Hosting A Parasite?

The human body is amazing, but it can be weakened by tiny parasites, living organisms that take nutrients from it. Mosquitos draw blood and sometimes leave behind disease, viral or bacterial. Worms can live in our intestinal tract.  Fleas and lice take up residence occasionally.  Gross, isn’t it?  We do not intentionally host parasites because we know the detrimental factor on our health.  Those of us who live in developed nations are far less likely to deal with them, but the poor in places without access to clean water and good sanitation deal constantly with the debilitating effects of parasites of all kinds.

But, what of another kind of parasite, those that attach themselves to our emotions or our spirit?  Are we aware of them?

A common one is bitterness, brought on by offense and a refusal to forgive. Jesus taught us to forgive as we are forgiven, to make the choice to release our offense to God, waiting for His justice.  It is not an easy choice, is it? People wound us, sometimes intentionally and cruelly, more often by selfishness, thoughtlessness, and neglect. Those soul wounds can be an entry point for a terrible parasite called bitterness.  It will steal our ability to love and be loved, make us cynical and mean.  I can hear your objection, “But, Jerry, if I let him off the hook …”  Forgiveness is letting go and leaving it with the Lord. He says, "Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." (Romans 12:19,21, NIV)

Another common spiritual parasite is envy.  Life is often unfair, at least from our limited perspective. Read the lament of the godly person written in Psalm 73. Seeing the prosperity of those who live selfishly and with no regard for the Lord, this man cries, "I’ve been stupid to play by the rules; what has it gotten me?” (Psalm 73:13, The Message)  Envy clouds vision and robs us of our faith in God.  We must deal with it by returning to the Presence of God and settling ourselves on His eternal promises. "You guide me with your counsel, leading me to a glorious destiny. Whom have I in heaven but you? I desire you more than anything on earth. My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever." (Psalm 73:24-26, NLT)

Things like lust, greed, and selfish ambition can infest our spirit, too. When they do, they suck the life from us. But, God is greater, friend! In His grace, we can find freedom, we can curse these soul worms and discover whole life when they are cut off from us.  James warns of making a home for these things. "But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice." (James 3:14-16, NIV)

And let us not forget that we deal with real evil beings who are looking for a host. Oh, I know I’m wandering into controversial territory here.  The realm of the demonic is real and we do well to acknowledge that.  Balanced understanding of spiritual warfare is increasingly rare, it seems to me. Some want to blame every difficulty on a demon, chasing shadows, living in fearful superstition. Others completely ignore the reality of evil spiritual beings whose sole mission is to destroy the work of God- both in us and in the world.

A caricature of the demonic hides the truth. We tend to think of them as hideous creatures whose influence is obvious a la entertainment like The Exorcist. Truth is, Christians seldom deal with the demonic in such an overt way. But, we can be harassed by them. Christians are not ‘possessed’ but they can be deceived if they live in willful resistance to the revealed will of god  The wonderful truth is that as we live in Christ, filled with the Holy Spirit, we need not give them a home!  Demonic parasites can be removed by faith and submission to our loving God. Paul tells us to “be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes." (Ephesians 6:10-11, NIV)

Are you hosting a spiritual parasite? Are you allowing something to drain life from you, to rob you of your joy and peace of God?  There is just one answer – Christ Jesus who gives us freedom. Tell Him of your struggle. Pray for His power to come and help you to deal with them. Live in the Spirit, inviting Him to fill you up. There is life to the full, vibrant faith, deep love, and peace that passes human understanding for us.

Here is a word from the Word. Own it in faith today. "Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. Do not put out the Spirit’s fire; do not treat prophecies with contempt. Test everything. Hold on to the good. Avoid every kind of evil. May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it." (1 Thessalonians 5:16-24, NIV)

______________

 Father, my desire is that beauty of JesusBe evident in a vibrant, whole, healthy life.

