God’s Kingdom. This principle is God‘s the King, put Him first, make His purposes your priorities, do things His way, and as you trust Him by doing these things, He will take care of you and yours.

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. (Col 3:1-3 NIV)

Simple Obedience

I was reading to my son Zachariah today. It was a little book called "When We Grow Up" from the Before Time Began Series. The little prehistoric creature friends wanted to camp out in the woods, but their parents wouldn’t let them. One of them decided they would anyway and manipulated the whole group into following them.

It wasn’t long before they were in trouble. The ring leader of the group had gotten into some quicksand and they couldn‘t get her out (I’m pretty sure it was a female). As things started getting desperate, the grandfather of one of the group of friends appeared and got the one stuck in the quicksand out. He then said to them:

“Until you learn to follow simple rules, you’ll never see or understand all the secrets of the Great Valley.”

Now that was a good line. I didn’t expect to find God speaking in the pages of Zach’s little book … but there, unmistakably, was His voice. It is amazing the times, the places, and the unexpected ways we can hear God speaking to us. It seems to also usually be when we least expect it.

It would be easy at this point to say, “What a great lesson for my son!” But I realize that while this is a great lesson for my son, God was speaking to me.

May we learn to recognize and respond to His voice every time He speaks or reveals Himself to us.

He who is faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in much; and he who is unrighteous in a very little thing is unrighteous also in much. (Lk 16:10 NASB)

The Simple Truths of Service

Inspired By Johnny The Bagger
By Ken Blanchard & Barbara Glanz
Found at simpletruths.com




My sister forwarded this to me and I thought it was great!
(It is about a 3 minute clip)

Our principal sent it to all of us for Teacher Appreciation Week.

Click Here To View The Movie!
http://www.simpletruths.com/simpletruths/a.aspx?af=219&mo=stsr

Getting Over It

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.
I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.
(Jn 10:10)

There are two spiritual forces exerting influence in our lives, one the essence of evil, and One the essence of good. We can love and belong to Jesus Christ, and yet still be under destructive influence in some areas of our lives. From this spring board we could dive into many different areas, but today I am thinking of negative things in the past that we can’t seem to get over.

I recently responded to “You can pray for God to bless you, or you can pray for God to mess with you until you’re not a mess any longer.” It took three days before I figured out what was happening to my life. I knew I was a mess, but I quickly became an over achiever in it. I was even an offence to myself.

It all centered on some things and some people in the past that I had not gotten over yet. Being in the mood for a sad country song, I listened to “He Stopped Loving Her Today” sung by George Jones and found at http://www.homestead.com/LOL2/hestopped.html, if you are so inclined. I almost immediately turned into a basket case

If I haven’t lost you yet, and you are still hanging in there, here are the words to the song:

HE STOPPED LOVING HER TODAY

Lyrics and Music By
Bobby Braddock and Curly Putnam

He said, "I'll love you till I die."

She told him, "You'll forget in time."

As the years went slowly by

She still preyed upon his mind

He kept her picture on the wall

Went half crazy now and then

He still loved her through it all

Hoping she'd come back again

Kept some letters by his bed

Dated 1962

He had underlined in red

Every single "I love you"

I went to see him just today

Oh, but I didn't see no tears

All dressed up to go away

First time I'd seen him smile in years

He stopped loving her today

They placed a wreath upon his door

And soon they'll carry him away

He stopped loving her today

Spoken:

You know, she came to see him one last time,

We all wondered if she would

And it kept running through my mind

This time he's over her for good

This man’s life became defined by that which he couldn’t get over. It played and preyed upon his mind like a stuck record. It influenced how he lived out the rest of his time, as it forever discolored his perspective of life. He never got over it until he died.

In the middle of my weeping and wailing, I came to a decision. I didn’t want to wait until I died to get over some things that were bothering me. I did not want my life to be defined or determined by things I hadn’t gotten over.

Now, I did not know there were some things I hadn‘t really dealt with lurking in me. I thought I had already dealt with, forgiven, and was moving on past them. Come to find out I was just trying to get around them.

