Become rich in your thoughts

Someone donated several old Bibles to the church yesterday.  I could see that one of them had notes tucked between the pages. I curiously flipped through the old Bible and in addition to the notes I found three $2 bills. I chuckled as I wondered which most people would value most – the money or the Words in the Book? 

The Bible shaped the world I know. The Word has had a profound effect on America since her founding days. Even Thomas Jefferson, who was a skeptic that rejected the supernatural stories of the Scripture, regularly read from the Gospels every day. Mark Noll writes that “at least until sometime in the late nineteenth century or early in the twentieth, the Bible existed as the most coherent, the most widely respected, and the most powerful of those means by which American ordered their daily existence and made sense of the universe in which they lived.”

Do you know the Scriptures?
Does the revelation of God in those pages shape your life?Is your life enriched by the Truth of God’s revelation of Himself?

Each morning, I open the Word to read - sometimes only a verse, other times a whole story, or an entire book. These CoffeeBreak reflections generally are expressions of those meditations. My mind returns to what I read through the day and I invite the Word to inform my choices, as I draw on the lessons and principles of the Bible. Some passages yield more treasure than others!  I live with a worldview shaped by the Scripture which forms my thoughts. The Bible is a source of guidance that helps me choose my way when I am faced with two roads.

The Psalmist asks – “How can a young man keep his way pure?” Then, he answers –
“By living according to your word. I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. Praise be to you, O LORD; teach me your decrees." (Psalm 119:9-12, NIV)

The Bible, when properly read and studied, will transform us. When read often and with prayer for understanding from the Holy Spirit the Word will reach deep into our thought processes and speak to our daily conduct.  

Let me caution you about an approach to the Bible that is foolish, superstitious even. Some people open their Bible and find a single verse, drawn out of context, to justify an action or thought. That's called 'proof texting!' It can lead to bizarre conclusions. Some study the Bible with a purely literary point of view. It is true that thoughtful study of the historical context and literary forms of the text can be interesting and enlightening. But, simply knowing the Book as one might study other great literature misses the power of the inspired Word.  

Thankfully, God gives us His Spirit to help us to understand the Bible.  If we open it prayerfully, ready to learn, He will teach us. One does not have to be an intellectual or have a degree in ancient Semitic languages to be enriched by the Word. Yes, there is a necessary place for scholarly study, for comparing our interpretation of passages with the understandings of others.  But we must never allow ourselves to be convinced that the Bible is beyond our ability to read and comprehend especially given the modern language translations that make the text more accessible.

There is a blessing that keeps many Believers from the Scripture. What is it?  There are thousands of Christian books available which cause many to read much about the Bible, without ever reading the Bible itself.  Others are content to hear a Sunday sermon from the Word (Oh, God help us to fill our pulpits with the Word!). Having help to understand what is written in the sacred Text is a blessing, but each of us needs to interact with the Word ourselves when possible.

Dr. Timothy Johnson in his book, Finding God In The Questions, relates how he was looking for Jesus Christ, even though he had been a Christian Believer for years. He went back to reading the Gospels carefully and found that the Jesus he discovered again in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John was a Man far removed from the pictures and concepts presented in many books and even sermons he had heard in church buildings. He found a new wonder over the "surprising teachings" of Jesus.

Believer, get the Scripture into your mind and heart. Make reading of the Bible text itself a daily practice. Don't be discouraged if you don't find a sparkling gem of new understanding on the first day. Don't try to read too much. Don't go for the hard passages first. Instead, pray for the Spirit to be at work, and then sit down to read.

If you're new to Bible reading, start with Luke's story of Jesus' ministry.
Break away some mornings to read a Psalm, aloud, if possible.
Read the story of the first generation of Christians told in Acts.
Learn the majesty of our faith in Christ Jesus from Paul’s letter to the Romans.

Get a modern translation (or two) of the Scripture: one like the New International Version (NIV) or the New Living Translation (NLT) that will eliminate the road blocks inherent in English that is 4 centuries old.

When you read a passage that defies a ready understanding or application, allow for some ambiguity! After all, the Bible is not a textbook, it is a revelation of the Almighty, Eternal God!

Here’s a word from the Word.   “There’s nothing like the written Word of God for showing you the way to salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. Every part of Scripture is God-breathed and useful one way or another — showing us truth, exposing our rebellion,   correcting our mistakes, training us to live God’s way. Through the Word we are put together and shaped up for the tasks God has for us.”  (2 Timothy 3:15-17, The Message)

By the way, there is a great app that is free for your smartphone or tablet. YouVersion™ will let you access many different translations of the Bible without charge. It will provide daily reading guides. If you’re not a good reader, many of the texts come with a voice option that will read the text to you aloud as you follow along.  I highly recommend it to you for Scripture intake.

