What a talker!

Will (not a real name) always has a great story. “What have you been up to these days?” is all it takes to bring on another tale. There is sometimes a grain of truth in them but, as I have learned, most of the time he is beyond exaggeration and into pure fiction.  Knowing the struggles he has dealt with I understand why he escapes into the world of words. I feel sad for him, that he feels the need to create this imaginary life of exploits. At the same time there is a level of amusement at the detail his mind creates in this fictional existence. But, in the end, he is all talk.

Mark Batterson, pastor and author, alludes to a masterful musician generally esteemed as the best cellist of the 20^th century, Pablo Casals. He played for Queen Victoria when he was 22 years old and 64 years later, at age 86, played for President Kennedy in the White House.  He lived to age 96 and was still practicing 3 hours a  day. Asked about that habit, he said, “I’m beginning to notice some improvement.”  (Chase the Lion, 2016, Multnomah) Casals was not content to reach a certain level of competence and rest. He did not just dream of performing. He worked at it, honing his skill, learning, developing until the end of his life.

What kind of Christian do you want to be? Perhaps the question puzzles you.

Am I referring to the church you attend – Methodist, Presbyterian, Roman Catholic, Pentecostal? Not at all. 

Then, perhaps you think that since becoming a Christian happens by faith in Jesus, there is nothing more to say. And, in that, you would be mistaken.

We are given new life, restored to our Father in Heaven, through Jesus’ sacrifice on the Cross. But, what of the life that follows that new birth?  Paul urges us to “live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return. May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation—the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ—for this will bring much glory and praise to God.”  (Philippians 1:10-11)

Our  habits and attitudes need to be shaped by a daily encounter with the Holy Spirit.  
Do you love your stuff and find being content difficult? That can change. 
Are you enslaved by emotions that hold you back – hatred, fear, feelings of worthlessness?

God can help you to become loving, courageous, and confident! But, it won’t happen because you just learn the language of the Church.  The ability to quote a Bible passage for every situation is useful, but not if the truth of the Word is disconnected from where we live. Authentic Christians know that they cannot just let ”Word go in one ear and out the other.” James tells us to “Act on what you hear!”  (James 1:22)

There are daily disciplines that pattern our lives, that open channels for the Spirit to flow into our lives.  When we give them a priority place in our otherwise busy lives, we grow in grace and the beauty of the Lord emerges, becoming more radiant each day.  What are they?  Prayer is primary. When we are conscious of God’s presence, presenting ourselves to Him, listening – He speaks.  Confession is critical, too.  This discipline keeps us before Him and receptive to grace. Study of the Word feeds the soul and enlightens the mind.  Richard Foster’s work, The Celebration of Discipline, outlines twelve disciplines:  meditation, prayer, fasting, study, simplicity, solitude, submission, service, confession, worship, guidance, and celebration.  

Isaiah reveals the promise of those who engage in the pursuit of godliness.

"The path of the righteous is level; O upright One, you make the way of the righteous smooth. …My soul yearns for you in the night; in the morning my spirit longs for you. When your judgments come upon the earth, the people of the world learn righteousness." (Isaiah 26:7,9, NIV)

Why settle for just being a Christian when you could become a beautiful, skillful, gifted, effective follower of Jesus?  Don’t be a good talker. Be a faithful do-er.

Here is a word from the Word. 

 "Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved,
a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.
Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly."
(2 Timothy 2:15-16, NIV)

Lord, call us deeper into Your love, transforming us day to day into Your holy likeness. Amen.