Holy Spirit, fill all my being.I walk in a world where parasites are numerous.Keep me, I pray.
Guard my mind and help me to deal quicklyWith those thoughts and attitudes that wouldAllow some parasite to attach itself to me.

Spirit of God, defend me in the presence of evil.
Help me to submit to Your leading and to be led
Out of any situation where the demons of darknessAre harassing and seeking to establish a footholdIn my life. 

I confess that I am Yours and thank You that
You are mine!  

All this I pray in the Name of Your Son, Jesus. Amen

Eating Alone?

Breakfast alone is not a big deal. Lunch is sometimes just a quick bite of food on the run or at my desk. But, dinner – that different.  The evening meal was always, until 3 months ago, a communal thing in my life.  When Bev and I raised our family, we made gathering at the table for dinner the priority event of the day.  We sat down together at 5 pm every day.  That 30 minutes provided the opportunity to create the best moments of the day in our home. The dinner table was place to offer support, to hand off values, and to stay connected with our brood.  Even after the children grew up and left home, Bev and I always ate dinner together.  We did not eat in front of the television or allow phones at the table. We talked to each other, sharing more than bread, and that is the time of day when I miss her most.

A poll of Americans showed that increasing numbers of people live and eat alone. And yet, dinner is still regarded as a time to connect. Three out of four adults still regularly eat dinner with friends or family. Why?  Because eating is not just about food! How are deals struck? Almost always over a meal. How are romances born? On dates that usually include sharing meals. How do we celebrate major milestones? We gather for a meal.

One of the core practices of Christians for 2,000 years is a meal. We have ritualized it to a sip from a cup and a fragment of bread, but it is still a kind of meal that we share to remember our Lord Jesus, to celebrate our covenant relationship with God, the Father, and to remember that we are the family of God.  The Lord sat down to a Jewish Passover meal with His disciples the night before He was crucified and left a legacy in His memorable words - "While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.” Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins." (Matthew 26:26-28, NIV)  Christians from the beginning, gathered on the first day of the week, for ‘love feasts,’ times when they shared a meal that included the breaking of bread and the sharing of the cup.

Paul instructed the church to celebrate the Holy Meal reverently, for it was and is a proclamation of our hope in His work of salvation. "For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup." (1 Corinthians 11:26-28, NIV)  Some bemoan the ritual aspect of our practice, claiming that it loses meaning when observed too often.  My question in reply is this:  What are you bringing to the Lord’s table?  If you bring a heart of worship, if you anticipate honoring Him, if you are open to a conversation with the Spirit and God’s church – there is no such thing as ‘having Communion too often.’  If you merely come ‘to eat,’ then perhaps you will have no appetite for His holy Presence.  If you come to fellowship, you will be eager to break bread!

Communion offers another powerful lesson for us, I believe.  Just as dinner is best enjoyed in good company, Christianity is best practiced in community! Our best prayers are prayed in agreement. Our best understanding of the Word comes from shared study. Our strength in witness comes from standing shoulder to shoulder, the strong helping to carry the weak.  Doing the Christian life alone is possible, I suppose, but it’s like eating alone! You can nourish your body while sitting alone, but ‘dinner’ is more than food.  It is a time for renewal of relationship, for strengthening our ties to our ‘tribe.’  

My prayer is that God will cause us to love one another more fervently, to make us long for those times when we can sit down together and share around His table.

As you read this word from the Word, pray that God will restore His Church and that these things will be true of us. "All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer. A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity— all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved." (Acts 2:42-48, NLT)
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Break Thou the bread of life, dear Lord, to me,As Thou didst break the loaves beside the sea.Beyond the sacred page, I seek Thee, Lord.My spirit pants for Thee, O Living Word!

 Thou art the bread of life, O Lord, to me,Thy holy Word the truth that saveth me.Give me to eat and live with Thee above.Teach me to love Thy truth, for Thou art love.

Alexander Groves | Mary Artemisia Lathbury | William Fiske Sherwin
©Public Domain

Joy - Laughter that lasts!

