The Perfect Father

I enjoy the comfort and restful peace brought by the fact that my children are also truly children of the Father. Though I am certainly defective as a father to my children, they have a perfect Father that MORE than makes up for my shortcomings, defects, sins, poor example and lack of godly wisdom in parenting.

So, have I failed as a parent, (how often do you hear that said?): YES.

Will He ever fail? NO.

Comforting...

Until Now the Lord has Helped Us

I walk past the TV. The kids are watching a movie. The story is at a point where almost all are in despair because of the profoundly dark circumstances. As I walk past, one character says to the other, (the other being the rightful king who is walking in the world as rejected, but is leading a faithful few in their mission), "You have led us through this far, it was wrong of me to lose hope, forgive me".

Well, that caught me unprepared. I wasn't expecting to hear such a valid quote line from walking past while a movie was playing. I have to remind myself daily: Hitherto hath the Lord helped us. Since He doesn't change, He's not going to stop either. Almost daily, something dark and unconquerable presents itself. It's certainly wrong of me to lose hope. It's a sin.

Enclosing God

"You can't put God in a box."

I've heard that ever since going to a Christian college in the early 80's. Yet, we do that quite often. How often do we think, or hear someone say, "God can't use that, it's the wrong kind of _____ or it's associated with ______, so it won't further His glory or His Gospel."

But - He does. You find out later that someone came to the Lord for salvation because of it. Yes, it's ugly, weak even to us and certainly worse than "filthy rags" to Him; but He makes all things new. He gives beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.

Some of us, (maybe it's a "guy" thing), love to repair and restore things. It's tremendously satisfying. Just think what a master repairman and restorer God is, when you see what He has to work with. This is one of those mind-boggling things that we will better understand when we are re-made like Christ.

Time to Cling

"Jesus said to her, Do not cling to Me [do not hold Me], for I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to My brethren and tell them, I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God." John 20:17

Jesus HAS ascended to the Father. So IT IS TIME to cling to Him.

Why Wouldn't He?

A believer was marvelling over the lovingkindness of God. She was understandably feeling the difference between herself and a righteous, holy God that would still stoop so low to pick her up, create a clean heart in her and present her before Himself; faultless. She asked,
Why would He...?" She was really saying, "Look not upon me, because I am black..." SS 1:6

Why wouldn't He? He says this about her, (and all of us who believe): "Thou art all fair, my love; there is no spot in thee." SS 4:7

To those who don't believe in Him, He greatly desires to say it to you too.

Hard Work

"Hard work will always pay off," they say. That's probably a reaction to the tendency for people to generally be slackers. While it's somewhat true, the saying falls short of the application that it is intended to improve.

Over many years, I've noticed that my attempts at hard-work-through-self-effort rarely pay off. The big successes in my job have "dropped into my lap" as gifts from God. I have had to pick up the gift and be responsible with it while depending on Him. The compliments come in, "good job Steve, we appreciate your hard work." I say, "It was the Lord helping me." They say, "You have to give yourself more credit."

"There's no returning to a life of ease
Life in a world that brings you to your knees
Wielding a weapon with a mighty hand
Draped in the banner of another land"

It's the ceaseless hard work for the Lord that pays off. He directs the hard work. We might have to encourage ourselves in Him so that our hands don't hang down and our knees grow feeble. The work that results in a paycheck for us is entirely in His hands. He gives success because He is good and we need to not only feed our family, but give to others and to Him.

Lyrics above by K. Livgren, (Brother Kerry Livgren suffered a stroke last month. Pray for a swift sure recovery for the glory of Christ and salvation of more souls).

The Big Event

Revelation 11:15 is about as exciting to the heart of the Bride of Christ as any verse in the Bible can possibly be: "The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of His Christ; and He shall reign for ever and ever."

The One who wandered this world as one rejected was the true King of Kings. All of us who love Him and His appearing, and grow tired of the continual treachery of the world, get a good dose of excitement from this verse. We will be with Him and reign with Him. He will set everything straight. He will sing over us with joy. We will be in His presence forever.

Ta-Dah!

Cast your burden on the Lord [releasing the weight of it] and He will sustain you; He will never allow the [consistently] righteous to be moved (made to slip, fall, or fail). Psalm 55:22

Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully. 1 Peter 5:7

The cure for anxiety is in the Old Testament and is repeated in the New Testament in case you missed it. It doesn't matter if your burden is from uncontrollable surrounding circumstances, internal circumstances or just plain self-generated; the cure still applies 100%.

Ta-Dah! for us who can live it, Tuh-Duh! for some of us who can't get it through our heads and into our hearts on a daily basis.

Setting up Distinctions

In the last days (in the end time) there will be scoffers [who seek to gratify their own unholy desires], following after their own ungodly passions. It is these who are [agitators] setting up distinctions and causing divisions--merely sensual [creatures, carnal, worldly-minded people], devoid of the [Holy] Spirit and destitute of any higher spiritual life.

It doesn't take a scoffer to "set up distinctions". They, also most accurately called agitators in the Amplified Version above, influence us and cause us to do the same. This verse really jumped out at me after hearing a sister-in-the-Lord come to the conclusion that her brothers and sisters in Christ are against her because she is of a different skin color. She has set up distinctions to her own misery.

We marginalize the agitators, (racial and otherwise), because they are so intellectually, morally and spiritually bankrupt, but their influence, as it turns out, is not marginal. They don't just play with the emotions of the weak-minded. They corrupt everyone within earshot. Not even members of the Body of Christ are exempt since they obviously have an evil influence on us.