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Mighty To Save

Ev’ryone needs compassion

Love that's never failing

Let mercy fall on me

Ev’ryone needs forgiveness

The kindness of a Saviour

The hope of nations

Savior He can move the mountains

My God is mighty to save

He is mighty to save

Forever Author of salvation

He rose and conquered the grave

Jesus conquered the grave

So take me as You find me

All my fears and failures

Fill my life again

I give my life to follow

Ev’rything I believe in

Now I surrender

Shine your light and let the whole world see

We're singing

For the glory of the risen King

Jesus

Shine your light and let the whole world see

We're singing

For the glory of the risen King

Ben Fielding | Reuben Morgan

© 2006 Hillsong Music Publishing (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing)

CCLI License # 810055

You Don't Have to Stumble Around

I love the dawn.  As I sit my kitchen table reading the Word, reflecting on the day ahead, I can see the eastern sky. When the first rays of sunshine tiptoe out of the trees and across my yard, there is a noticeable shift in my emotions that respond to the sun’s notice of a new day.  Light- what a gift! 

Sometimes  not wanting to turn on the light in the middle of the night, I walk cautiously through my dark bedroom.  The other night my foot hit a basket that was not in its usual place. As I stumbled and caught my balance, I chuckled to myself. “Just turn on the light, foolish man, before you hurt yourself!”

When I let Sam,  my Irish Setter, out before bedtime, I always flip on the floodlights that spill their illumination across the front yard.  Why? I want to know if there are any critters in the yard – deer she may chase, a bear that could injure her, or a skunk who could make us all miserable.

Are you ‘living in the light?’  

David rejoices saying "The Lord is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear?" (Psalm 27:1, NIV)  When we are living under God’s radiance fears are dispelled.  Jesus tells us that He is  “the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.”  (John 8:12)  When we let Him shine, we are able to find purpose and the way to full life.

Are you inviting the bright presence of the Spirit to shine on you? 

In the same way that sun is always shining, God’s light is always shines!  However, we have to stay where that light can shine on us. When we are worshipful, when we read the Scripture with understanding, when we exercise faith with obedience; we are ‘in the light.’  When we reject the Truth, when we persistent in arguments with the Lord, when we refuse to love – dark creeps over us and with it comes uncertainty, fear, and doubts.

It is true that there are days when, for reasons beyond our comprehension, the light seems hidden.  Fatigue, like a cloud, darkens our day. Temptation, like a shade, tries to block the light. In some cases sorrow comes and with it an emotional darkness falls.  God’s light is never extinguished.  Ever gone to the airport to take a flight on a cloudy, rainy day?  As the jet ascends pushing aside the clouds there is a glorious moment when the cabin is flooded with sunlight. The sun was shining as it always does!  So on weary days, when we are weighed down by temptation, when sadness dogs us – we must pray for faith to rise above those clouds.

Here is a word from the Word.  Today, invite the Light to shine on you.
" Sing a new song to the Lord! Sing his praises from the ends of the earth! 
Sing, all you who sail the seas, all you who live in distant coastlands. …
"I will lead blind Israel down a new path, guiding them along an unfamiliar way. 
I will brighten the darkness before them and smooth out the road ahead of them. 
Yes, I will indeed do these things; I will not forsake them." (Isaiah 42:10,16, NLT)

"The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining ever brighter till the full light of day. But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble." (Proverbs 4:18-19, NIV)

____________

Step Into The Sunshine

Step into the sunshineGet out of the shadeThis is the one timeThat you've got it madeAnd you can feel yourself smilin'Way down to your shoesStep into the sunshineFind the great good news

 Lord have mercyOn the long-lost childWho wants to come homeBut the world's gone wildLookin' all aroundFor a way to beginOpen the windowsLet The Light pour inI said open the windowsLet The Light pour in children

Clark Gassman | Molly Ann Leikin
© 1978 Bud John Songs, Inc. (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing)
CCLI License # 810055

I hate rules!

Every use this line with your kids?  “Because I said so.”  It’s not the best way to parent, but there are times when we just run out of patience or explanation and there it is.  I suppose I’m something of a big kid, but there are not many things that make me more angry than dealing with rules for which there is no reason except that somebody has the authority to impose them!

