I Don't Want To Leave Disappointed...

Last night I was watching a rerun of  Everybody Loves Raymond. It was an episode where Ray seemed to be having a midlife crisis. The dialogue went something like this:

Ray:  I don't have a vision for my life, I have no goals, there's nothing I want to accomplish...

Debra:  Ray, you have a good job, you're a good writer, you have a good family, you have a home, a wife who loves you, and three great kids. Maybe the reason that you don't have a vision is because you have already accomplished it ... you are living your vision!

Ray:  I have...?      Alright!              Then, this is all there is...?                    I'm dissapointed ...

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Inside of all that are at least semi-emotionally healthy, there is a sense of purpose, a since of destiny, a sense that life is greater than just existing. As a body is greater than the sum of its parts, so living is greater than the length of its years. There's got to be more...

I don't want to leave disappointed.

Instead of waiting for a local church to get it together and then jump onboard, maybe we ought to go ahead and get ourselves together. It's not like each of us doesn't already know what is needed in order to become what we should already be and in reality already are.

If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.

James 4:17

"Lay down sanitized, mess free Christianity and embrace the kind of undomesticated, primitive faith that chooses sacrifice over compromise, peril over safety, and passion over comfort. That ancient, primal, dangerous faith of Jesus that won't ever choose safety over significance. The kind of faith that will forever ruin you for the ordinary.". Craig -Vineyard Missions Conference.



He Dwells In Us

Jesus is absolutely passionate about loving on the maginalized, the outcasts, the rejected, the poor, the sick, the maimed, and those who exist on the outer fringes of society with no hope for the now or the future ... and He wants to do it through us. We are not very good at it ourselves but He is really good at it through us.

Good Enough To Be Saved

“Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and come out—those who have done what is good will rise to live, and those who have done what is evil will rise to be condemned.” (Jn 5:28-29)

Some people have the point of view that when you die, if you have lived a good life you will go to heaven and if you have lived a bad life you will go to hell. They could even yank the above Bible verses out of context and make a case for their point of view. However, we’ve only to look at one word in Jn 5:28-29 to get a better understanding of what these verses are really saying.

If we look more fully at the word translated good in verse 29 we will be able to see more of the essential meaning of these verses.

The word does not mean just being good, but of also having the ability to produce much more goodness through that special quality that it possesses. If it were describing soil, the soil would be described as 'good soil’ or fertile soil - soil that has not only great potential to produce but will produce abundantly. It’s soil that gives itself to the purpose of being useful, productive, profitable and dependable. It is soil that produces ‘much fruit.’

If this word were used to describe a fruit tree, the tree would consistently be a very fruitful and healthy tree with fruit that is always big, delicious and juicy. ‘Its fruit would never fail.’

This word does not mean just good, but it means a special kind of good. It is an excellent, distinguished, upright and honorable good that not only has the potential of doing or producing good, but does in fact do just that. It is a good that not only has promise and potential, but also has production and product with quality, quantity, consistency, dependability, and longevity.

Jesus tells his audience not to be amazed as He unfolds His most startling claim of all: “A time is coming when all who are in the their graves will hear his voice and come out-those who have done good will rise to live, and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned.”

What does it mean to “do good?” This is just a few verses away from where Jesus talks about the gift of eternal life. To “do good,” means to have received eternal life. Only those in whom the life of God is dwelling can “do good.” Those who have obeyed His word, walked in fellowship with Him, and shared His life are the ones who have “done good.” At the same time, those who have “done evil” are those who have refused His life, who have turned their backs on the truth. Even if they think of themselves as “good people” who do “good works,” they will come forth to the “resurrection of judgment” if they have not received the free gift of eternal life in Christ. (Ray Stedman)

By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me. (Jn 5:30)

“In this passage,” writes Stedman “Jesus gives us a final reassuring testimony to the fact that even though we must all die and meet our final destiny, Jesus will do what is right and just. Jesus holds our destiny in His hands…Will He be our Savior-or our Judge?”

Stay Thirsty My Friend

One of my favorite TV commercials features 'the most interesting man in the world'. The commercials always end with him saying, "Stay thirsty my friend." That is why I like it. We need to remind ourselves to stay thirsty or we will become complacent.

In Jn 4:13, Jesus says, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” This brings up the question, "Since this verse says we will never thirst again, why do we need to stay thirsty?" This is a good question.