Building the Tower of Destruction

The tower of destruction can be described as follows:

At the top there is a turret to propel verbal destruction in all directions: Insults or comments that belittle, discouraging words, impatient passionate statements that come out as anger and various other targeting comments that are either misunderstood or considered punitive.

The structure underneath the turret contains the stairs on which you climb to get to the top and the protective walls. This structure is built out of the desire to change whatever is wrong with our brethren immediately; because we are "right", and can't handle the corruption, (perceived or otherwise), in them anymore. As we lose patience and continue to push for results, we climb the stairs quickly and reach the top where strife, divisions, distinctions, misunderstandings and destruction start taking place as a direct result of firing destruction from the turret.

The foundation is pure pride and it goes deep into the ground to give the tower solid footing. When the pride is replaced with humility, the tower crumbles along with all of the foul material that made it; material lacking the grace and love of Christ.

High Honor

A high form of encouragement, compliment, honor or one of the kindest things you can say about someone is that they are revealing Christ to others.

Just think how many times someone has lifted your heart to where it needs to be with some unprompted expression of love or kindness. Some give a small or mind-boggling amount of money at just the right time to just the right need and others don't even have to do anything except show up. Yet both, (and others "in-between"), are revealing Christ. I'll never forget a young couple with small children showing up 1/2 hour late for a one-hour meeting. My thinking would have been, "why not just stay home if you are going to be that late?" What courage in HIM and what desire to be with HIM when He said He would be in the midst! They revealed Christ to everyone who was encouraged to see them walk in the door.

So, if you don't have any resources to give, if you don't even have the practical, physical or mental resources inside to encourage with a gift, a helping hand or fitly spoken word, just show up. Busy yourself with revealing Christ to your audience of thousands.

"In the arena with an audience of thousands
Clad in the armor of an army yet unseen
Raging a battle in the emptiness of night
with all your might (til' it's done)"

Poetry excerpt from K. Livgren

Murphy's Law

The dog in the picture is Murphy. Just before he moved, Hannah got a picture of him.

When spring came and that little tree sprouted leaves, Murphy suddenly became obsessed about it. All summer long, he'd go to the tree, bark, jump, hold on with his teeth and drop from it till he was limping and parched. We made fun of him and talked about how his mind just wasn't right.

There never was anything in the tree. We picked him up so he could see from a higher point of view, and it didn't make any difference. You could say he was getting good exercise, but the truth was, he was just wearing his body out while wearing the bark off the tree and the grass off of the ground. Self-destructive behavior.

We do that. Our minds aren't right. We keep thinking there's something that the world has for us and keep grasping for it. When we do, we're just wearing ourselves out, wearing out those around us and being self-destructive.

Christ Revealed

I've been struggling with the words to express the ways of some very dear brethren for a while: Even wanting to give thanks for one of them publicly to the Lord, (because one of them is leaving*), but not knowing how to express it without getting tangled up in words.

You see, there are those that are very dear to us, yet not part of our biological family. There is a closeness there that is difficult to explain. Then, I realize that the closeness has to do with a practical working out of these verses:

"Living as becomes you] with complete lowliness of mind (humility) and meekness (unselfishness, gentleness, mildness), with patience, bearing with one another and making allowances because you love one another." Eph. 4:2 Amp.

"And become useful and helpful and kind to one another, tenderhearted (compassionate, understanding, loving-hearted), forgiving one another [readily and freely], as God in Christ forgave you." Eph. 4:32 Amp.

(Isn't that cool - how Ephesians 4 is "bookended" by those two verses?)

"Bear (endure, carry) one another's burdens and troublesome moral faults, and in this way fulfill and observe perfectly the law of Christ (the Messiah) and complete what is lacking [in your obedience to it]." Galatians 6:2 Amp.

The practical working out of these verses comes from the ability of these dear ones to show forth the love of Christ to others, (me in particular). I have gained a very special and deeper first-hand knowledge of the love of Christ because it has been so vividly portrayed in a very practical way by these brethren. What an encouragement! There's no substitute for the Lord. There's no substitute for the Lord's people.

How do you say all of that clearly and briefly - without rambling on, like I have been doing above? There it was, last night, in a hymn: "...Christ revealed in saints below."

*Für Elise

Waste-NOT-ness is Next to Godliness

I've seen others being beat over the head with this, (see Title), and I have taken some heat for it as well: "Wanton waste brings woeful want, why are you intentially wasting the _____ ?" Or; "I never spent a dime on _____, but look at brother _____! He doesn't even have a job and has to depend on others for his finances. Look at him blow money on _____!"

I certainly understand that point of view, (except when it's directed at me - of course). After all, I'm not independently wealthy, and don't know how I'd make it without finding some spending shortcuts. But, I keep seeing the Lord take care of things like this without shaking his finger in someone's face, or talking behind their back. He usually just takes care of the needed supply regardless of someone's "lack of responsibility". Years go by and there is no change in the behavior and no "hard lessons" from the Lord. Could it be that we have the wrong point of view yet again? Could it be that our thoughts are not His thoughts?

Isn't it noble not to waste resources and pinch pennies as much as possible; especially when it comes to the Lord's things? Well, all things ARE the Lord's things. Yes, if we waste, there is a price to pay. But emphasis on pinching pennies might just result in something else to be proud of.

We all have a good dose of ignorance. Could we, or someone else be ignorant of some of the best money-saving schemes? Wouldn't God provide anyway if we are?