I wasn’t telling God anything He didn’t already know, but I told Him they were there, and I couldn’t get over them, didn’t know how to, and didn’t even know if I wanted to. I asked His forgiveness for hanging on to some hurts, forgave the hurters and disappointers that I had been blaming for the way my life has turned out so far, and asked Him to do a work of grace in me. He is.

If we are going to live the life that Jesus came to give us, then we are going to have to get over some things. We can feed upon what we can’t get over or we can feed upon the Word of God, but we can’t do both. The devil feeds us the bitter bread of the past, and uses it to paint our future. God makes bitter water sweet and fills our lives with his presence and purpose.

Now it is your turn. Will you wait ‘til you die to get over the things you may need to get over? Will you view life through the filter of what you cant get over, or the filter of God’s grace? You say you don’t know if there is anything you haven’t gotten over? Have I got a prayer for you!

Butterfly

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! (2 Cor 5:17)

I was getting ready to shower my son Zach the other night. I took my foot and moved his toy caterpillar from the middle of the doorway so nobody would step on it. As I turned around and stepped towards the shower, he said “Butterfly.” Zach, who has Down Syndrome, knows things I didn’t know he knew, and is able to make connections I didn’t know he could make.

He was looking at the toy caterpillar, and making the connection with real life. He had the understanding that a real caterpillar turns into a butterfly. I was amazed and delighted.

Zachariah saw what was coming as opposed to what was. He saw the future reality represented by the toy caterpillar. His assessment of it was based upon its future, not its present. He was looking past present reality to the beauty yet to come. He was able to look with eyes that see what is coming, in spite of what is existing.

I think we could all use eyes that see potential and possibilities, what is coming instead of what is, or has been. We need to look at others with eyes unclouded by their past or present. Our eyes need be opened to see them coming into their future, so that we might do our part in helping them reach their potential in Christ. May we begin see beyond present reality into destiny.

Making God Our Treasure

If you lay gold in the dust, and the gold of Ophir among the stones of the brook [considering them of little worth], And make the Almighty your gold and [the Lord] your precious silver treasure, Then you will have delight in the Almighty, and you will lift up your face to God. (Job 22: 24-26)

It isn’t that God doesn’t want us to have anything of worldly value, so much as He wants us to realize what true value is. Of first importance is our relationship with Him, that is to be our first priority. If we don’t get that right, nothing else will line up the way it should.

We are all familiar with the verse “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” It is found in the midst of don’t worry about what you are going to eat, drink, or wear; don’t be anxious about the how, when, and where of these things causing them to be the focus of our lives instead of Him.Let’s be careful not to get trapped in a life where the provision takes priority over the Provider.

God wants us to realize what he is like. When we begin to know Him, and what he is like, we realize that we can trust Him. He loves us and will take care of us. He cares about the birds and dresses the fields with flowers, and we are of more importance to Him than they are. We must realize that our spiritual life is not only more important than our natural life, it also sets the tone for it.

Fullness of life is found in Jesus Christ, not in possessions or provision. He gives us the capacity to appreciate, enjoy, and share. When we make Him our priority, the focus of our lives, He promises the necessities will be there - and we can count on it.

We need to consider the valuable things of this world to be of little worth compared to God and our relationship with Him which should be our treasure, our focus, our priority.

If we start at any other point we will get it all wrong.

Found Faithful

Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful. (1 Cor 4:2)

When the movie “Indian Jones And The Last Crusade” came out, my wife Sandy and I went to see it with some a couple friends. It was an enjoyable movie, but what I was taken by a scene found near the end of it.

As the earthquake began happening that destroyed the cavern where the “holy grail“ was found, and the chasm was opening, the old knight stood on far side of it, looked Indiana in the eyes and gestured farewell. I sat in the theater for what seemed about twenty minutes after the movie weeping into my crumpled up gray sweatshirt, with one of our friends keeping me company.