If we would but admit it, we ourselves still get thirsty. Maybe we, just as the 'woman at the well', do not really understand what Jesus was saying to her. Her response to Him was, "Sir, give me this water, so that I may never get thirsty nor have to come [continually all the way] here to draw." She thought He was offering her something to make her life easier, when in reality, He was offering her something that would make her life better. She thought He was talking about water from the well; He was talking about the things she was doing to try to satisfy her empty life. She thought she would not have to make the trip to the well any longer; He was telling her she would not have to go to the broken cistern any longer that she was drinking from to try and give meaning to her life. She thought He was talking to her about coming to the well to get water: He was talking to her about a different well, a different source, a different drinking, a different life.

When we drink the water that only Jesus can give us we will never thirst again, but because we have access to the Rock from which the spiritual water that produces spiritual life gushes, but we still have to drink ... regularly

Jesus said, "Everyone who drinks this water will get thirsty again and again. Anyone who drinks the water I give will never thirst—not ever. The water I give will be an artesian spring within, gushing fountains of endless life." (Jn :13-14)

Stay thirsty my friend!

Giving Our Lives Away

If you've gotten anything at all out of following Christ, if his love has made any difference in your life, if being in a community of the Spirit means anything to you, if you have a heart, if you care— then do me a favor: Agree with each other, love each other, be deep-spirited friends. Don't push your way to the front; don't sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. Don't be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand. (Php 2:1-4 MSG)

Yesterday, I spoke with a man a  who is a teacher's assistant at a handicap school, tutors middle school kids after school, and spends his summers helping at a summer camp for youth. My comment to my wife was, "He is giving his life away."

Of course this begs the question, How am I giving my life away?

My first thoughts were along the lines of  Well, what is giving my life away?  sounding strangely familiar to the question of Who is my neighbor?  If we have to qualify what giving our lives away is, then we haven't gotten to where we need to be yet - wrong attitude, wrong thinking, wrong question.  A better question would be How can I give my life away today.

I remember a song Steven Curtis Chapman used to do called "My Turn Now":

My Turn Now Lyrics

Well it's my turn now
My turn now
Hey, my turn to give my life away
I close the book and I shake my head
Sometimes I can't believe the things I've read
I don't deserve what He did for me
Hey, hey


He gave His love and His life away
And now He's asking me to do the same
So I'm gonna give Him all I am
And all I ever hope to be 'cause

Chorus
It's my turn now
Well it's my turn now
My turn to give my life away

I open up the book and look again
I read the stories of the faithful men
Who gave up all they had to follow Him
Yeah, yeah

He used the strong and He used the weak
He even gave the timid words to speak
He called whoever listened then
And now His call goes out again
Chorus

Bridge


My turn to say "I love Him"
My turn to let Him know
My life is His, so where He leads me that's where I will go
Chorus

Let's keep asking ourselves ... How can I give my life away today?

Let's keep noticing and being inspired by those who are giving their lives away.

The rest of Philippians 2 gives us the answer to having a right attitude so that when we ask the right question, we will have the right response.

Living Sacrifice

I was praying this morning and all of a sudden I had a moment of clarity. The words of Romans 12:1-2 were on my lips when I was stopped as realization of the words hit me. It was not that I haven't ever prayed these verses, I have. It was not that I haven't considered these verses and their meaning, I have. It was not that I haven't prayed these verses with conviction and passion, I have. What stopped me was the realization that this time I was praying these verses without consciously considering what I was doing. I was offering myself to God as a living sacrifice by memory instead of conviction and passion. I then considered what I was doing, hushed the fear of  this simple prayer's implication, sang a simple song I learned at some point that goes something like:

Make my  life ...........a living sacrifice
Pure and holy .......... just and true
With thanksgiving ..... I'll be a living
Sanctuary ................. for You

and then I consciously offered myself to God as a living sacrifice.

So then, my friends, because of God's great mercy to us I appeal to you: Offer yourselves as a living sacrifice to God, dedicated to his service and pleasing to him. This is the true worship that you should offer. Do not conform yourselves to the standards of this world, but let God transform you inwardly by a complete change of your mind. Then you will be able to know the will of God, what is good and is pleasing to him and is perfect. (Ro 12:1-2 GNB)

Notice this doesn't say we are to make a sacrifice every now and then.....we are the sacrifice.