Then, there's raising kids:

• Lights left on all night
• Studying the refrigerator contents for long periods of time with no result
• Leaving the milk out of the 'fridge all day
• Leaving the water hose on
• Breaking things etc.

I've never heard the kids talk down other kids for wasting something, and they waste a lot. Maybe they remember that they do the same thing, or maybe they have faith that God will help them regardless, because He is good. Maybe that is what is missing here.

Burning the Works

What will it be like at the Judgement Seat of Christ? Our works will be presented and tested with fire. I can't help but believe that each of us will stand individually with the presentation of our works. Part of the structure of our works will look good and some will look suspiciously flammable. Someone will set fire to it and all of it will flame up rather dramatically, including the stuff that looked good. What a bonfire it will be! Truly disappointing. After the fire dies down and we stand there looking out from under our singed eyebrows, creased with disappointment, we'll probably see a beautiful, golden inner structure; still standing. We'll say, "I didn't do THAT!" and we will be right. We will stand there in open-mouthed astonishment at what the Lord was able to accomplish through us in ways that we were not even aware of.

Romance

We watched "The Passion of the Christ" by Mel Gibson. This movie has come under criticism for adding some extra drama, under-representing the hours of darkness when Christ underwent the agony of becoming sin for us, and several other complaints. One of the biggest complaints I heard is the explicit depiction of the physical abuse and torment that He submitted Himself to. Yes, it was brutal and seemed to be too much. However, as the weeks go by, I realize that I was, and continue to be, touched very deeply. It was, after all, a very powerful tool to bring more understanding of the reality of why He came in the form of man; as well as man's, (our), natural brutality toward Him. The reality of the following devotional really came alive because I watched the movie. In fact, it completes whatever the movie left unfinished:

"I am married unto you." — Jeremiah 3:14

"Christ Jesus is joined unto His people in marriage-union. In love He espoused His Church as a chaste virgin, long before she fell under the yoke of bondage. Full of burning affection He toiled, like Jacob for Rachel, until the whole of her purchase-money had been paid, and now, having sought her by His Spirit, and brought her to know and love Him, He awaits the glorious hour when their mutual bliss shall be consummated at the marriage-supper of the Lamb. Not yet hath the glorious Bridegroom presented His betrothed, perfected and complete, before the Majesty of heaven; not yet hath she actually entered upon the enjoyment of her dignities as His wife and queen: she is as yet a wanderer in a world of woe, a dweller in the tents of Kedar; but she is even now the bride, the spouse of Jesus, dear to His heart, precious in His sight, written on His hands, and united with His person. On earth He exercises towards her all the affectionate offices of Husband. He makes rich provision for her wants, pays all her debts, allows her to assume His name, and to share in all His wealth. Nor will He ever act otherwise to her. The word divorce He will never mention, for "He hateth putting away." Death must sever the conjugal tie between the most loving mortals, but it cannot divide the links of this immortal marriage. In heaven they marry not, but are as the angels of God; yet there is this one marvellous exception to the rule, for in Heaven Christ and His Church shall celebrate their joyous nuptials. This affinity as it is more lasting, so is it more near than earthly wedlock. Let the love of husband be never so pure and fervent, it is but a faint picture of the flame which burns in the heart of Jesus. Passing all human union is that mystical cleaving unto the Church, for which Christ left His Father, and became one flesh with her."

Charles Spurgeon, Morning Reading, (July 22)

Bug Splatter

While I thought to myself one day, God proved Himself to me, (again).

I was driving on a relatively fun, curvy country road. A bug hit the windshield. I thought to myself, "you know God surely doesn't really track the whereabouts of an insignificant bug that could so easily meet it's end on a windshield. Why would He really care?"

Just then, (a curve or two in the road later), another bug hit the verysame spot on the windshield. Those were the only two bug strikes. What are the odds? I got the convincing message that God tracks my thoughts, cares about them, and wishes to make sure that my mind is wrapped around the knowledge that there is not a movement of a single molecule that He not only knows about, but is in exact accordance with the execution of His plan.  He is, after all, unlimited.

So much for random movement and coincidence.

How to Cling

Clinging to Him seems to be about the most important thing we need to do. While our relationship with God baffles us because of the lack of need for self effort, an effort is required on our part to cling to the One who can continually deliver us, (mostly from ourselves).
So, how do you cling?

• Abandon dependence on yourself.


• Have confidence in the fact that every split second of your life is in His capable hands.


• As continuously as possible, practice intercessory prayer for others; thereby moving you away from self-centeredness.


• Esteem others more highly than yourself.


• Stop being anxious about - well - anything; because not only is your life in His capable hands, but so is everyone else's.


• Expose yourself to His Word daily.


• Stop thinking thoughts of regret, "If I would have..." His perfect plan includes your shortcomings, which are, quite possibly, an imagination borne by misplaced guilt, or placed on you by Him so that you will learn dependence on Him.


• Give up feelings of guilt by confessing to Him. Christ did not suffer so we could continue to coddle our self-destructive feelings.


• When pride or wrong thoughts pop up, worship Him by pleading to Him for help.
  

Witch Doctor Mentality

Newspaper Headline Today: CLIMATE CHANGE GOAL: NO MORE THAN 2 DEGREES BY 2020

We might as well be an isolated tribe, living in fear, darkness and treachery in Africa. We've been looking for a witch doctor that is bold enough to claim he has power to change the climate because the gods are angry with our behavior. According to the paper, and the plans that our world leaders are making, we've found the witch doctor that will do the right dance and incantations for us.