Don’t you just love the kind of laugh that overtakes you and won’t let go? Each time you think about the thing that brought you such joy, the laughter returns. Hanging with friends with a rich sense of humor is a one of life’s good gifts. Laughing with others brings human warmth, connecting us. Note how often a public speaker will use humor in his opening remarks. Why? People who laugh have opened themselves to another.  Laughter helps to restore our souls. Medical science teaches us that laughter is healing. It strengthens the immune system, relaxes tension, and releases chemicals in the brain that overcome stress.  Oh, yes, there is a kind of laughter that hurts. When we are laughed at, when someone makes a fool of us, when another chooses to point out some embarrassing thing, we feel pain, don’t we? 

Pilgrims who walked the road that ascended to Jerusalem, going to Jerusalem to celebrate the holy festivals, sang Psalms called the ‘songs of ascent.’  One of them says, "When the LORD brought back the captives to Zion, we were like men who dreamed. Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, “The LORD has done great things for them.” The LORD has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy." (Psalm 126:1-3, NIV) They remembered the ‘impossible’ rescue of the people of God from their captivity in Babylon!  The nation was destroyed, the Temple ruined, the land devastated but God stepped in and did something amazing. He restored a devastated nation. He wasn’t finished with them. Their restoration was a cause for joy, a source of amazement.

Has something left you devastated? Does your life seem broken beyond repair? Weep, and pray for the JOY of the Lord to overtake you.  Nehemiah led the returning captives to repentance and then to ‘the joy of the Lord’ which was their strength. Wait! Pray! Believe! Trust! Obey!  He will move to save you.  He has broken the hold of sin, Self, and Satan so that we can live with joyful purpose.

25 years ago, after going through significant loss that I failed to understand or process in faith, I entered a time of deep depression. Laughter was forgotten, only duty remained. God’s Presence eluded me, but I held onto God’s promise of renewal, to the hope that a new morning would break into the darkness. At a week-long conference for pastors who were going through difficult times, convened in a beautiful place at the foot of the Rocky Mountain range, the Presence of God found me.  Worshiping with a 100 other men in various kinds of crisis, a man led us to joy, someone who had been through his own crisis.  He was a pianist, whose joy was his music. He practiced too much and ruined his tendons, losing his ability to play. He mourned, then God healed him. His song is “Mourning Into Dancing,” which was the expression of the laughter he found in his restoration!

Sorrowful today? Focus on the faithfulness of God. 
Offer up what the Bible calls a ‘sacrifice of praise,’ not insincere ‘happy-talk,’ but real thankfulness for His gifts. Sit quietly and soak in His Presence.
Find support in loving friends in God’s family.  And, let Him give the gift of laughter again. The Word says that He will wipe every tear from our eyes!

Here is a word from the Word - 
"All you saints! Sing your hearts out to God! 
Thank him to his face! He gets angry once in a while, but across a lifetime there is only love. 
The nights of crying your eyes out give way to days of laughter. " (Psalm 30:4-5, The Message)

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Mourning Into Dancing

You have turned my mourningInto dancing, Lord.Now my feet are filledWith Your praise.You have clothed my spiritWith a robe of joyYou have cast my sorrow away.

For Your anger lastsBut a moment, Lord.And my tears endureFor the night.But Your favorLasts for a lifetime, Lord.My joy returnsWith the morning light.

All my foes lose heartWhen they hear my voice,For I speak in Jesus' name.They turn back in fearAt the sound of praise,I'll not keep silentI must proclaim…

You have turned my mourningInto dancing, Lord.Now my feet are filledWith Your praise.You have clothed my spiritWith a robe of joyYou have cast my sorrow away.