I was so taken by that knight and his dedication. So much was communicated in that look he exchanged with Harrison Ford and that farewell gesture. I cannot call it a wave, it was an uplifted hand, palm facing outward that said “Farewell, we shall not see each other again. Do not feel bad about that but be at peace. I am being faithful to that which I was called to. When I accepted this call I fully expected to carry it out until death. Do not despair for me, for this is my destiny. I freely give my life for that with which I have been entrusted.”

“ … we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who examines our hearts.” (1 Thes 2:4)

Running The Race of Life

There were only two of them in this race at the Special Olympics this past Saturday. One was my son Zachariah. He got a quick jump as the race started, and quickly was about 100 feet ahead. The other child got a slow start and didn’t seem to quite know what was happening at first.

I am thinking “He is gonna get the gold”, when all of a sudden Zach did something I would never have expected. He stopped running, turned around and waited excitedly for the other child to catch up with him. He then let him pass and followed along behind him for the silver.

He could have won the gold medal, but he chose companionship over competition, giving over getting, caring over crushing, enabling over defeating. Oh I know, you look at my son and you think he doesn’t have thoughts like that, his mind doesn’t work like ours. You’re right, his mind doesn’t work like ours, but he demonstrated something we know is better than winning, but are usually unwilling to do.

He cared about the other one running the race with him. He knew what the child was supposed to do, and purposely did his part in making sure it happened. He did not care if somebody else looked better than he did in the process. In the race of life we are all in, it is not about coming in first or second or even third. It is about finishing the race and helping those along side us finish the race also.

I don’t know if anyone else in the stands noticed what happened in that race Saturday morning, but it had the mark of eternity on it. The awards of this life will not carry over into the eternal, but the things that are marked by eternity will.

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. (1 Cor 9:24-25)

Everyday Life with God

I like the spectacular. I like it when big, significant things are happening, and especially if I am in the middle of them. I can tend to get bored with regular, hum-drum, everyday living.

But God is just as present in the hum-drum as He is in the spectacular. He is just as much a part of our regular everyday life, as He is part of what we would refer to as the spiritually significant times of our lives.

By our prayers, it seems we tend to think God’s reality is best presented in the midst of Elijah-like earthquakes, tornados, and fires, but it is in the quiet whisper of everyday life that God’s reality is more clearly presented.

It is in the loving of those who are hurtful, in the serving of those who can’t help themselves, in the kindness shown to those who are non-caring, in the diligence shown in unpleasant tasks, in the proper attitudes and responses which stand against the norm of a fallen world.

We do the Romans 12 one two - God I give myself to You, but we add a hidden condition. I sacrifice myself to You for something spectacular. We think spectacular it is the grand finally at a fire works show, when in reality it is the cleaning up of the mess that is left over after everyone else has gone home.

So, how ya doing with the sacrifice thing?

So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you. (Romans 12:1-2 )

Eternal Life

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” (Jn 3 :16)

What is eternal life? Some would say living forever, but if that is all it is, my desire of it would be based upon the enjoyability of the life I am living. If I am enjoying my life, then living forever ain’t so bad. However, if I am having a hard life, then living forever would be akin to hell.

Some folks would say it is going to Heaven when I die. Now, I like that ending, but what about today or tomorrow or even yesterday? Is my only hope that when it is all said and done that I won’t burn in hell?

There is a difference between life and living and there are different kinds of life we can live, but if we want eternal life, the life marked by no beginning and no end, the God-infused life of fullness, abundance, power and purpose, how do we get there? I like the old farmers answer, “You can’t get there from here.”

An understanding of what is meant by the term eternal life is necessary, in order for us to know how to get there. First of all, eternal life is not a destination. It is the way of living rightly related to, and in fellowship with God. Jesus prayed "This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.” (Jn 17:3) The words translated eternal life in this verse are the same as those in John 3:16 above. Jesus said that eternal life is knowing God and Himself. This knowing is a personal, experiential knowing It is a knowing and being known, that has a personal intimate quality about it and is on going, and life changing. But “You can’t get there from here.”

