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).
Sunday, October 14, 2007
Friday, October 12, 2007
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 perissÅs 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)
Friday, October 5, 2007
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
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!
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!
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!
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