What's My Motivation?

I'll get back to "haiku-ing" soon, but today's thoughts don't seem to fit that outline. One of the things God asked me recently is: Who are you writing for? Write for Me. As much as I enjoy knowing people are reading and being blessed by these posts (and I do appreciate every reader), that cannot be my focus as I write. Here is a quote from J. H. Jowett that spoke to me this morning:

"A preacher may dress and smooth his message to court the public cheers, and laborers in other spheres may bid for prominence, for imposing print, for grateful recognition. All this unfits us for our task. It destroys the perception of the needs and perils of the sheep."

In John 2:23-25 at the beginning of Jesus' earthly ministry many people saw the signs He was doing and believed in Him. Jesus just did what the Father told Him to do. If the applause of men was His primary desire and concern He never would have completed His mission.

I trust God to work in me so He can work through me to minister to the needs of people for whom He died.
Amen!

My insight only helps people when it helps them apply the Word to their own situation.

It's not me, it's the Word that helps. -dcp

The Lord is patient,

not forgetful. Every word

fulfilled in season.

-2 Peter 3:4,9

Ezekiel 12:22-25,

Son of man, what is this proverb you have concerning the land of Israel, saying, “The days are long and every vision fails”? ...' But tell them,'The days draw near as well as the fulfillment of every vision. For there will no longer be any false vision or flattering divination within the house of Israel. For I the Lord will speak, and whatever word I speak will be performed. It will no longer be delayed for in your days, O rebellious house, I will speak the word and perform it,' declares the Lord God.”

We are in the last days. People say, “It's always been this way! They've been saying the same things since I was a kid and even before that. It's just talk. Things haven't changed.” Beware of that attitude creeping in. God sees it as rebellion. (Ezekiel 22:25)

God is not slow, but patient. We are not waiting on Him, He is waiting on us. If you're ready to see revival and your heart aches at the mess that this world is in remember, God is waiting on you. Become a change agent in your realm of influence. Be an instigator of the change you wish to see at work or in your family. Don't talk about it, just do it.

Going against the flow requires strength. Our strength comes from the Word. Break bread with God every day. When you share a meal with someone, you get to know them better. Break open the Bible and read it with Him daily. The word of God is our source of strength and life. It's how we get to know God so we can become more like Him.

The last days should not be cause for alarm within the church, but cause for rejoicing. Our King is coming back soon! As bad as things get – persecutions, famine, war, destruction – never forget who lives on the inside of you. The same Holy Spirit that leads you now will continue to lead you until you go home to be with Jesus. He never leaves or forsakes us.

Praise God! Mark 13:3-13, 1 John 4:4

"If I could just see..."

When unconvinced by the Word

Signs will not move you.

-Luke 16:31

 “Did you see that, mama? Jesus just healed that blind man!”

A woman was telling of her daughter's amazement at television drama about the life of Jesus. To her young daughter those weren't actors. That was Jesus healing a blind person in front of her eyes! My friend commented about her own belief: "If I had been there to see Jesus doing the works it would be so easy to believe." I couldn’t put my finger on it at that moment, but something about her statement didn’t sit right.

Later I heard someone preach on 2 Peter 1:19 which says, “We also have a more sure word of prophesy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:” (KJV)The next verse tells us the “word of prophesy” Peter refers to is Scripture. What is Scripture more sure than? Verse 16 tells us it’s the eyewitness testimony of the apostles.

That bold statement can be hard for us to accept. I’ve found myself thinking, “If I could just SEE it, Lord! If I could just SEE a person’s fingers grow back, or someone’s sight restored my faith would be so much stronger!” Jesus disagrees. He said in Luke 16:31, “If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead.”  Again in Luke 11:29 He says, “This generation is a wicked generation; it seeks for a sign, and yet no sign will be given to it but the sign of Jonah.” Jonah was not a visible manifested sign. Jonah’s sign in Jesus time was the same sign we have from Jonah today – a written testimony…a more sure word.

Jesus was and is a miracle worker, yet He never performed on command for the skeptics so they could believe. His miracles were for those who came already believing. You don’t have to be perfect or have any special credentials for Jesus to work in you and on your behalf. You just have to come believing the Word. He’ll meet you where you are when you come with a sincere heart.

More sure words to believe: Matthew 9:1-9, Luke 18:16-17, Mark 9:21-27

From heaven to earth

Word made flesh, dwelling with us

Jesus - Lamb of God.

-John 1:1-29

Firmly rooted trees

Established, strong and steady

Embrace discipline.