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Ancient Words

Holy words long preserved
For our walk in this world
They resound with God's own heart
O let the ancient words impart

Words of life words of hope
Give us strength help us cope
In this world where'er we roam
Ancient words will guide us home

Ancient words ever true
Changing me changing you
We have come with open hearts
O let the ancient words impart

Holy words of our faith
Handed down to this age
Came to us through sacrifice
O heed the faithful words of Christ

Martyr's blood stains each page
They have died for this faith
Hear them cry through the years
Heed these words and hold them dear

We have come with open hearts
O let the ancient words impart
O let the ancient words impart

 

Lynn DeShazo © 2001 Integrity's Hosanna! Music (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing (Integrity Music, David C Cook))

CCLI License # 810055

 

Get real!

 On my kitchen table there is a bowl of apples. More than once a guest in my home has reached out and picked one up only to realize they are not real. They look authentic, even close up, but they are just decorative. They serve no fruitful purpose!  Let me ask a pointed question – are you a real Christian?  I invite you to think about spiritual reality, becoming a fruitful Believer.

I drove past a local orchard and stopped along the road to look over the trees covered in white blossoms, the promise of fruit to come. The farmer has done his work, pruning, clearing away the underbrush, but it is the LIFE in the trees that will ultimately bring on the apples and pears that are the purpose of that place.  My untrained eye could not discern what kind of trees they are, right now. In a few months the fruit hanging from the branches will be irrefutable evidence if they are pear, peach, or apple trees.

 Are you a fruitful Christian?  

Jesus’ words are full of hope and promise.  “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. You have already been pruned for greater fruitfulness by the message I have given you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful apart from me. “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing." (John 15:1-5, NLT)

IF we are intimately connected to Him, by faith, and ‘remain’ (abide) in Him consistently, the life that flows from Him will cause fruit to grow in us. What kind of fruit? "When the Holy Spirit controls our lives, he will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control." (Galatians 5:22-23, NLT)  We need not stress, strain, or just try to ‘act like a Christian.’  Christ makes us alive and life shows, the development of character and faith coming into evidence from the inside out.

Ah friend, we do not grow into the likeness of Jesus with mental gimmicks, by adopting a self-improvement program, or even through working at being religious. Oh, yes we may be morally upright, manage to avoid grosser sins, but the nourishing fruit of the Spirit’s life does not flourish from human efforts.  In ourselves the best we can manage is an imitation, real looking on the surface perhaps, but without the nature of true fruit!  People can spot the difference between a ‘religious person’ and one who is alive in the Spirit as surely as I am able to determine if an apple is a plastic imitation or the real thing in a moment’s time.  In our present world, with so much chaos and uncertainty, I want, more than anything, to be a person who bears the real evidence of Christ’s life, filled with spiritual fruit.

So I will ‘remain’ in Him, opening my mind and heart to Him, through out the day.  Yes, we will find ourselves pulled from that place near His heart, tempted, tested, and depleted in spirit. But, there is renewal when we recenter ourselves in His loving grace.

Meditate on these words of promise, dear Believer.  "For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God," (Colossians 1:9-10, NIV)  That’s reality!

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Since Jesus Came Into My Heart

What a wonderful change in my life has been wrought
Since Jesus came into my heart
I have light in my soul for which long I had sought
Since Jesus came into my heart

 

Since Jesus came into my heart
Since Jesus came into my heart
Floods of joy o'er my soul
Like the sea billows roll
Since Jesus came into my heart

 

I'm possessed of a hope that is steadfast and sure
Since Jesus came into my heart
And no dark clouds of doubt now my pathway obscure
Since Jesus came into my heart

 

I shall go there to dwell in that city I know
Since Jesus came into my heart
And I'm happy so happy as onward I go
Since Jesus came into my heart

 

Rufus H. McDaniel

© Words: Public Domain

 

When Life Disappoints

 

We all have expectations. That vacation we planned for a year will be the best ever, we hope. Sometimes reservations get cancelled, weather intervenes, plans get shuffled – and we experience disappointment!  People can delight us and they can disappoint us, too, when they change into a person we no longer recognize, or walk away without explanation. It happens all the time. Life is a mixture of delight and disappointment.  Are you wrestling with missed expectations, struggling to stay faithful to the Lord even as you are living in a plot you never anticipated for yourself? 

 I never thought I’d be alone but the Lord allowed my wife of 41 years to step into His Presence 5 years ago and rewrote the script of life for me.  As I prepare to step away from the leadership of the local church after a lifetime of pastoral ministry, I pray that I will find new and fulfilling ways to serve Him and others. But, there is the real possibility that the road ahead has curves and hills I have not anticipated, too.