John G. Elliott © 1986 BMG Songs, Inc. (Admin. by BMG Music Publishing)
CCLI License # 810055

A concealed sin that corrupts

A few days ago I learned of the miraculous healing of cancer in someone’s life. My reaction shocked me. Instead of rejoicing in the blessing, I felt angry and envious- “Why him?  Why not Bev?” It seems like an innocent question, doesn’t it?  Envy shows up in so many different ways, always destructive! We wonder - Why does he get that position and not me? Why isn’t my marriage as fulfilling as theirs? Why does my child have to struggle so much and theirs seems to dance through life?  God knew the evil that lurks in those feelings and, in His Big 10, includes this instruction: "Do not want anything that belongs to someone else. Don’t want anyone’s house, wife or husband, slaves, oxen, donkeys or anything else." (Exodus 20:17, CEV)

The wisdom of Proverbs is straightforward - “Envy rots the bones.” (Proverbs 14:30, NIV) If we give any room to envy in our thoughts, it will cause turmoil, division, strife, and even murder! None of us enjoys a ‘perfect’ life.  I have known great sorrow and lived through some hard things in recent years, but that is not the whole story.  I also am thankful that the Lord allows me a wonderful life of ministry, the privilege of leading a church of great people who have shown such enduring love. But, envy can make all that disappear. When I entertain it, it clouds my vision!

When we try to grab for another’s place, position, or gifts; we have to let go of what God has put in our hands. Paul corrected the Christians of Corinth. Envy of each other’s spiritual gifts brought fighting and posing into their fellowship. He was not subtle in his rebuke!  “You are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men?” (1 Corinthians 3:3, NKJV) Carnal (meaning, of the flesh) is antithetical to spiritual! They talked about deep spirituality but their envy was evidence that they were still very much owned by their sinful nature.

Envy is not a harmless feeling. The Bible says that we must get rid of “envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.” (Galatians 5:21, NIV)  Many people would never put envy in the same class of sin as sexual promiscuity but God does. That is why the Word says, “Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.” (Galatians 5:24-26, NIV) There is only one way to deal with envy. It cannot be explained, or justified. It must be crucified, killed dead by taking it to the Cross!

The temptation to envy will return just like other temptations.  Fatigue, disappointment, sorrow make me vulnerable to desiring what looks like the ‘greener pastures’ in which others graze. But, by the grace of God, it will not own me. Christian, if you are envying another, take your feelings and thoughts to Jesus. Confess them openly to Him and let Him break the spell that it holds on your heart. Pray for contentment, willing to accept God’s grace for your situation today. Ask the Lord to center you in His love so that you can honestly learn to say what Paul professed - "I’m just as happy with little as with much, with much as with little. I’ve found the recipe for being happy whether full or hungry, hands full or hands empty." (Philippians 4:12, The Message)

Here’s a word from the Word. Let it challenge, correct, and guide you today. Obedience to God’s wisdom opens our lives to joy and peace.  “So clean house! Make a clean sweep of malice and pretense, envy and hurtful talk. Now, like infants at the breast, drink deep of God’s pure kindness. Then you’ll grow up mature and whole in God. You’ve had a taste of God. Welcome to the living Stone, the source of life. The workmen took one look and threw it out; God set it in the place of honor. Present yourselves as building stones for the construction of a sanctuary vibrant with life, in which you’ll serve as holy priests offering Christ-approved lives up to God.” (1 Peter 2:1-5, The Message)

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Good, Good Father

I've heard a thousand stories
Of what they think You’re like.
But I've heard the tender whisper
Of love in the dead of night.
You tell me that You’re pleased
And that I'm never alone.

You're a Good, Good Father,
It's who You are,
It's who You are.
It's who You are.
And I'm loved by You
It's who I am,
It's who I am,
It's who I am.

I've seen many searching for answers,
Far and wide.
But I know we're all searching for answers
Only You provide.

Because You know just what we need
Before we say a word.

You're a Good, Good Father,
It's who You are,
It's who You are.
It's who You are.
And I'm loved by You
It's who I am,
It's who I am,
It's who I am.