From our Mother’s womb, we are born into a natural life, and in that state we cannot experience eternal life. We are born earthly, and our roots are sunk into the earthly, and our lives and knowledge consist of and are filled with the desire for earthly things. That which is earthly cannot perceive, understand, nor enter into eternal life.

So how do we get there? Just as we are born into our natural state, our earthly life, so we must be reborn, born anew, born again born from above in order to be able to enter into eternal life. As Jesus told Nicodemus, “That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again." (John 3:6-7) We must be born of the Spirit in order to enter into this eternal life. It is only through the Holy Spirit that we can perceive it, understand it, and walk in it, and it is only through Jesus Christ that we can enter into it.

Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.” (Jn 14:6)

Lab Dogs And Deodorant Spray

"My writer friends, and they are legion, do not go around beaming with quiet feelings of contentment. Most of them go around with haunted, abused, surprised looks on their faces, like lab dogs on whom very personal deodorant sprays have been tested."

(From Bird By Bird Instructions on Writing and Life by Anne Lamott. I found this on a post at Simply Simon recommending the book - http://simoncareyholt.typepad.com/weblog/2007/04/anne_lamott.html ... looks like a good book.)

It made me laugh out loud. I was so taken with the look the lab dogs would have on their faces. I could so imagine and relate with how they must have felt. Yes, I was in the process of having one of those mornings. Then I had to make a decision.

Do I go about looking at the rest of the day through offended eyes or do I forgive and view the rest of the day with clear eyes.

I think it would have been great to have immediately chosen forgiveness and a clear view of life. I didn't ... I had to think about it for a while. O, how I wanted an apology, an admittance that I had been wronged, a reason to let go of the offense that at the same time would validate my feelings and rights.

Isn't it amazing that we are so easily offended in life, and then offended by the Word of God, that tells us how to handle those offenses. The Bible doesn't validate our feelings and rights, it calls us to live for Him, revealing Him in and to a society that doesn't believe in nor know Him.

Each day presents us with many opportunities to be offended. If we are focused on ourselves, we will be. How much better when being reviled to not revile back, but to reveal Christ.

The eye is the lamp of your body; when your eye is clear, your whole body also is full of light; but when it is bad, your body also is full of darkness. Then watch out that the light in you is not darkness. (Luke 11:34-35)

How's your eyesight today?

The Seed of Destiny

"Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. (John12:24)

Destiny is placed in us as a seed. It could be argued that it is placed in us at natural conception or spiritual conception. One thing that is sure though is that our Devine destiny will never be fully accomplished apart from God.

As a seed in the natural, so the seed of destiny must go through a certain process before it produces its fruit. Simplistically, a natural seed must go into the ground and it must die. There has to be moisture and heat to rot the husk and germinate the seed, then down go the roots and up comes the sprout.

A spiritual seed, the seed of God’s destiny, also has to die. We are aware of its presence, we are drawn by its call, but are not capable of walking in or fulfilling it. It must be buried in the womb of God’s presence. We acknowledge it, we admit our inability to make it happen, and we release it back to God that He may cause it to be, and that He may receive honor and glory from it.

The natural outcome of that destiny dies and is buried in the purposes of God. God then resurrects it to life, and a destiny we could have never pulled off with our own abilities begins to germinate. Its roots begin to sink into the purposes of God, and our destiny begins to sprout.

DESTINY

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. (Php 3:12-14)

Destiny is not just some place we end up at, it is also something we participate in every day. We don’t just end up at our destiny, we are actively involved in it every day. You might say we have a role to play in our own destiny.

If you were going to take a trip, you would have some sort of plan. The things you would need to do to get ready, what you would take with you, the route you would be taking, and even where you would stay when you get to your destination, In all of it you play an active role. You know your destination, either by desire or need. Everything you do to get ready, the traveling, the getting there, and what you do after you are there, is part of the fulfillment of that destiny.

All that we do is destiny being fulfilled. We can trust the inclinations of our spirit, because we are inhabited by the Holy Spirit. We might not be able to say at this point, I am destined to do this. But as we follow the inclinations of our re-newed spirit we are fulfilling our destiny in that moment.

