What’s on your plate?

A few weeks ago my physician advised me to make some adjustments in my diet to address some potential issues with my health. Her advice? Less salt, less saturated fat, more fruit, and fewer calories overall! This was not a new idea to me but her words got my attention- “Jerry, unless you take steps to change your lifestyle now, your risk of having a heart attack will increase with each passing year.”  While I am well aware that life does not go on forever, I would like to enjoy the best health possible until that day when I join my lovely in Heaven. I have made some changes, some a little more challenging than others. Most important, I am paying attention to what is on my plate.

How do you feed your soul, friend?
Are you living on ‘junk food’ and empty calories?

At lunch time it is so convenient for me to just stop and grab a couple of slices of pizza and wash it down with a bottle of soda. Occasionally, that won’t hurt me but a daily diet of the salty, fatty, sugary stuff in that lunch will affect my health.  In our lives, crammed with activities, we may be tempted to offer up hurried ‘bless me, Lord’ prayers, to replace time in the Scripture with a little inspiration off of the internet or from the “Daily Bread,” to pass on getting to church to worship and hear the Word replacing it with a few minutes with a TV pastor on Sunday morning. We may choose to read only those authors that fit neatly into our worldview, dismissing those who make us think too hard as unnecessary.  Those choices will make us ‘heart sick’ as surely as a daily diet of pizza and burgers will make us sickly in body!

Spiritual health does not require some weird lifestyle, monastic deprivation, or travel to spend time with an advisor.  The choices are basic and need to made every day.

What are they? 

• Spend time in thoughtful prayer.

Slow down long enough to listen for God’s voice.  If you spend 15 minutes a day in focused prayer, it will make an amazing difference.

• Pick up your Bible and read something other than a Psalm or a few words from a favorite passage. Pick a book in the Scripture and read through it, one passage at a time. Study it, asking God to speak to you.
• Replace some of your ‘TV time’ with good books that contains some solid soul food.  (a couple of suggestions – Celebration of Discipline, Foster; Prodigal God, Keller; Not A Fan, Idleman)
• Practice ‘discipling.’  Make choices for self-discipline, for self-control, to become aware of what’s going on inside of you. Engage with other Christians, even with some that are not like you. Learn, listen, grow.

The Word speaks to the need to grow spiritually.  "You need someone to teach you again the basic things about God’s word. You are like babies who need milk and cannot eat solid food. For someone who lives on milk is still an infant and doesn’t know how to do what is right. Solid food is for those who are mature, who through training have the skill to recognize the difference between right and wrong." (Hebrews 5:12-14, NLT)

Here is a word from the Word. "For you have been born again, but not to a life that will quickly end. Your new life will last forever because it comes from the eternal, living word of God. … So get rid of all evil behavior. Be done with all deceit, hypocrisy, jealousy, and all unkind speech. Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment, now that you have had a taste of the Lord’s kindness." (1 Peter 1:23, 2:1-3, NLT)

Lord, help us to choose spiritual health, for Christ’s sake. Amen.

Just watch me!

 

Jacob wanted to rebuild the carburetor on his 4-wheeler.  He is a young teen with limited mechanical training but he got it done and proudly showed me the result of the smooth running engine by racing down the street with me hanging onto him for dear life!  “How did you know what to do?” I asked.  Without a blink of an eye, he responded “I watched  some YouTube videos.”  I chuckled because I have done the same thing for different tasks.  Yes, in case you did not know, you can gain instruction by searching for videos that people post!  Most of the time you don’t just watch a talking head. The ‘instructor’ shows you how to do it by providing a visual.

Christian, in this world we have a responsibility to show the way for others.  The last word of Jesus to His disciples was to wait in Jerusalem for the empowering of the Spirit.  They would then become witnesses for His Gospel. By that He meant more than good talkers.  Their lives would be demonstrations of the transformative nature of the faith! "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8, NLT)

About 25 years later, Paul, in his letter to Titus, made a similar case for living the Gospel!  In chapter 2, there are practical instructions about how knowing Jesus and the way to live for Him.  He addresses various groups within the church and in each case reminds them to keep in mind that what they do in life reflects on Christ.  Look at the phrases he includes:   “In everything set them an example by doing what is good.   … So that no one will malign the word of God. … so that they have nothing bad to say about us. …  to make the teaching about God our Savior attractive.”   The qualities that are encouraged in that chapter are character issues of self-control, diligence, love, faith, and endurance.

Looking at myself, I must ask, “Jerry, are you living in such a way that the beauty of Jesus’ Person eclipses your personality, that the power of the Spirit is conquering the temptations that come your way?  Are you providing a visual of what it means to be a Christian?”  The does not mean that I pretend or pose!  It does not mean that I try to earn the applause of those around me.  It means I love the Lord and live with an authentic, deep, and abiding faith that makes me different from the inside out.

Here is how Paul was inspired to encourage Titus and the church in Crete that he served as Pastor.  Wait a minute. Pause and ask the Spirit to make these words come alive in your mind.  Now, read on.  "God’s readiness to give and forgive is now public. Salvation’s available for everyone! We’re being shown how to turn our backs on a godless, indulgent life, and how to take on a God-filled, God-honoring life. This new life is starting right now, and is whetting our appetites for the glorious day when our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, appears. He offered himself as a sacrifice to free us from a dark, rebellious life into this good, pure life, making us a people he can be proud of, energetic in goodness." (Titus 2:11-14, The Message)

There is so much empty talk in our society. Words overwhelm us. Few of us trust much of anything that people say to us. Knowing this, let’s present the Gospel of Christ visually.  Without pride or self-consciousness, let’s aspire to lives filled with the Spirit, overflowing with love, so that we can say ‘Just watch me!’  When others despair, we will know hope. When others hate, we will love. When others live for the moment, we will live for eternity. When others will not serve, we will give ourselves without holding back.  The impact will be astonishing.