So, how do we deal with missed expectations and disappointment?

Many allow themselves to turn inward and become bitter.  

Who has not known someone who is miserable, sour in spirit?  Tragically, bitterness can grow to overtake all of life.  [Hebrews 12:15 (NKJV)] speaks of a "root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled."  Have you turned into one of those people who can't find a nice thing to say about anyone, cynical, withdrawn, and toxic to be around?

Emotionally and spiritually healthy people learn acceptance.
The Serenity Prayer includes this line - “God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change.”  Acceptance is not passive, it is not resignation to fate, it is not cowardly!  It is a lot of hard work, a willingness to set aside Self and to learn to live with a less than desirable situation.  A Christian has God’s help in this work. That person is able to ask His strength to take life as it is, not as it was ‘supposed’ to be.  With faith, we can accept who we are, where we are, and the people with whom we live and find new opportunities in the unforeseen circumstances of life.

If we insist that the only path to joy is living a life that matches our expectations we are acting like a child. If we convince ourselves that people will always be good or act in ways that are noble, we are simply naive. A measure of our maturity is the ability to deal with people as they are, discerning the good and the bad in others and in ourselves, and acting appropriately. Accepting people become loving people.

Then, too, there is true joy to be discovered in honest acceptance of ourselves. None of us is all that we hoped to be in some way or another. We all fail, despite our best intentions. God equips us in various ways by His Spirit and when we know who we are and what we do best for Him, we find a wonderful centered peace in which to live.

Forgiveness is an important tool in dealing with disappointment, too.  

Forgiveness - does that mean we sweep away the other person's offense as though what was done is without importance? We model our forgiveness on God’s forgiveness. Our sins broke His heart, offended His majesty, and earned us judgment. But He, at great expense to Himself, offered to forgive us and to create a path to reconciliation with Him for each one of us. His forgiveness is not partial nor conditional. 

The Psalm celebrates His grace. "The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever; he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us." (Psalm 103:8-12, NIV)

We can know great inner peace IF we will forgive others in that way. We need not excuse offense or write off the wrong. Instead, by faith, we take that person’s actions to God and surrender judgment to Him, even as we choose to release the debt we feel is owed to us to Him. "Impossible," you say?  No, friend, it isn't. Hard, yes - impossible, no.

Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” Matthew 18:21 (NKJV) Since the Law of Moses only required 3 instances of forgiveness thought he was being big-hearted to offer to forgive seven times! But you remember the Lord's response, don't you? Jesus replied, “Seven! Hardly. Try seventy times seven."

 Finally, in faith we choose to keep hope alive!

There is one hope that will never disappoint – the hope of Glory! The day of the defeat of evil is coming with the revelation of the King. Oh, how I look forward to that day, when sin's power over us is completely destroyed, when disappointment is wiped away. Won't it be a great day? So, I live in hope. "Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will give us later." (Romans 8:18, NLT)  "And even we Christians, although we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, also groan to be released from pain and suffering. We, too, wait anxiously for that day when God will give us our full rights as his children, including the new bodies he has promised us. Now that we are saved, we eagerly look forward to this freedom. For if you already have something, you don’t need to hope for it. But if we look forward to something we don’t have yet, we must wait patiently and confidently." (Romans 8:23-25, NLT)

Disappointed?  It’s just fine to feel broken, but never allow yourself to become bitter!

Here is a word from the Word.

“‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come, your will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.’” (Matthew 6:9-13, NIV)

In those words we find the hope that defeats disappointment!

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All My Hope

I've been held by the Savior
I've felt fire from above
I've been down to the river
I ain't the same a prodigal returned

 

All my hope is in Jesus
Thank God that yesterday's gone
(Yes) All my sins are forgiven
(Oh I've) I've been washed by the blood
(Come on and sing)

 

I'm no stranger to prison
I've worn shackles and chains
But I've been freed and forgiven
And I'm not going back I'll never be the same
That's why I sing

 

There's a kind of thing that just breaks a man
Break him down to his knees
God I've been broken more than a time or two
Yes Lord then He picked me up and showed me
What it means to be a man
Come on and sing

 

David Crowder | Ed Cash

© 2016 Capitol CMG Paragon (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing)

sixsteps Music (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing)

worshiptogether.com songs (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing)

CCLI License # 810055

 

Well, I wish I could

 

The words that follow may anger you. You might respond by saying that I am judging others unfairly.  My prayer is that you will read the words as deep concern for your spiritual well-being.  As we emerge from the dark year of COVID, I am seeing a terrible side effect – apathy about worship, fellowship, and discipleship leading to the slow spiritual death of many. It is not just happening at the church I serve.