As we begin living out our destiny, our destiny is accomplished. Our destination is sure, but there are things we can do that will make our stay at our destination better. We need to live out of our destiny, not live out of our past.
The times already lived are gone. Let them go. Now is not about what was or what has been or even could have been.. Now is about what can be, as each of us lives out of our destiny, as each of us begins to walk into our destiny, as each of us begins to daily fulfill our destiny, and walk out of our destiny.

What is God’s destiny, God’s purpose, God’s desire for you today? I can assure you that His desire is for you, and that His desire for you is good, and that His desire is that you walk in that goodness. His desire for you will not violate His Word or His character.

God’s promise for your destiny is “I shall accomplish My purpose for you”. As long as you are submitted to Him, you can trust what you sense for your destiny. Begin to live out of it, to live it out, and you will be accomplishing your destiny as you fulfill your destiny, and end up in your destiny.

You can’t see it all right now because you would begin to pursue it as a goal instead of a destiny, a life to be lived out. Destiny is more about living than about destination. Live, live out what is in your heart, and God will take care of any direction correction that is needed.

And then there are destiny’s friends. These are those special others that God places in our lives. Somehow or other, they are connected to our destiny and we to theirs.

And there are all those around us that we interact with. Sometime it is for the living out of our own destiny, and sometimes it is so they can begin, or continue, to live out their destiny. We also have a part in the destiny of those around us. We can encourage it or quince it, help direct it or scatter it, be a part in it or a discouragement to it.

And we’ve not yet spoken of destiny’s child. This is the good that comes from the living out of our own destiny and the encouraging of others in the living out of their own destinies. Be fruitful and multiply.

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. Whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you.

Savin' Me

I came across this music video by Nickelback this week. I thought it had a great message. I had to watch it full screen a couple times to see all it had for me. If you are interested you can find it at http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/artists/Nickelback/showVideo.aspx?fileID=1267

The Way of True Life

Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him." (Jn 7:38)

Tuesday as I was spending some moments turned towards the Lord, I seemed to hear Him saying, "There is a place that is close to Me where you can abide and hear my voice as a well of springing water. The sinner is cleansed and the saint refreshed. The water of My presence will heal your soul, refresh your spirit, and strengthen your body. All who seek Me may come to this place. My Presence is found in Christ and administered by the Holy Spirit. Join Me at the well."

With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. (Is 12:3)

Many Nations

After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches were in their hands; (Rev 7:9)

Sunday I visited a local church that was different than the one I had been visiting. As I set there in my chair I looked about and I saw not many who were like me. I wasn't necessarily comfortable but I really liked being with people who were different than me.

God calls people who are different than one another, diverse from one another, to be in community with one another. He doesn't necessarily call people who are alike to come together and be comfortable in their alikeness.

"Shout and be glad, O Daughter of Zion. For I am coming, and I will live among you," declares the LORD. 11 "Many nations will be joined with the LORD in that day and will become my people. I will live among you and you will know that the LORD Almighty has sent me to you. 12 The LORD will inherit Judah as his portion in the holy land and will again choose Jerusalem. 13 Be still before the LORD, all mankind, because he has roused himself from his holy dwelling." (Zech 2:10)

The Resurrected Life

We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. (Ro 6:4)

The resurrected life is a life that is lived towards God. It is a life that acknowledges Him, submits to Him, gets life from Him, and lives to please Him. We are no longer to submit to sin, but are to submit to God, we are no longer to obey sin but are to obey God. We are to offer the parts of our bodies to God as instruments of righteousness.

The resurrected life is new kind of life that we were unable to live before we knew God. It is a life that cannot be lived without the life of God inside of us. It is a life lived to God and for God. It is a life that offers itself to God to be an instrument of His righteousness, for His glory, to the accomplishing of His purposes in Christ Jesus.

In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. (Ro 6:11)

The resurrected life can not be lived out of our past, or even in identity with our past. It must be lived out of who we are now, not who we were before we knew Christ. It is a life that cannot be identified with sin, failure or what we can accomplish in our own abilities or own strength.