As it turns out, we are not being deceived by our fear as much as by our own arrogance. We actually think that we are big enough to change the weather in this world that God has made. If we cannot change the weather in the next few minutes, why do we think we can change it in 10 years? God would not be God if He would allow His creation to be manipulated by man's normal activities. We destroyed all that we could thousands of years ago.

The leaders don't care whether climate change is real or not. They are using our arrogance for their own gain while we wring our hands. We think we are such a sophisticated, advanced, evolved society and we are upside down from what we think.

"The arrogance of your heart has deceived you" Obadiah 1:3

Anger Management

It is said by experts, "Anger is the result of unmet expectations."

We expect:

• Someone to be experienced enough to know better
• Someone to know that they don't treat my kids that way
• Someone to know that I don't think the same, (silly), way that they think
• Someone to remember that I've told them dozens of times already
• Someone should be able to execute a certain duty by now
• Someone should be able to think like me or see what it's like to be me
• Someone should be encouraged when I "exhort" them
• Someone, being a believer, wouldn't act that way
  
  Yes, unmet expectations are certainly one big step in the direction of anger. However, the experts missed Step #1: Pride

The Furnace

"Variety of temper, different measures of attainment, the quality of the light and the form of the kingdom in us, if I may so express it, will occasion collision and trial, even where there is nothing morally wrong. But from whatever cause it be so is it still, and so has it been from the days of Job and his friends, that we form a great part of each other's trial. The Lord sits over it all, refining His silver and purifying His gold, but still so it is, that we help to heat each other's furnace for the trial of faith."

J. G. Bellett, "The Patriarchs," (Job)

Thankfulness

A lady works at a local retirement home.
A man works at a local retirement home.

The lady has had a hard, rough life.
The man has had a hard, rough life.

The lady is thought highly of because of the way she executes her job.
The man is thought highly of because of the results of his work.

----------------------

The man treats those that he works with roughly and gets stressed and angry easily.
The lady works at jobs that are beyond what she agreed to do and is still pleasant and happy.

The man has other employees talking about him and wishing him to be fired.
The lady has residents and fellow employees speaking in glowing terms about her continually.

The man has a bitter heart.
The lady is thankful.

"Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful." Col. 3:15

Criticism or Exhortation

"It is impossible to enter into fellowship with God when you are in a critical mood."

I suppose we all get caught up in a situation where we think we are exhorting someone, (urging, advising, cautioning), when we are really criticizing. We really step into the criticism when we accuse someone else of doing something that we have been guilty of doing ourselves while anger, frustration and/or zeal have shoved aside the love we have for that person.

"I have never met a person I could despair of, or lose all hope for, after discerning what lies in me apart from the grace of God."

The love for another should drive us to wait until we are able to find out the factors that are driving a brother or sister to act in a certain way. Typically, there is a simple explanation or background phenomenon that would deliver us from a critical reaction and drive us toward private prayer or loving advocacy for that individual instead.

"Jesus did not say to make converts to your way of thinking, but He said to look after His sheep..."

Quotes from Oswald Chambers

Fear

Fear of anything except the reverent fear of God is a sin. Putting it bluntly, I must love to sin because I fear something so often. Early memories of school were full of fearing what might happen. I used to get nauseated in the mornings at school because of it. Now, I catch myself waking up on Monday morning having lost my confidence in Him and finding something to dread. Talk about out-of-control sin! Fear is a sin that we seem to be free to admit to; maybe because almost everyone so easily succumbs to it. However, it is most serious in the eyes of God. The Israelites who feared had to wander 40 years until they died because of it. I'd better be letting Him work it out and trust Him instead of holding on to it!

God remembers that we are but dust, so His Word is full of encouragement for us:

"When you go forth to battle against your enemies and see horses and chariots and an army greater than your own, do not be afraid of them, for the Lord your God, Who brought you out of the land of Egypt, is with you." Deut. 20:1

"You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the LORD, who is with you...!’ Do not fear or be dismayed...for the LORD is with you.” 2 Chron. 20:17

"For I, the LORD your God, will hold your right hand, Saying to you, ‘Fear not, I will help you.’" Isaiah 41:13

"The Lord God is my Strength, my personal bravery, and my invincible army; He makes my feet like hinds' feet and will make me to walk [not to stand still in terror, but to walk] and make [spiritual] progress upon my high places [of trouble, suffering, or responsibility]!" Habbakuk 3:19

I have to say to myself, "position yourself at His side, cling to Him. The battle is always before you and the odds against you are always impossible. How do you think you got this far? Not by your own effort at all. You've lived for 47 years now and he has not allowed you to succumb to disaster yet. Why are you choosing to fear today? Depend on Him, thereby putting on your invincible army and personal bravery."

Discover Your Gift

It has always been troubling to me when someone pushes me, or someone else to identify their "gift". Some go as far as making you feel that you really ought to know your gift at a fairly young age. If you don't know, you are falling short in your Christian existence. It's similar to the feeling you get when someone insinuates that you might not be "saved" unless you know the date that you called out to God to save you. It's oppressive. That's not right.

Some of us don't have a clue what the date was when I was born again. In fact, I remember being scared several times and "making sure."  If my children are an indication of what happened to me, it was several times between the age of 3 1/2 and 5 years old.

However, I got the answer for this "gift" business this weekend. Now I can answer those who ask, "what is your gift?" or "you should know what your gift is by now."