Here in New Jersey, we are so over-regulated it almost takes have a lawyer on speed dial.  Some of those laws that make me crazy are necessary to keep good order in society.  We need speed limits. I’m glad that there are zoning regulations that keep a junkyard from opening next door! So, when a police officer pulls me over for going a little too fast, I might resent the authority momentarily, but I am ever so thankful that he is there to restrain the person who wants to go 80 MPH on my residential street.  

Fences and boundaries can be a very good thing in a world where real sinners live. If we are wise, we will accept that while the ‘rules’ of God might cramp our style, those same laws of the Heavenly Father are for our good. He does not rule arbitrarily, nor does He give us laws that are petty.  God never exercises authority on the basis of ‘’because I said so!” His directions allow us to live at peace with others and in the best way possible.

Have you read the Big Ten in Exodus recently? We would do well to memorize them.  A ton of personal pain could be avoided if we obeyed them.  As the Lord was leading the Israelites to the Promised Land, He held a meeting with them to show them the kind of people He wanted them to be. (Exodus 20) Here’s a paraphrase of what He told them.

1. No other gods but Me.

2. No idols in your life.

3. Don’t misuse my Name by claiming to act under my authority when you’re not.

4. Keep one day out of seven for worship (a Sabbath) following the Creation pattern I established.

5. Honor your parents and you’ll live longer.

6. No murder.

7. No adultery.

8. No stealing.

9. No lying about your neighbor.

10. No wanting your neighbor’s stuff, his wife, or anything belonging to him.

As every parent knows, children are clever at finding loopholes and exceptions in our rules. “But, Dad, I heard you say … “   “I just thought that rule was for school nights, not the weekend.” And we who are God’s kids do the same thing, don’t we?  Christians may study the Bible endlessly, but is that study to discover how to live to please Him, or to find the exception? By the way, let me remind you that God is not using the Ten Commandments to grade us for eternity.  Keeping them perfectly, even if we could, won’t get us to Heaven! Only Jesus Christ can forgive our sins, but the “Big Ten” serve the purpose of building some fences. Galatians calls them "our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith." (Galatians 3:24, KJV)

As we read in that passage from Galatians, God’s rules reveal our sinfulness. Paul knew the Law and it made him cry – “what a wretched man I am. Who will deliver me?”  His answer?  Jesus Christ, who saves and keeps me by grace.  Commenting on his natural tendency to rebel, he writes "there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death?”   He points us to the power to live a holy life that is found in a Person.  “Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God’s law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin. So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus." (Romans 7:23-8:1, NLT)

Read the “Big Ten” again from time to time. When that streak of independence rises and rebellion tempts, kneel and seek the Savior. He makes us holy starting in our heart. Reading that ancient code I found myself challenged anew by the holy expectation of my Father. I am a free man in Christ Jesus, not bound by the Law of Moses, but it does inform me about the quality of the love that God seeks in me for Himself and for those who live alongside of me.

Here are words from the Word. Join the Psalmist who sings of the majesty of God’s rule:

"How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word." (Psalm 119:9, NIV)

"I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you." (Psalm 119:11, NIV)

"I rejoice in following your statutes as one rejoices in great riches." (Psalm 119:14, NIV)

"I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word." (Psalm 119:16, NIV)

___________

Jesus Loves Me

I was lost I was in chains

The world had a hold of me

My heart was a stone I was covered in shame

When He came for me

I couldn't run couldn't run from His presence

I couldn't run couldn't run from His arms

Jesus He loves me

He loves me He is for me

Jesus how can it be

He loves me He is for me

It was a fire deep in my soul

I'll never be the same

I stepped out of the dark and into the light

When He called my name

He holds the stars and He holds my heart

With healing hands that bear the scars

The rugged cross where He died for me

My only hope my ev'rything

Jesus He loves me

He loves me oh

Jesus how can it be

He loves me He is for me

He loves me He loves me

He loves me He is for me

My God it's amazing oh

Jesus loves me

Ben Glover | Chris Tomlin | Reuben Morgan

© 2014 9t One Songs (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing)

Ariose Music (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing)

CCLI License # 810055