As a shepherd of the flock of God, I feel responsible and I take it personally as I should!  God tells me that I am "to watch over your souls, and (I am) accountable" to Him for the health of Christians in my care. (Hebrews 13:17, NLT)  

Christianity is not a stroll in the park on a sunny afternoon. It’s a race. Sad fact -  millions never finish. They drop out, get distracted, let doubts overwhelm them, or just decide that other things are more important than pursuing God.

How do we finish this race well? I read the story of a middle- aged man who decided that he would run a marathon after seeing his daughter finish one. He was out of shape, had never run at all, much less done anything as rigorous as running a 26.2 mile race. But, inspired by his daughter's achievement, he wanted to match it. He began with a mile run. He felt like his chest was going to explode. Six months later, he finished a marathon! How did he do it? Daily training- focus, conditioning, eating healthy foods, and unwavering commitment to his goal.

The Christian life is a sustained series of daily choices. It is not a sentimental moment on Christmas and Easter. It’s not a ‘prayer to accept Jesus into my heart’ at Sunday School that is largely forgotten in adulthood. It isn’t even just a Sunday morning habit of church-going. Disciples of Christ are people who hear a different song, who respond to a higher call, who desire to know Jesus and to make Him known. Becoming a mature and productive Christian demands much of us and the idea that it is an easy road is a lie.

Many wish that they could love well, that they could know the joy of serving faithfully, that they could experience the inner peace of a relationship with God. Wishes won’t make it so. Let me pause here to restate a basic fact. The myth of the ‘easy Christian life’ is persistent in our culture. Somehow we think that we ought to have a spiritual awakening, an earth-shaking emotional moment that instantly relieves us of selfishness, laziness, apathy, …  but, the truth is that being Jesus’ follower is not for the faith-hearted. God has given us daily disciplines to build endurance and maturity in us. They enable us to live mature and complete lives, full of the Spirit, that defeat the Evil One, that create loving spaces in a hate filled world, and that cause others to say, "God be praised!"

A caution here – do not worship the disciplines more than the Lord to which they are to lead. Being incurably ‘religious’ we can become proud of our performance, which destroys the promise they have. That said we need to commit to  daily prayer, regular service, continual Scripture intake because these things open up channels through which the Holy Spirit flows into our lives. Where He lives, fruit follows. 

Let me underscore this- Salvation comes by grace alone. We cannot earn it!  But, there is training required for a solid, God-honoring Christian life. Said practically, if a person will not get to worship faithfully, contribute a portion of his income to God, practice forgiveness, participate in some kind of selfless service and love, meditate and pray each day;  he will be as incapable of doing great things for God as I am to run a marathon today!

Meditate on this passage - "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”  I hear those words quoted by so many, but not so much these that follow them in the next line -  “Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." (Jeremiah 29:11-13, NIV)

God has a plan and purpose for your life is that ‘immeasurably more’ than you can see with your natural insight. Great Christians need great vision. If you want to move out of apathy, start by praying to see the world, yourself, as God sees you.  Thank Him for the possibilities He creates and then pray for the wisdom and courage to start small, to practice until you're matured, completed, and able to do what that thing that you could only dream about before your training began.

At the end of that race, there is a reward that is eternal, that does not tarnish, that no one can eclipse, or take away. Paul says "there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing." (2 Timothy 4:8, NIV)

Let’s take the challenge of the Word to "leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God." (Hebrews 6:1, NIV) In short, “Let’s grow up and get on with the work of being a disciple!”

Here’s the wisdom of the Word about training. I pray it becomes your daily challenge.  "Train yourself to be godly. “Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come.” This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it." (1 Timothy 4:7-9, NLT)  Jesus says “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be my disciple. And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple." (Luke 14:26-27, NIV)  His words, not mine!

_________________

King Of My Heart

(a simple and inspired presentation)

 

Let the King of my heart

Be the mountain where I run

The fountain I drink from

Oh He is my song

Let the King of my heart

Be the shadow where I hide

The ransom for my life

Oh He is my song

 

You are good good oh

You are good good oh

 

Let the King of my heart

Be the wind inside my sails

The anchor in the waves

Oh He is my song

Let the King of my heart

Be the fire inside my veins

The echo of my days

Oh He is my song

 

You're never gonna let

Never gonna let me down

You're never gonna let

Never gonna let me down

You're never gonna let

Never gonna let me down

You're never gonna let

Never gonna let me down

 

When the night is holding on to me

God is holding on

When the night is holding on to me

God is holding on

 

John Mark McMillan | Sarah McMillan

© Meaux Jeaux Music (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing)

CCLI License # 810055