My gift is obedience. God prompts or opens the door for us to do something. We must trust Him first, then follow through and do it. Someone is brought to glory, someone is helped, someone is encouraged and God's glory is furthered as a result. Whatever that was, it is your gift. You still might not be able define something in the way others expect. Others, looking on, might see and know better than you.  Not knowing it would be a protection from God.  One less thing that my pride would push me to boast in.

Betrayal

A neighbor sees another neighbor's children playing outside. He looks at their driveway and sees no car in the driveway. "A one-year-old and six-year-old at home alone", he thinks. "That's terrible, I'm calling 911." The police come. Nobody is at home. They shrug their shoulders and leave. Social Services comes. Nobody is at home. Social Services asks loaded questions of neighbors standing outside that can only lead to answers that are not helpful.

The neighbor comes home with his family to find a paper on his door from Social Services. He is, understandably, immediately upset. He is a Hispanic from LA, whose wife speaks very little English. She was at home earlier, but their car had broken down and they had to operate with one car during the last few days. It looks like she is not home when she really is. When he moved into the neigborhood two years ago, he made it a point to talk to all the neighbors and make it clear that he wanted to be a good neighbor to them; also, offering his services although he was a man of lesser means than them. One of his trusted neighbors, has betrayed him and called the authorities and he now is "on the radar" of an agency of government that operates entirely outside of constitutional restraints. He is now guilty till he proves himself innocent.

"And ye shall love the stranger..." Deuteronomy 10:19

Later, a visiting social worker looks in his refrigerator and sees little if any food. The neighbor has to defend himself, pointing out that he would be out getting food if she was not at his house filling out paperwork and "investigating" at 10 o'clock in the evening.

Why would a true neighbor expose another good neighbor this abuse? "If they were concerned, why didn't they ask my little girl where her parents were before they called 911?", he asked.

Scary stuff. Scary because it could happen to anybody. Scary, because someone else's opinion now governs the lives of your children. We say we live in a free country, but we don't. However, that's not how we are really fooling ourselves. We are fooling ourselves by thinking that someone else needs to take care of our responsibilities. Being a good neighbor would mean taking the risk of checking first before turning a matter over to ungracious authority. How about offering to watch the kids if both parents have to be gone? How about offering one of the extra cars if one is available in time of need?

Instead of throwing a neighbor "under the bus", how about being the good neighbor instead? The government cannot help you with that. Another one of those "only God can help with that" things. Life is full of those things that remind us that we keep forgetting about God and His perspective.

"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.'... 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these." Mark 12:30

Things are Tough All Over

Today's News Headline: COFFEE AND SUGAR SHORTAGES COULD MAKE PRICES EXPLODE

What are we going to do? Coffee is our favorite high acid beverage with a pleasant aroma. It not only makes the body pull needed resources making it more vulnerable to disease, but in it's caffeinated natural form also spikes blood sugar levels, (without having to add sugar).

Sugar, (refined), spikes blood sugar levels too, and taxes the resources of the body as it lays the immune system open to attacks for about 4 hours, makes the body produce insulin, (which increases inflammation and related maladies), and leads to yeast-overgrowth-related disease and encourages diabetes.

It looks like God is helping us by giving us a reason to cut back some. So, it's not a panic headline, it's another opportunity to say our perfect Father is watching out for us.

"For He knows our frame, He [earnestly] remembers and imprints [on His heart] that we are dust." Psalm 103:14

Underachievers

"It is [only] eleven days' journey from Horeb by the way of Mount Seir to Kadesh-barnea [on Canaan's border; yet Israel took forty years to get beyond it]." Deut. 1:2 Amp.

The Israelites were not the sharpest knives in the drawer. Neither are we. If we obeyed, we would be right where we need to be in God's eyes, (which is reality), in eleven days' journey; instead of 40 years. As a brother has said, "The best shortcut is obedience."

Thankfully, for the Israelites and us, the remedy for our lack of performance follows in three chapters: "But you who clung fast to the Lord your God are alive, every one of you, this day." Deut. 4:4

All of us, (underachievers), need to cling to Him.

Joy of Optimism

"..eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto him for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye grieved; for the joy of the Lord is your strength."

We had a parakeet that was always an optimist. He had a cranky, unhealthy mate who rarely showed kindness to him. He was enthusiastic with her anyway; bobbing his head up and down as if trying to encourage her to join in the fun of living. After she died suddenly, his attitude recovered in a short period of time and he was enjoying us as his family again. He started suffering from a sickness that the vet could not properly diagnose and died a very slow death. Even on his last day, he still tried to act enthusiastic and loving, but did not have the strength to move very well. It was very sad to lose a pet like that. What a good example!

It came to me one day that he was the "Ronald Reagan of birds". Remember Ronald Reagan? For those who are too young, President Reagan was ALWAYS optimistic. He faced the down the dread of Communism, the impossibly obstinate US Media, opposing deceitful politicians and the continual enmity from nations in the world who habitually hate Israel and the USA. He did it with kindness and a smile that would light up the room and lift everyone's attitude that could see him.

I don't know how to get there, but it is something to try for. I understand that we will see Ronald Reagan when we arrive in the Lord's presence. So, he had something something that I also possess which gave him all the motivation he needed to act the way he did. I believe God wants us to be aware of, and live in, the enjoyment of His love with the understanding of what He has prepared for us - ALL THE TIME.

