Make it the ‘best day’

This Monday morning millions of people will groan; “back to work.” Are you one of them? Even as your feet hit the floor, were you expecting a bad commute, a surly boss, and a miserable week? Be honest with yourself. I’m not going to pretend that I am embrace every day and each challenge with enthusiasm, but I do know that we who are filled with God’s Spirit have the resource to face the week and turn it into something good. Yes, you can!  Say this out loud – “this is the day that the Lord has made and I will rejoice in it.”  (Psalm 118:24) Say it again.  Is that just poetry or it is truth?

We know Christ Jesus and who live in ‘in Him’ by faith are secure in hope, gifted with eternal life, and privileged to present ourselves to God for His care and comfort. We are in on the secret of life! Paul give himself to the work of proclaiming the open secret of Christ. Why?  "God wanted them to know that the riches and glory of Christ are for you Gentiles, too. And this is the secret: Christ lives in you. This gives you assurance of sharing his glory." (Colossians 1:27, NLT)  We have a treasure available to us. Will we unwrap it, invest it, and live in the richness it offers?

Don’t be one of those Christians who leaves Jesus at church. Present your life to Him, right now, where you are.
Troubled? Tell Him.
Happy? Sing to Him.
Uncertain? Ask Him for wisdom.
Angry? Share with Him.

In need? Pray.

Paul wrote to us sharing his aspiration for ministry.  What a revelation!  "I want you woven into a tapestry of love, in touch with everything there is to know of God. Then you will have minds confident and at rest, focused on Christ, God’s great mystery. All the richest treasures of wisdom and knowledge are embedded in that mystery and nowhere else. And we’ve been shown the mystery!" (Colossians 2:2-3, The Message)

Knowing Jesus does not remove us from the ordinary trials of life. He won’t make the traffic flow on I-78 this morning! He won’t instantly change your rebellious teenage son into an angel. But, He will infuse you with faith, hope, and love today if you will present yourself to Him and take His grace. Maybe you fell flat on your face yesterday and you’re still feeling too guilty to pray. He loves you and wants to renew you, so tell Him about that. Perhaps you are feeling ebullient after a spectacular weekend, share that with Him and thank Him.

As you begin a new week, make it a great day, remembering to keep yourself in the Love of God.  Here is the word from the Word. "My counsel for you is simple and straightforward: Just go ahead with what you’ve been given. You received Christ Jesus, the Master; now live him. You’re deeply rooted in him. You’re well constructed upon him. You know your way around the faith. Now do what you’ve been taught. School’s out; quit studying the subject and start living it! And let your living spill over into thanksgiving." (Colossians 2:6-7, The Message)

___________

Spirit of God, descend upon my heart.

Wean it from earth, thro' all its pulses move.

Stoop to my weakness, mighty as Thou art,

And make me love Thee as I ought to love.

Hast Thou not bid us love Thee, God and King?

All Thine, own soul, heart, and strength, and mind.

I see Thy cross, there teach my heart to cling.

O let me seek Thee and O let me find.

Teach me to feel that Thou art always nigh.

Teach me the struggles of the soul to bear.

To check the rising doubt, the rebel sigh,

Teach me the patience of unanswered prayer.

Teach me to love Thee as Thine angels love,

One holy passion filling all my frame!

The baptism of the heav'n descended Dove,

My heart an altar and Thy love the flame!

Spirit Of God Descend Upon My Heart (Morecambe)

Frederick Cook Atkinson | George Croly

© Words: Public Domain

I’m taking some time off.

See you next week!

Are you God’s friend?

There is an epidemic in America that we do not talk about. In spite of all our technology that keeps us ‘connected,’ I find that people are often lonely.  I am sure you realize that it is possible to be lonely while surrounded by a crowd.  Shaped by an American culture that idolizes individualism and that praises self-reliance, millions are trying live with few, if any, meaningful friendships. Add in our restlessness- moving to new towns, finding new churches, leaving family behind – and it is not hard to understand why so many are so alone. We are not taught to deeply value friendship, mistaking having a few laughs with ‘friends’ for sustaining, committed life-long relationships.

We bring all of that to our spiritual experience. One of the heavy weights on my heart is that people do not understand the importance of cultivating friendship with God! Many Christians are content to be His acquaintance. They know something about God and ‘visit’ with Him on the occasional Sunday when they join a church congregation but a Friend to them? They could not honestly claim that.  But that is exactly why God made us – that we could know Him, love Him, and honor Him with our daily living.

Does thinking of God as a “Friend” strike you as strange?  Look at the intimacy of which David sang. "I bless God every chance I get; my lungs expand with his praise. I live and breathe God; if things aren’t going well, hear this and be happy … Worship God if you want the best; worship opens doors to all his goodness. Young lions on the prowl get hungry, but God-seekers are full of God. Come, children, listen closely; I’ll give you a lesson in God worship. Who out there has a lust for life? Can’t wait each day to come upon beauty? … God keeps an eye on his friends, his ears pick up every moan and groan." (Psalm 34:1-2, 10-12, 15, The Message)