The Wisdom of The Great Husbandman

Tuesday, March 01, 2011 Morning and Evening Charles H. Spurgeon

"Awake, O north wind; and come, thou south; blow upon my garden, that the spices thereof may flow out." --Song of Solomon 4:16

Anything is better than the dead calm of indifference. Our souls may wisely desire the north wind of trouble if that alone can be sanctified to the drawing forth of the perfume of our graces. So long as it cannot be said, "The Lord was not in the wind", we will not shrink from the most wintry blast that ever blew upon plants of grace. Did not the spouse in this verse humbly submit herself to the reproofs of her Beloved; only entreating him to send forth his grace in some form, and making no stipulation as to the peculiar manner in which it should come? Did she not, like ourselves, become so utterly weary of deadness and unholy calm that she sighed for any visitation which would brace her to action? Yet she desires the warm south wind of comfort, too, the smiles of divine love, the joy of the Redeemer's presence; these are often mightily effectual to arouse our sluggish life. She desires either one or the other, or both; so that she may but be able to delight her Beloved with the spices of her garden. She cannot endure to be unprofitable, nor can we. How cheering a thought that Jesus can find comfort in our poor feeble graces. Can it be? It seems far too good to be true. Well may we court trial or even death itself if we shall thereby be aided to make glad Immanuel's heart. O that our heart were crushed to atoms if only by such bruising our sweet Lord Jesus could be glorified. Graces unexercised are as sweet perfumes slumbering in the cups of the flowers: the wisdom of the great Husbandman overrules diverse and opposite causes to produce the one desired result, and makes both affliction and consolation draw forth the grateful odours of faith, love, patience, hope, resignation, joy, and the other fair flowers of the garden. May we know by sweet experience, what this means.

Some Kingdom ABC’s

Some Kingdom ABC’s

We are called to Abide:

You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. (Jn 15:3-5 NKJV)

• What are some signs that we are not abiding?
• What are some things that help us abide?

We are called to Belong:

He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love. (Ep 4:16 NLT)

We are designed to live in community, to be a part of something larger than we are. If we are not part of a community, the community is not complete and we are not complete, and we will never fulfill our destiny in God.

We are called to Color:

You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. (Mt 5:14 NIV)

• How much color can you see in a room without light?
• Light reveals color.
• We are to reveal, to add color

Here's another way to put it: You're here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We're going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don't think I'm going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I'm putting you on a light stand. Now that I've put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you'll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.  (Mt 5:14-16 MSG)

This Year

I see 2011 as a year in which God will present many opportunities, but only those who are willing to take a risk will be able to walk in them.  John Wimber used to say "Faith is spelled  r - i - s - k".  We seem prone to want a sure thing before we will take a chance, before we will step out.  We would rather play it safe like the person with one talent who buried it, rather than use it.

This year let's be willing to look foolish in the eyes of man.
This year let's be willing to take a chance of failing.
This year let's be willing to step out and use our gifts for the Kingdom of God.
This year let's be willing to believe that God is speaking to us about Kingdom possibilities.
This year let's be willing to use our talents, gifts, finances, and time in His Kingdom purposes.
This year let's be willing to seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness.
This year let's be willing to believe that the Bible is true.
This year let's be willing to believe God's promises.
This year let's be willing to be dependent upon God.

As long as we react to opportunities and circumstances based upon our own abilities, talents, and finances, we will play it safe and miss out on the greater than we can hope, think, ask, or imagine of Ephesians 3.

As long as we play it safe we will never fully enter into our destiny, our calling, the God way of living and being and doing and relating, for we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life. (Ep 2:10)

As long as we are not willing to take a risk, we will not venture into the God adventure we are destined for.

This year let's be willing to take a risk ... to take a chance ... to step out ... to speak up ... to stand, ... to do ... to live.

Ignored Warnings Bring Unwanted Results

In recent days I have visited a journal I kept for a while back in 2004.  I recorded on 01/01/2004:

 A quite beginning to a new year.  A thought today...we want explicit direction from God, what He wants is for us to trust Him.  Lord, help me to trust You even when I can't see, hear, or know.

In repentence and rest is your salvation, in quiteness and trust is your strength...(Is 30:15).

A quite and gentle stream goes only where it is directed; in rest its purpose is accomplished with a quiteness that cannot be ignored.

The last part of Is 30:15 I did not record on that day, however it is the last part that stands out to me today.  The end of that verse is but you would have none of it.  OUCH from 01/08/2011.