Those of us who believe have sure eternal life. We are a kingdom of priests. We have the most powerful Being in the whole universe waiting with bated breath to come for us to take us out of this world of darkness to the light of love, perfect goodness, untold wealth and an eternity of exploring the depths of His riches. Never a dull moment. Never a fleeting moment of sadness. Full understanding and full joy awaits us. The King of Kings will take His rightful throne and we will be His bride. There WILL be true justice. Evil will not appear to win anymore - forever.

As a brother recently said, "If we live in the good of what we know as believers, the world will beat a path to our door." Everyone wants to hang around with a guy with a good attitude like Ronald Reagan. Where did he get it from? It was a gift from God, but it took faith and dependence on God.

(New Note from Editor 5/5/09: News flash from today... Ronald Reagan's political party says, "It's time to leave Reagan behind." - Yikes!)

Relationship Chemistry

(1) Esteem another better than yourself:

• It's really not hard to pick out the God-given abilities that our brethren-in-the-Lord have that we do not possess in like measure. Brethren who wear their weakness on their sleeve, (instead of craftily hiding it like others of us), have greater abilities in the areas where we constantly fail if we would open our eyes to see.

(2) See that person in Christ - using His point of view:

• Read what the Lover says about the Beloved in the Song of Solomon to get this perspective. Enough said.

(3) Recognize your own helplessness to behave properly:

• Looking at yourself in the mirror of God's Word takes care of this. We tend to use what we think to be "right behavior" as a bludgeoning device on others. This leads into the next element...

(4) Abandon thoughts of trying to fix what's wrong in that person:

• Surely we've tried to fix ourselves countless times and found that it doesn't work. Why would we think we can fix somebody else?

(5) Bear the other person's burden:

• Giving time and/or treasure and/or talent and pleading with God for the benefit of the other person. "Oh that there were arbitration for a man with God, as a son of man for his friend!" Job 16:21

Looking back over the years of being a believer, we are ashamed of some of the things we used to think were okay, or just disregarded because of our selfishness. God taught us and continues to, (patiently), teach what is right and it takes us a long time to catch on. I've been a "special needs" student all of this time and show no signs of becoming brilliant yet. Why should I assume that someone else should be a better student in God's school than I? This issue, addressed by elements (3) and (4) above, seems to cause the most trouble.

These individual elements combine to form the Unconditional Love molecular structure that makes a perfect relationship with another believer. There are two caveats here: It's a two way street AND it's impossible outside of dependence on God.

Your Court Date

If you have ever been to court for a wrongdoing, you understand the need for deliverance. Standing before an authority who has power over you to penalize for wrongdoing is not comfortable, particularly when you are guilty.

Everyone who is living, or has ever lived, has a court date coming. There are only two types of court dates. Those who have NOT dealt with Jesus Christ, by disregarding His free gift of salvation, will have a court date at the Great White Throne. Those who confess that they are guilty, understanding that Jesus provided the way to life by dying for them, redeeming them to God by His blood, will appear at the Judgement Seat of Christ. The difference between the Great White Throne and the Judgement seat of Christ is INFINITE and the consequence eternal. Do you know in which court you will appear?

The following experience will help to explain why one court date is infinitely better than the other: Not long ago, I was in an automobile accident and received a ticket as a result. Two statements were made by the state trooper that stand out in my mind. After he gave me the ticket, the first statement was, "Make sure you show up in court. It will be worth your while." I could have chosen to pay the fine and accepted the guilt of the charge. Instead, I kept remembering his saying, "make sure you show up in court. It will be worth your while."

Did you know the Lord Jesus Christ wants you to show up in His court? Remember, it is called the Judgement Seat of Christ. You are guilty of a number of things, as you probably already know. There is no shortage of charges that can be brought against any one of us. To appear at the court that He wants you in, you need to "confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead," and you will be saved, (Romans 10:9). Saved from what, and in what manner? Read on.

Weeks after the accident, I was sitting in court and was feeling very anxious. I had never been in court to hear charges read against me. My name was called and I walked up to the judge. My heart was pounding so hard that I'm sure my shirt must have been moving. He looked at me, read the charge and said, "How do you plead?" I took a deep breath to answer. Just before the first word came out of my mouth the state trooper made the second statement that I will not forget. He said, "I'm not going to pursue this charge." Then the judge said, "You're free to go."

That is being saved! What a benefit! I did not have to accept the guilt and punishment-by-fine that was required. Similarly, Jesus Christ has "loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood", (Revelation 1:5), and this act of love "has redeemed us to God", (Rev. 5:9). We are free if we accept what He did for us.

Isn't it true that this is what we all need? Otherwise, our court appearance would be at the Great White Throne of Judgement. The charges against you will be read, and you will be condemned. After being condemned, nobody will be there as an advocate for you, (as Jesus is waiting to be now). You will be thrown into the lake of fire, (Rev. 21:15). Goodness and love DO NOT EXIST there. You will have rejected the Source of Goodness, and Love Himself. The free gift of salvation is extended to you right now. There is nothing to pay for it! Don't be self-destructive and choose to be forever caught in the torture of bitterness and loathing without any good thing.

The One who has put the breath of life in you is waiting patiently for you. He is full of grace and mercy, and hears our cries for help. He is not wishing to condemn you, but to save you. When your life is being scrutinized before a Holy God, and the many charges are made against you, wouldn't you like to hear, "I am not going to pursue these charges"?