Here is a word from the Word. Own it for life. "Dear brothers and sisters, pattern your lives after mine, and learn from those who follow our example. For I have told you often before, and I say it again with tears in my eyes, that there are many whose conduct shows they are really enemies of the cross of Christ. They are headed for destruction. Their god is their appetite, they brag about shameful things, and they think only about this life here on earth. But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior. He will take our weak mortal bodies and change them into glorious bodies like his own, using the same power with which he will bring everything under his control. Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stay true to the Lord." (Philippians 3:17-4:1, NLT)

________________________

The Stand

You stood before creation

Eternity in Your hand

You spoke the earth into motion

My soul now to stand

You stood before my failure

And carried the cross for my shame

My sin weighed upon Your shoulders

My soul now to stand

So what can I say

And what can I do

But offer this heart O God

Completely to You

So I'll walk upon salvation

Your Spirit alive in me

My life to declare Your promise

My soul now to stand

So I'll stand

With arms high and heart abandoned

In awe of the One who gave it all

I'll stand

My soul Lord to You surrendered

All I am is Yours

Joel Houston

© 2005 Hillsong Music Publishing (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing)

CCLI License # 810055

Jerry D. Scott, Pastor

Faith Discovery Church

www.FaithDiscovery.com

Too many troubles?

When the pin fell out of the plow and my efforts at snow removal came to a standstill. In the scheme of things, it was not even an issue, but at the moment, , it was a BIG deal to me.  I kicked the blade in frustration (yes, I only succeeded in hurting my cold toes) and I muttered about life and aggravation. Later, in the house, warming up with a cup of coffee I laughed at myself.  The driveway got cleared with some effort and the plow got fixed.  Unlike my plow breakdown, there are real problems and terrible pain that make me equally angry and sad.  Those stories I read about women being trafficked in sexual slavery break my heart. Hatred that festers in our land makes me feel real despair.  Talking to those who wrestle with chronic illness rips open my heart.

Life can be depressing.  Most of are at some risk of injury or death every day.  How? Just getting into our car and driving to work is risky.  Across these United States about 100 people die daily in traffic accidents and thousands more are injured.  Life altering anomalies are ticking away inside of many of our bodies at this moment.  Yes, we know that pressure is building on fault lines deep beneath the earth's crust and when those plates shift, earthquakes will wipe out towns.  Should I keep going?

Life is unpredictable. No matter how much we prepare, regardless of just how much caution we exercise, danger remains with us.  My faith in Jesus Christ is my SOLID ROCK of hope in the middle of all these messes.  He does not promise that because I belong to Him I can expect that only good things will happen to me or to my family.  Sadly the ‘faith’ of many believers wrecks when their superstition runs into reality. What I do know (and you can, too) is that my hand is held by the Father. He knows how to guide me through or even around the challenges that are ahead of me on my road. 

The cynic of the Scripture, the writer of Ecclesiastes, puts to words what many people think. "It's all emptiness," he moans. "Why get up in the morning? You work hard then you die and somebody else spends your fortune! You think that keeping the rules and being good will get you ahead in life and then the crook drives up in his Tesla, wearing diamonds." - Eccl. 6:12, 8:14 (not exactly his words, but a loose paraphrase)  Is Solomon right in his feelings of despair?  We have to read the whole essay!  After pointing out the vanity of a life without God, he sums up the best way to live in a world full of uncertainty, in circumstances that can produce hopelessness. "Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil." (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14, NIV)

The Gospel of Christ works for us NOW because of the promises assured for THEN.  Scripture reminds us that what we experience NOW, isn't the last work in the matters of life. "... in life and in death, we belong to the Lord. Christ died and rose again for this very purpose, so that he might be Lord of those who are alive and of those who have died. ... Remember, each of us will stand personally before the judgment seat of God. For the Scriptures say, ‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, ‘every knee will bow to me and every tongue will confess allegiance to God.’ Yes, each of us will have to give a personal account to God." (Romans 14:8-12, NLT)

Trouble comes one day, success another! But, the person who walks with God remains faithful through it all because her goal and purpose isn't just to make it through the day. Rather, she purposes to please the Eternal Father, to patiently endure the trials and to keep her head in success, knowing that when the game is over, the real life for which God created her will have just begun. Set your hope in eternity. Live joyfully, confidently, faithfully, fearlessly!

Here is a word from the Word. Believe it. Live it. "So don’t throw it all away now. You were sure of yourselves then. It’s still a sure thing! But you need to stick it out, staying with God’s plan so you’ll be there for the promised completion. It won’t be long now, he’s on the way; he’ll show up most any minute. But anyone who is right with me thrives on loyal trust; if he cuts and runs, I won’t be very happy. But we’re not quitters who lose out. Oh, no! We’ll stay with it and survive, trusting all the way." (Hebrews 10:35-39, The Message)

________________

"When we've been there ten thousand years,

bright shining as the sun;

We've no less days,

to sing His praise,

than when we first begun!"