You are perfect in all of Your ways
You are perfect in all of Your ways
You are perfect in all of Your ways to us

Anthony Brown | Pat Barrett © 2014 Capitol CMG Paragon (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing)

Common Hymnal Publishing (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing)

Housefires Sounds (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing)

CCLI License # 810055

The Grand Gesture, alone?

Three years ago, I told Bev that I wanted to replace the tiny chip of diamond that I had bought for her when we were engaged to marry back in 1974.  The jewelry store advertised a day when they would have hundreds of diamonds on display. After selecting the stone, a setting could be chosen and the ring prepared by an artisan on site. That day was so much fun! We looked at diamonds, finally selecting one that represented our love. We went off to have lunch and returned for the final fitting. What a wonderful memory, but my love for her was not really grounded in grand gestures like that.  Bev was delighted by that diamond, but she felt my love best in daily concern for her well-being, in my fidelity, and our shared life.

Our relationship with God is illustrated by marriage repeatedly in the Scripture. Christ loves the Church His bride. And, one lesson is that our devotion to Him cannot be based in an occasional grand gesture! We love Him best by serving Him faithfully each day.  Micah challenged the people of the Lord to think about their devotion. The text is well-known. "What can we bring to the Lord? What kind of offerings should we give him? Should we bow before God with offerings of yearling calves? Should we offer him thousands of rams and ten thousand rivers of olive oil? Should we sacrifice our firstborn children to pay for our sins? No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God. Fear the Lord if you are wise!" (Micah 6:6-9, NLT) The Lord is not looking for us to give large sums of money or engage in an occasional act of great suffering for Him. He is delighted when we act justly, love mercy, walk humbly with Him.

Do you love to do the right thing?  
A holy life grows out of love for Him.  I loved Bev more than myself. Going home to her, caring for her, spending time with her, keeping the vows of our marriage was not a hard thing to do. Love made the care of our marriage a joyous priority.  Do you love God in such a way that His ways are your first choice?

Do you find your heart full of mercy towards others or are you hard, selfish, and accusatory?  
God delights in us when we are like Him: merciful and kind. He is a good Father. He pursues those who are straying, offers salvation to sinners at great cost to Himself – and does it at His own initiative! No one and nothing compels Him. He wants us to live in the same manner and we show love to Him when we love our brothers.

Do you seek Him each day, wanting to know His plan, fulfilled most by discovery of His purposes? 
That is what it means to ‘walk humbly.’  Pride is the root of sin, insistence that we can make our own way, serve our own agenda, and live without Him.  God says that He hates (strong word) evil "with a passion,” and He defines the core of it as “pride and arrogance and crooked talk." (Proverbs 8:13, The Message)

On this Monday morning, approach Him with renewed devotion. If you have slipped into a Christianity built around an occasional grand gesture, a Sunday-only display of worship, a large check written to replace daily generosity – turn to Him with repentance. Ask to be led to a place where you live rightly, love mercy, and walk humbly. He will respond with delight in you.

A word from the Word - “So fear the Lord and serve him wholeheartedly. . . Serve the Lord alone. But if you refuse to serve the Lord, then choose today whom you will serve. . .  But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.” (Joshua 24:14-15, NLT)

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 We Give You Glory

 We have raised a thousand voices 
just to lift Your holy name 
And we will raise thousands more to sing
 Of Your beauty in this place 
Oh none can even fathom 
No not one define Your worth
 As we marvel in Your presence
 To the ends of the earth

 We give You glory
 Lifting up our hands and singing holy
 You alone are worthy 
We just want to touch Your heart Lord 
Touch Your heart

 As we fall down before You 
With our willing hearts we seek
 In the greatness of Your glory
 It's so hard to even speak 
There is nothing we can offer
 No nothing can repay
 So we give You all our praises
 And lift our voices to sing

 Glory, Singing holy 
We're singing worthy 
We want to touch Your heart Lord
 Touch Your heart

 Jeremy Camp © 2006 Stolen Pride (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing)
Thirsty Moon River Publishing (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing) CCLI License # 810055