Moses, when he was leading the Israelites from Egypt to the Promised Land, knew the importance of living as an intimate of the Lord, in the center of His Presence.  The people wanted something simpler, a ‘religion’ that would allow self-indulgence. Craving a spiritual experience, they went to Aaron while Moses was away, insisting on an idol. He gave them the golden calf and they replace friendship with the true God with a revel in sensuality! The Lord was angered by their perfidy and withdrew His Presence from them. Moses, ever the intercessor for the people he led, prayed this plaintive and amazing way that reveals his friendship with the Lord: "If you don’t personally go with us, don’t make us leave this place. How will anyone know that you look favorably on me—on me and on your people—if you don’t go with us? For your presence among us sets your people and me apart from all other people on the earth." Exodus 33:15-16

Christian, does your friendship with God make you distinctive?  Do you know Him in such a way that every moment of every day is shaped around the pursuit of His Presence? We can know, many do not, the abiding Presence of God. He does not require us to live in monasteries to know Him. He does ask us for an exclusive love and refuses to allow us to be filthy in mind, rebellious in spirit, or self-seeking. James teaches us about walking in God's Presence. “If all you want is your own way, flirting with the world every chance you get, you end up enemies of God and his way. And do you suppose God doesn’t care? The proverb has it that “he’s a fiercely jealous lover.” And what he gives in love is far better than anything else you’ll find.”  (4:4-6 Msg)

Jesus told us that we need not feel like orphans. We can be, because of Divine love and grace, the beloved children of God. And that friendship that calls us to holiness means that we are never alone because the Spirit lives in us. "If you love me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you." John 14:15-17

So, be a friend of God. Live in the Presence!  Don’t let the empty noise and frantic activities of the crowds keep you from living close to His heart.

______________

Friend Of God

Who am I that You are mindful of me

That You hear me when I call

Is it true that You are thinking of me

How You love me it's amazing

(It’s amazing it’s amazing)

I am a friend of God

I am a friend of God

I am a friend of God

He calls (You call) me friend

(REPEAT)

God Almighty Lord of Glory

You have called me friend

Israel Houghton | Michael Gungor

© 2003 Integrity Worship Music (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing (IMI))

Integrity's Praise! Music (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing (IMI))

CCLI License # 810055

Go ahead, compare! Kill your joy.

I looked across the restaurant and saw a man and woman sitting across from each other, chatting, their hands touching, smiling. My dinner was not as enjoyable because I drifted into envy, wishing my wife were on the other of my table!  A reasonable enough wish, you might say. It is, but instead of being thankful for them, I was focused on me!   

“I want that!” is a longing as old as humanity. The Genesis story tells us that God provided rich abundance for Adam and Eve with just one stipulation:  “You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.”  Temptation took hold, matched with a lie that promised more; they ate, and sin entered Creation.

The 10 Commandments include a prohibition of envy, too.  Yes, God knew that envy would create all kinds of other difficulties so He said “You shall not covet (envy so much that you want it for yourself) your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.” (Exodus 20:17, NIV)

The wisdom literature of the Scripture tells us that "A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones." (Proverbs 14:30 NIV)  When we learn to be content, to appreciate who we are, where we are, and those with whom we live we discover a richness of life that is unparalleled, but if we are looking across the restaurant comparing ourselves to others, a kind emotional and spiritual cancer grows in us. 

James bluntly teaches us that "where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice." (James 3:16, NIV) Remember Joseph, the favored son of Jacob? His father gave him a privileged place in the family and showered him with gifts. Joseph older brothers envied him and, given the opportunity, sold their brother into slavery and lied to their father that Joseph was dead. Yes, envy is not a harmless daydream about having another’s life. It is a shortcut to Misery Street. It will destroy marriage intimacy, turn brothers into rivals, divide the Body of Christ, and kill our joy.

Remember that old phrase about the deceptiveness of envy? In moments of envy it always appears that the 'grass is greener on the other side of the fence.' Envy robs of us the ability to see OUR blessings.  Because envy is both so common and usually hidden, we tend not to take it seriously. “Come on, Jerry, who hasn’t wished for something that his buddy owns?”  True. And yet, just because we can hide it, just because so many experience it, we cannot dismiss the corrosive and sinful result of living with envy. Paul includes envy in catalog of sins that include "sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness." - Galatians 5.

So, what's the cure?

Thankfulness, overflowing gratitude. The seductive song of envy is no match for the sweet melodies of praise. Try it. Offer little prayers of praise to God throughout the day, not after envious feelings take hold, but before.  Thank others for the blessings they bring your way with sincerity. Praise God for the gifts of another!

Learn to be content. Yes, contentment is learned. We must not deny the truth about ourselves. If we are feeling envy, admit it, confess it, and leave it behind. Generosity with words, with our stuff, with our time helps us to be content, too.  Make Paul’s words your aspiration, praying for the Spirit’s transformative work to be done deep in your mind and heart. He said, “I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.”  (Philippians 4:11-13) Learning is not just acquiring knowledge. It is applying that knowledge and gaining life skill from it. So, in a world that works at creating envy, choose to learn contentment.

 Here's a word from the Word to take with you today, and to remember next time the voice of envy whispers in your ear.

"When I was beleaguered and bitter, totally consumed by envy,
I was totally ignorant, a dumb ox in your very presence.
I’m still in your presence, but you’ve taken my hand.
You wisely and tenderly lead me, and then you bless me.
You’re all I want in heaven! You’re all I want on earth!
When my skin sags and my bones get brittle,
God is rock-firm and faithful." (Psalm 73:21-26, The Message)