This morning I looked over my yearly reading plan, deciding where to read next as I read the whole Bible this year. A thought came: "You shouldn't think that way. You're just checking off boxes." Then another thought, based on scripture: "Write down the vision and make it plain...." A yearly reading plan is a way of making the vision plain so I can run with it. Without a plan the odds of me reading the whole Bible this year are next to zero. Just like anything, daily Bible reading can become a dead ritual if we lose sight of why we do it. But that doesn't mean we should stop reading every day. It means we need to remember our motivation.

Today my Word journey included a word study on ritual versus discipline. Encyclopedia Britannica defines ritual as: "the performance of ceremonial acts prescribed by tradition...." Ritual lacks motivation. It's something I do...just because that's what you do. Jesus didn't have much good to say about tradition and ritual. He was after disciples. That's the origin of the word discipline - it's "instruction given to a disciple."

Discipline is motivated by love. It is very different from punishment. Though they are listed as synonyms in some places, God makes a clear distinction. He says in Hebrews 12, "The Lord disciplines the one He loves...." 1 John 4:18 says, "There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear involves punishment...." This is not a contradiction when you see how these words are similar, but not the same. In a nutshell:

(summarized from dictionary.com, synonyms for punish): Punish, correct, discipline refer to making evident public or private disapproval.
To punish is to inflict…with little or no expectation of correction or improvement.
To correct is to reprove…with the idea of bringing about improvement.
To discipline is to give…what will educate or establish useful habits.

Daily Bible reading is a useful habit, not a dead ritual. The Word is spiritual food. You have a daily habit of feeding your body. Make sure your spirit is getting the same treatment: Psalm 1, Hebrews 12:11-13

How I love your law

How sweet are your promises

Sweeter than honey

-Psalm 119:97, 103

The Word of God gives us insight, correction, comfort, joy. Psalm 119 expounds on the goodness of God's word and the blessed life of those who love it. The word is a lamp to our feet. It makes us wise, and gives us insight and understanding beyond our years or professional training. When we walk according to His word, God establishes our way. It keeps us from sin and preserves our purity. Our life becomes a testimony to those around us when we wait for God's word. What a power-packed chapter Psalm 119 is!

Psalm 119:2 says:

How blessed are those who observe His testimonies,
Who seek Him with all their heart.

In the margin of my Bible I've amplified key words of this verse, based on the definitions found in Strong's Concordance.

How blessed are those who guard, maintain and obey your proofs and evidences,
Who visit often and tread over the place where God is looking for him with their whole heart, nothing held back.

Don't hold anything back from God. Visit the place where He is found often, searching for him like a tracker on the hunt. Spend time at His feet and read the word until you get something from your Heavenly Father. Read until you hear Him speak to your heart. You can read the same verse a hundred times and then the very next time you read it, you see something different or new! That's God illuminating His word to you and teaching you! Hungry hearts will be satisfied! Come hungry.

Glory to God!  |  Matthew 5:3-14, Psalm 119

Conviction draws near

Condemnation shrinks away

Draw near. Keep growing.

-James 4:1-10

God’s word is supernatural. Unlike any other printed material, it’s alive. From a book thousands of years old you can find new insight for your 21st century life every day. That’s cool! Compare this to a newspaper which changes daily. It provides information and opinion but doesn’t free me from entangling sins I face. Unlike newspapers, God’s word doesn’t change with the weather. It endures. Every morning Genesis is at the front and Revelation is at the back. Yet reading those loving, unchanging words changes us from the inside out - eternally changed!

One danger of filling too much time with other things is your spiritual appetite becomes dull. Many church-goers are spiritually starving but have no hunger for the word. Entertainment and news take the edge off that craving that you can’t quite identify, but they don’t nourish you. To make a natural comparison: if you eat 3000 calories of Twinkies, Twizzlers, soda and potato chips and never have any meat, vegetables or water, you may not feel hungry at the end of the day; but you will feel draggy, edgy and have a craving for “something” that you’re not quite sure how to fill. Naturally speaking a steak and salad would hit the spot. Spiritually speaking you need some milk and meat from the Word!

God says in Isaiah 55:2 -

Why do you spend money for what is not bread
And your wages for what does not satisfy?
Listen carefully to Me
And eat what is good
And delight yourself in abundance.

The good news is we can regain our spiritual appetite. Dig into the Word. At first it may be just a discipline, but eventually your desire for the Word will grow. Beware! This is a behavior-altering substance. It will cause you to love people you thought were unlovable, to behave with calm when you used to panic, and to be joyful for no apparent reason; and that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

Here are a few scriptures to whet your appetite: Psalm 1, Ephesians 5:26-27, 1 Peter 1:23-2:3

Alpha/Omega

Dwelling with His creation

Jesus, Word made flesh.