The resurrected life cannot be lived with out dying. We must die to sin, selfish ambition, soulish wisdom, and sensual pleasures. We have to identify with Christ’s in His death by being buried with Him in baptism. To be baptized into Christ is to baptized into His death. Everything before that burial is dead, is no longer the rule of our lives, is no longer the purpose of our living, and is no longer in control of our destinies.

The resurrected life is the life that is raised up out of the tomb of death. It is the life that is raised up in the same way that Christ was resurrected. It is no longer a natural life lived for natural purposes, it is a supernatural life, endowed with supernatural power, and lived for supernatural purposes. It is man-ward life laid down and buried, and then raised up a God-ward life.

The resurrected life is a life identified with the resurrected life of Jesus Christ. Its allegiance is not to self, the world, or the demonic, but its allegiance is to the Lord God Almighty. It is a life lived with the passion, purpose, and power of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is the life Christ gives us. Let us not settle for the residue of what we have died to, but let us reach out and live the resurrected life by the Holy Spirit, through Jesus Christ, and let us live it for the glory of God our Father.

The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. (Ro 6:10)

Freedom To Become

Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. (Ro 8:1-2)

Where there is condemnation, there is no freedom. Where there is no freedom, there is no real growth. We will never become or accomplish what The Lord is calling us to as long as we sit under or are subjected to condemnation.

Condemnation quenches, cuts off, blames, squelches, grieves, manipulates, blinds, binds, and causes hopelessness.

The Spirit builds up, encourages, directs, corrects, helps, enables, frees , and gives hope.
Condemnation creates an atmosphere of blame, guilt, and control. You will only be free to become what the condemner wants or thinks you ought to become or be. The condemner makes and interprets all the rules and motives.

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. (2 Cor 3:17)

Where the Spirit of Life is, there is freedom, freedom to become who God has called us to be and to do what God has called us to do. To be set free from our sinful pasts and set free to all we can be in Christ.

Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, 5and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood 6and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. (Rev 1:5-6)

Hitting The Mark

I press toward the mark (the distant mark looked at, the goal or end one has in view) for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. (Php 3:14)

We probably all start out pretty good. It doesn't take us long after we become Christians to figure out That Jesus is the One we set out sights on, who we head for. It all seems pretty simple, progress is fairly constant, and our lives are becoming steady.

Then at some point, years down the road, it is not simple anymore. We have too many targets, too many marks we are heading for. At first we do not realize what the problem is, all we know is the joy is gone. Discouragement begins to haunt us, we don't seem to know what to do any more.

May I suggest that we may have gotten off track. We're trying to hit so many marks, that we can't even figure out how to hit One. Some marks we may have added could be the desire for other things. When this happens, the Word is choked and we become unfruitful, stale, discouraged, passive, and undirected. Some marks could be ministry, how we think others percieve us, or even church

I am not going to belabor this, after all, we have the Holy Spirit and can understand spiritual things. Since we have been raised with Christ. let us also set our heart and minds on things above and let nothing lead us astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ.

Looking Back

To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them (Isa 6:20). Yesterday morning I was reading in Isaiah and came to this verse. I remember the first time this verse arrested me. It was about 18-20 years ago. My first thoughts back then, along with a feeling of self-justification, were, "Yea Lord, there's a bunch of people out there who don't speak in agreement with your Word!" Following that thought I was filled with conviction concerning how often my own words were not in agreement with the Word of God. Again this morning I re-read the above scripture. I looked back over the years, and I would have thought:

• I'd have come much farther in this area than in actuallity I have.
• That I would speak more life words than I do.
• That I would speak less death words than I do.
• That I would use my words more to help others become who they are in Christ.

I looked back at what Isaiah said in chapter 6:5-7, - Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts. Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar: And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged.

In verses 5-7 he is given a revelation of (from) God, then comes repentance, forgiveness, and cleansing, followed by separation and commissioning in verses 8 & 9.

Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me. And he said, Go, and tell ...

May the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts be pleasing to God.