"It’s a table set for all,
It’s a standing invitation
From the streets out to the fields
In every nation
There’s a thread that reaches all,
There’s a seed of recognition,
It’s a doorway open wide
(It’s a message that you know)
Though you never heard at all"

Poetry by Kerry Livgren

God Wins Every Time

We passed a horrific wreck this weekend just after it had happened. The car had been lifted on it's side from the previous upside down position by other motorists who had stopped to help. A man was laying on the ground so he could be next to a two-year-old girl with an anxious look on his face, pleading with her to keep living, while her mother had expired nearby. Emergency responders were just arriving. There was an unusually large crowd of helpers, onlookers and stopped vehicles. It was shocking and emotional for anyone to have to view. I could only pray silently.

As it turns out, a mother, with her daughter in the car, had just pulled out of the neighborhood onto a 4-lane divided highway. Two oncoming unseen cars, racing at excessive speed, were about to crest the hill. One of the racing cars hit her car broadside, driver's side - dead center. She died on the scene. Her two-year-old daughter was pronounced dead at the hospital. A 13-year-old passenger in the racing car passed away later. The driver of that car, along with one other passenger, survived. The driver of the other car that was in the race is being tracked down.

Seeing this comes close to ripping your heart out and you have to anchor yourself on God's perspective. HE WINS EVERY TIME. It doesn't appear to be a victory from our perspective, but it is to Him. Since all are His servants, His perspective is reality. One thing we do know is that another soul went to be with Christ, (the 2-year-old). King David said of his infant son, who had not reached an age of understanding of God, "...can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me." 2 Sam. 12:23.

The mother was quite possibly a believer. According to the newspaper articles, it is likely that the expired 13-year-old passenger was as well. They were probably "ready for Heaven". The ripple effect from this accident will have unknown consequences from now till the Lord comes. Isaiah explains to us how God wins in the death of righteous ones: "The righteous man perishes, and no one lays it to heart; and merciful and devout men are taken away, with no one considering that the uncompromisingly upright and godly person is taken away from the calamity and evil to come [even through wickedness]." Isaiah 57:1

How many onlookers recieved a healthy dose of thoughts filled with uncertainty and frailty? How many did the Holy Spirit speak to about their lost condition? The driver of the racing car has now been charged with 2 counts of second-degree murder, with one more pending. What a burden to carry for the rest of his life! God wants ALL men to come to Him. This young man, who is now a criminal in man's eyes, is being pursued by God; right now, while he is "unlovable". Another opportunity for God to win whether he is a believer or not.

In his book on Revelation, Harry Ironside explains his belief that there will be a higher number of saints in heaven saying "Worthy is the Lamb..." than the number of doomed ones given over to eternity separated from God's lovingkindness. As an onlooker in this world, that's really difficult to believe. Believing that Ironside is right, I'll still be pleasantly stunned when I see it. But if I don't believe it, am I really denying reality? The reality is, "God wins every time".

Self Evaluation

"As the refining pot for silver and the furnace for gold [bring forth all the impurities of the metal], so let a man be in his trial of praise [ridding himself of all that is base or insincere; for a man is judged by what he praises and of what he boasts]." Proverbs 27:21 (Amp)

I was riding in the car with the boss one night. He was taking several of us out to eat. One of the guys made a comment about reality shows on TV and wondered how people could participate in such shameful acts while they are knowingly on national television. The boss came back quickly with the response, "they don't participate in self evaluation".

What does that interchange have to do with the beauty, purity and encouragement in the verse above? The verse, like so many in scripture, is really about self evaluation. We cannot have a productive Christian walk without it. Those of the world only value self-evaluation when it brings them profit, power or social benefit. We are supposed to value it as God's way of moving us toward maturity, which is Christ-likeness.

Of course, the best tool to use in self evaluation is the Bible. We accurately view ourselves in the mirror of God's Word and effectively wash ourselves in the water of God's Word. Shameful acts will then be known and judged before we are tempted to commit them. Looks like we'd better have a daily routine of reading God's Word.

Wisdom & Willingness

King Solomon stands as the wisest man to ever walk the face of the Earth with the exception of the Creator God, (when He humbled Himself to become a man). Solomon's words of wisdom are on display in Proverbs, yet his shortcomings are also chronicled in God's Word. As it turns out, his wisdom - the wisdom of God - did not prevent him from wandering off of the path that God required him to stay on.

We certainly need to do what God's Word commands and ask for wisdom, which He WILL give liberally. In light of the verse below, we had better ask God for a WILLING HEART too.

"I will [not merely walk, but] run the way of Your commandments, when You give me a heart that is willing." Psalm 119:32

Ask, believing, for a willing heart.

Current Events

Here is a summary of the most interesting current events in the USA, (Editor's note as of 3/30/09 - Especially after hearing what happened with the US government taking over GM today and hearing people say, "the government can't do that!"):

"...the borrower becomes the lender's slave." Proverbs 22:7(b)

Nothing needs to be added to this other than admitting it's a message directed at me, and a message unheeded by the wisdom of this world.

Where was God?

How often do you hear someone ask, "Where was God when...(insert a tragic event or shocking injustice here)...happened?"

The answer is in Proverbs:
"The foolishness of man subverts his way [ruins his affairs]; then his heart is resentful and frets against the Lord." 19:3

If someone asks the "Where was God..." question, they are not asking the right question. All material is held together by the word of His power. If He were absent, all material as we know it would cease to exist. He, of course, was there; pursuing the humans He created; desiring them to come to Him to bask in His love.

The question should be, "When will man seek the wisdom of God instead of repeatedly pursuing his own way to godless failure?"