-John 1:1-14

The word of God is the only sure foundation in a world that becomes more unstable every day. Fall in love with the word of God. Let your heart throb with emotion at the thought of this beautiful gift we've been given. The creator of galaxies wrote you a love letter. You would be cheating yourself by not reading it.

Jesus was and is the word made flesh. Imagine Jesus walks up to your home, knocks on the door, and says, “I want to spend the next hour with you.” Your schedule would change in a heartbeat. You would question Him about God and heaven and everyday life. You might spend the next hour pulling advice from Him about your family or your work. If Jesus showed up physically on your doorstep, you would cancel appointments and let the laundry wait.

For many, Jesus isn’t waiting outside the door. He’s gathering dust on the coffee table or the night stand. If you have a Bible in your home and you’re not reading it you are neglecting the Son of God, because He is the Word. While you struggle to fix your own problems and change your own nature, He’s waiting for you to come. Every day He’s ready with answers. Don’t push Him aside.

Both our bodies and our spirits need daily food. God has more than enough for all His children. He wants to be involved in your life and to help you with the situations you face. Invite Him in. He speaks through His word. Spend time with Him today: Matthew 4:4, Matthew 6:11, John 6:32-35

Reason vs. Faith

A.W. Tozer is one of my favorite authors. Below is a bit from his book The Knowledge of the Holy.

"That God can be known by the soul in tender personal exprience while remaining infinitely aloof from the curious eyes of reason constitutes a paradox best descirbed as
                
                 Darkness to the intellect
                 But sunshine to the heart.
                                             Frederick W. Faber

...By the mercy of God faith can break through into His Presence if the seeker but believe the Word and press on."

I love that!
Believe the Word and Press on!
DP

Freedom: Delicate and Subtle

"Through Jesus, Paul learned that God was not an impersonal force to be used to make people behave in certain prescribed ways, but a personal Savior who set us free to live a free life. God did not coerce us from without, but set us free from within.
...His letter to the Galatian churches helps them, and us, recover the original freedom. It also gives direction in the nature of God's gift of freedom--most necessary guidance, for freedom is a delicate and subtle gift, easily perverted and often squandered."

-Eugene Peterson, Introduction to Galatians


What a beautiful description of our Christian freedom: "a delicate and subtle gift, easily perverted and often squandered." I so appreciate the balance of the scriptures. I just finished reading Paul's letters to the Corinthian churches. What a rowdy bunch they were! Both Corinthian letters are full of pastoral correction of bad behavior in the church. They were perverting their freedom in Christ and using it as a license to sin.

Next up: Galatians, written to Christian churches who had fallen into the opposite ditch. Instead of perverting the freedom Christ gave them, they allowed it to be taken from them by those who wanted to control them with rules and regulations. Paul's reminder to them: you can't earn grace. God started the good work in you. It's futile for you to try and finish it in your own strength.

So which message is correct? Do we need to straighten up and fly right? Or do we need to relax in God's grace and quit getting ourselves in a tizzy? I would suggest the message that's the hardest to swallow is the one that will do you the most good. If you've been feeling pretty good about how good you are and superiority has crept into your attitude toward other Christians, you need to digest the message of Galatians. If you have a "God and me are pals" attitude and willfully do things that are sinful or hurtful to others, you need to sit down to a hearty meal of Corinthians.

I love God! I love how His living Word heals us, corrects us and changes us into His image.

Going from glory to glory,
Della P

Did you know Jesus is in Gensis chapter 1? Did you know the Holy Spirit is there?

"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. And the earth was formless and void...and the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. Then God said..."
-Genesis 1:1-3

Have you ever really looked at this verse and realized that EVERYONE is present! Look again.

"the Spirit of God was hovering..." That's the Holy Spirit!
"Then God said..." That's Jesus Christ! He is the Word made flesh! (John 1:1-10)

This blows my mind and gets me excited about the Bible! I love the Old Testament. Digging to find Old Testament types and shadows of Christ excites me! Guess what? The WHOLE BIBLE is God's redemption plan for man. You CAN find Christ in the Old Testament. Paul, who wrote much of the New Testament tells us all scripture is written for our instruction. So today I'll share a tidbit of God's goodness from the Old Testament relating to gut level Christianity.

God loves us. He wants to be with us. In Exodus, God instructed Moses to build a tabernacle so He could dwell with His people! The place God chose to come and meet with Israel is called the mercy seat. It's not called the "seat of wrath". Thank God! He meets us and speaks to us from the mercy seat. God is not trying to distance Himself from us. He never has. We've always been the ones pushing Him away. His love and desire for us is gut-wrenching!

When Joseph had been in Egypt for many years, sold there by his older brothers. the first sight of his younger brother Benjamin caused gut-wrenching love to well up in him. "Joseph hurried out for his bowels did yearn upon his brother, and he sought a place to weep; and he entered his chamber and wept there." (Genesis 43:30) The strength of his response shows the depth of his feelings towards Benjamin. This was his little brother, the only full brother he had among the eleven who stood before him. A modern way to say, "his bowels did yearn" is this: Joseph experienced gut-wrenching love when he saw his long-lost brother. That's a glimpse of the depth of the love God has for us.

Another example of gut-wrenching love is found in 1 Kings when two women brought their dispute before Solomon. It boiled down to this. Each woman had borne a son. One baby died, and both women claimed to be the mother of the living baby. Solomon's answer: cut the living child in two and give half to each woman. The true mother of the child cried out, "Give him to the other woman. Please, don't kill him!" 1 Kings 3:26 says "her bowels yearned upon her son." To consider the death of her son stirred gut-wrenching love in this woman. She would rather see him alive and in the care of another woman than to witness his death. She was willing to give up her motherly rights, to watch him grow from a distance and possibly never be a part of his life rather than see him cut in two. Solomon wisely gave the living child to this woman. The yearning of her mother's love was evidence of the truth.

The same Hebrew word translated "bowels" in these two examples is translated "compassion" in other scriptures, especially in the books of Isaiah and Jeremiah. Compassion is God's gut-wrenching love for us. His justice requires judgment of sin, yet His choice is not to pour it out on us and see us destroyed. To consider our eternal destruction moved Him to sacrifice His own Son in our place. He poured out His wrath for sin on His perfect and innocent Son.

And there was no coercion on God's part. Jesus, who is fully man and fully God, chose to take our judgment. He said, "I lay down My life...No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down of my own initiative." (John 10:17-18) He chose to take the outpouring of God’s wrath on Himself to save us. Gut-wrenching love moved Him to ultimate sacrifice.

Glory to God!
Thank you, Lord.

Gospel of John

Just a head's up that I added info to my sidebar about how Jesus is revealed to us through the Gospel of John. I love the Bible! What an awesome gift! God revealing Himself to His creation.

Enjoy!

Gut Level Christianity

In John 7:37-38 Jesus says, "If anyone is thirsty let him come to me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, 'Out of his belly will flow rivers of living water.'" Notice He didn't say from their hearts; He said from their belly. Jesus is talking about gut level Christianity. This Christianity puts you on your face before God in the privacy of your home when no one is watching and the pastor won't know. This Christianity sacrifices sleep in order to meet with the Creator. It refuses to quit when the marriage gets tough or the kids go prodigal on you. It does what the word says, even when it seems contrary to logic.

Gut level Christianity is the reason we have books like Jesus Freaks and Foxe's Book of Martyrs. These men and women didn't love God for what He gave them, but for Who He is. They stood firm in the face of persecution. They refused to back down even when faced with vicious and cruel deaths. They refused to change, compromise, or give up the call of God on their life in deference to the opinion of those around them. They gave it all. That's gut level Christianity.

Gut level Christianity is what the disciples had. Gut level Christianity is what the martyrs of yesterday and today have. Gut level Christianity looks a person in the eye who has spit on you and says, "I love you. You are valuable. You are redeemable. God wants something better for you. You can kill this body, but my spirit will never die!" Is this what your Christianity looks like? When God is not an idea in our head or a feeling in our heart, but a passion that stirs us down to the core of our being then we will see a change in our Christian walk. This is the fire I long to see in myself and in every Christian I meet.

Gut level Christianity doesn't play church and has little tolerance for those that do. This is Christ-like. The hypocrites and false advertisers received Christ's harshest criticism. We must not want the title "Christian" without the commitment and dedication required of a true disciple. God wants every part of you. He says, worship Me with all your "heart and strength and soul and might". In other words: "Pour your guts out for Me!" That's how much He loved us. Our response is just a way of returning that amazing love.

How would your horizon change if you started living a gut level Christian life? What friends would stop calling? What weeds would have to be removed from the garden of your life? Gut level Christianity never leaves you as you are. God loves you too much to leave you the way He found you. What a mess! He won't leave you wallowing in the same mire that sucked down your mama and your daddy and your grand-pappy. He wants to set you free from those bondages. He can and He will. He has done it! He finished the work of redemption at Calvary. It is now in our court. Will we choose to live from our head, our heart or from our guts?