Food Logic

IF my children are not so small anymore, THEN they are growing quickly to their adult size.
IF my children are growing quickly, THEN they will eat significantly more.
IF my children are that advanced in their age, THEN I am growing older.
IF I am growing older, THEN there is a tendency for me to more easily become overweight.
IF the children eat more, THEN, (since we serve the same amount of food every day), I will have to eat less.

THEREFORE, I won't become overweight.

God's design always nudges us in the right direction if we pay attention. I think this must be one of those "God's design" things.

Confidence

1 John 5:21, "Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen." 
It seems difficult to read this verse and then quickly scan life habits and come up with an immediate "red flag" that you need to review in response to the warning.

1 John 5:21, (Amp) says: "Little children, keep yourselves from idols (false gods) – [from anything and everything that would occupy the place of your heart due to God, from any sort of substitute for Him that would take first place in your life]. Amen. The additional assistance in that version of the verse can move your mind a little further, but let’s explore ourselves in the mirror of God’s word and find out more.

God is to be worshipped, or He would not be God. An idol would be something that takes His place in our lives, so an idol would be something that we might worship. We don’t typically bow down on our knees to anything or anyone in the Western World. So, what is worship?

Matthew’s gospel makes that quite clear as it echoes the Old Testament. Matthew 15:25 says of the woman of Canaan, "Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me." Isaiah 44:17, speaking of a man who has made a graven image of wood, "he falleth down unto it, and worshippeth it, and prayeth unto it, and saith, Deliver me; for thou art my god."
The woman of Canaan looked to the Lord Jesus for help. The man that forms his own god looks to his god for deliverance. The woman of Canaan got true deliverance and eternal life. The man described in Isaiah does what is offensive to the true God in his futile exercise. To us, his worship seems silly at best, but it actually hits close to home.

What do we depend on for help, or to say it better, what do we worship? Isaiah 31:1 says, "Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help; and stay on horses, and trust in chariots, because they are many; and in horsemen, because they are very strong; but they look not unto the Holy One of Israel, neither seek the LORD!" Psalm 20:7 says, "Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God." We do have things that we depend on, just like those described in the above verses. We are even known to put thought into it before we say, in our minds, "deliver me". How about that stash of money that is in an investment or savings account? That will deliver us when the going gets tough. Nothing wrong with saving money, but is it money that delivers us? There are a lot of excellent safety features in newer cars. I’d better make sure my daughter has a car with the latest safety technology to deliver her in a bad accident. Does safety come from an array of air bags, sensors and active restraints, (man’s technology)?

We can go on in this same way about doctors, modern medicine, cell phones, intelligent electronic items, health foods, natural remedies, various technologies, material possessions, the government and the created earth itself. How many have looked forward to being delivered from the stress of the day by the calming effect of an alchoholic beverage? Even chocolate can be a feel-good medicine that we might depend on to substitute for a lack of satisfaction in our lives, because our satisfaction is not in Him. Looking for deliverance in these places will start you on the path of eventual self destruction. In fact, all idols that we fabricate do lead to self destruction if we don’t turn from them to God.

We are naturally proud, yet we are naturally fearful. You would think that proud people would not be fearful. Surely, fear would drive someone to humility. Why doesn’t it? Fear is a good motivator if we fear the true God. Instead, we fear the unknown and our fellow man. We build idols to deliver us from the unknowns and what men might do to us as we choose to disbelieve God’s promises. Moses, in Deuteronomy 1:25-34 explains to the Israelites the error of their ways as they succumbed to fear instead of believing God’s promises. He says: "They also took some of the fruit of the land in their hands and brought it down to us; and they brought back word to us, saying, ‘It is a good land which the LORD our God is giving us.’ "Nevertheless you would not go up, but rebelled against the command of the LORD your God; and you complained in your tents, and said, ‘Because the LORD hates us, He has brought us out of the land of Egypt to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us. Where can we go up? Our brethren have discouraged our hearts, saying, "The people are greater and taller than we; the cities are great and fortified up to heaven; moreover we have seen the sons of the Anakim there."’ "Then I said to you, ‘Do not be terrified, or afraid of them. The LORD your God, who goes before you, He will fight for you, according to all He did for you in Egypt before your eyes, and in the wilderness where you saw how the LORD your God carried you, as a man carries his son, in all the way that you went until you came to this place.’ Yet, for all that, you did not believe the LORD your God, who went in the way before you to search out a place for you to pitch your tents, to show you the way you should go, in the fire by night and in the cloud by day. And the LORD heard the sound of your words, and was angry…"

Not only did the Israelites not believe what God had said, but they made Him into a god of evil intent toward them. They were saying that He was not holy, perfect and true. In their pride, they thought that God could not really be better than themselves. We really do the same when we erect our protective walls around us to ease our fear, and count on them to protect us when we ought to remember that only God delivers. Think on this summary in the last verses of Hebrews 10, which illustrates God’s thoughts toward our self-destructive, unbelieving fears that lead us toward idolatry: "Therefore, do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised. FOR YET IN A VERY LITTLE WHILE, HE WHO IS COMING WILL COME, AND WILL NOT DELAY. BUT MY RIGHTEOUS ONE SHALL LIVE BY FAITH; AND IF HE SHRINKS BACK, MY SOUL HAS NO PLEASURE IN HIM.
But we are not of those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith to the preserving of the soul."

So God, in His loving and understanding way, patiently and continually teaches us to depend on Him. "For He knoweth our frame; He remembereth that we are dust." Psalm 103:14. His Word lights our way, particularly as we only begin to understand part of what it means to "keep yourselves from idols."