Matthew 12:43-45
"When a defiling evil spirit is expelled from someone, it drifts along through the desert looking for an oasis, some unsuspecting soul it can bedevil. When it doesn't find anyone, it says, 'I'll go back to my old haunt.' On return it finds the person spotlessly clean, but vacant. It then runs out and rounds up seven other spirits more evil than itself and they all move in, whooping it up. That person ends up far worse off than if he'd never gotten cleaned up in the first place. "That's what this generation is like: You may think you have cleaned out the junk from your lives and gotten ready for God, but you weren't hospitable to my kingdom message, and now all the devils are moving back in."
Wow. Talk about scary!
Following Christ is more than just getting rid of your demons. You have to replace them with God. If you are getting rid of something, you have to put something it it's place - just like when you are trying to diet or stop smoking or something like that.
Showing up at the alter at church - or praying to have God take care of the hurts inside of you are not the end of the answer.
You have to make Jesus the Lord of your life. You have to give over control to Him. You have to be will to have the Holy Spirit enter you and start cleaning out all the rooms of your heart - getting rid of the junk and replacing it with new, pure goodness.
If not, you will rid yourself of one thing, only to have it replaces by something much worse!
This IS what happens. It's straight from the mouth of Jesus. I shudder to think of how many people go to someone to have an evil spirit 'dealt with', only to find themselves in even deeper trouble because they didn't refill themselves when it was done.
We don't have to be empty when that spirit returns. There can be no evil in the presence of the Holy Spirit, so when we fill ourselves with God's Holy Spirit, the evil spirits will find no entry into us again.
I pray that you will fill yourself up today!
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Judgment Day
Matthew 11:20-24
Next Jesus let fly on the cities where he had worked the hardest but whose people had responded the least, shrugging their shoulders and going their own way. "Doom to you, Chorazin! Doom, Bethsaida! If Tyre and Sidon had seen half of the powerful miracles you have seen, they would have been on their knees in a minute. At Judgment Day they'll get off easy compared to you. And Capernaum! With all your peacock strutting, you are going to end up in the abyss. If the people of Sodom had had your chances, the city would still be around. At Judgment Day they'll get off easy compared to you."
Jesus berated those who had many chances and still refused to listen.
JUDGMENT DAY - that's a scary thought!
Jesus is with me always - in all I say and do. What will He say about my choices when I stand before Him?
My actions
My words
My thoughts - yes, even my thoughts!
Jesus is with me always - in all I say and do. If I choose to do so, I can allow Him to lead me in all things - My actions - My words - My thoughts, yes, even my thoughts. But do I do that? Do I allow Christ to 'dwell in me richly'? Do I allow Jesus complete and total access to all that is inside me, inside my heart?
Not all the time.
In our hearts we have areas, or 'rooms' that we keep closed.
We will give our hearts to Jesus, sometimes at a very young age, but giving ALL to Jesus is another thing. For me it's been a long long time since I've been 'saved'. but I know I still have rooms that I have yet to give to Jesus. I'm not sure what or where they are right now, but Jesus will let me know when it's time. I've thought I had given them all over to him before, but He let me know when He wanted to clean out a particular 'room' (problem, issue, held-on-to-hurt or resentment). I'm sure He will find others when it is time.
Living in Christ is not a quick thing or an easy thing. It is an ever-changing, ever-growing process of quiet time with God and earthly work for His Glory. I have yet to meet anyone who has 'arrived' yet who still exists here on Earth. God works on us, molding and plying (painful things, remember!!!) until the very end.
Are you being molded and plied? Are you presenting yourself to God and making yourself available for it? Are you open to new insights in His Word?
Christianity is not a stagnant position.
If you aren't growing, you're dead.
Wake up and grow!
Next Jesus let fly on the cities where he had worked the hardest but whose people had responded the least, shrugging their shoulders and going their own way. "Doom to you, Chorazin! Doom, Bethsaida! If Tyre and Sidon had seen half of the powerful miracles you have seen, they would have been on their knees in a minute. At Judgment Day they'll get off easy compared to you. And Capernaum! With all your peacock strutting, you are going to end up in the abyss. If the people of Sodom had had your chances, the city would still be around. At Judgment Day they'll get off easy compared to you."
Jesus berated those who had many chances and still refused to listen.
JUDGMENT DAY - that's a scary thought!
Jesus is with me always - in all I say and do. What will He say about my choices when I stand before Him?
My actions
My words
My thoughts - yes, even my thoughts!
Jesus is with me always - in all I say and do. If I choose to do so, I can allow Him to lead me in all things - My actions - My words - My thoughts, yes, even my thoughts. But do I do that? Do I allow Christ to 'dwell in me richly'? Do I allow Jesus complete and total access to all that is inside me, inside my heart?
Not all the time.
In our hearts we have areas, or 'rooms' that we keep closed.
We will give our hearts to Jesus, sometimes at a very young age, but giving ALL to Jesus is another thing. For me it's been a long long time since I've been 'saved'. but I know I still have rooms that I have yet to give to Jesus. I'm not sure what or where they are right now, but Jesus will let me know when it's time. I've thought I had given them all over to him before, but He let me know when He wanted to clean out a particular 'room' (problem, issue, held-on-to-hurt or resentment). I'm sure He will find others when it is time.
Living in Christ is not a quick thing or an easy thing. It is an ever-changing, ever-growing process of quiet time with God and earthly work for His Glory. I have yet to meet anyone who has 'arrived' yet who still exists here on Earth. God works on us, molding and plying (painful things, remember!!!) until the very end.
Are you being molded and plied? Are you presenting yourself to God and making yourself available for it? Are you open to new insights in His Word?
Christianity is not a stagnant position.
If you aren't growing, you're dead.
Wake up and grow!
Sunday, April 6, 2008
Treading Water
Life can get rough sometimes. These times make me feel like I'm just trying to keep my head above water. I'm up to my neck in 'life' and struggling to find my next move all the time. All my time and energy and thought goes into this particular life situation and I lose track of the rest of life around me.
For ten years I was just trying to keep my head above water. I woke up one day and found that I had lost ten years of my life just trying to survive my life!
What would have happened if I had been able to give it all over to God to being with? How much effort and energy would I have been able to save knowing that God was in control?
Think about it. We live our lives. Life sometimes gets us down. Picture a swimming pool. We are in the pool living life. Sometimes we are able to tread slowly and keep pace with life. Sometimes we have to work hard to keep above the water line. There are even times when we are sitting on the sidelines or floating on a raft.
God lives outside the pool area - he can see from above. He can see what is coming upon us as we swim our way through life. He sees what is coming up the road, around the corner, and slithering through the grass. Knowing this, He will help us prepare for the situations if we will only give the control to Him!
Relax! Remember your swimming lessons from childhood! Lay back and float. Stop spending so much time and energy on trying to keep your head above water! You don't have to do all that work. God is in control. If you will just lay back and place it all in His hands and float a while, you will soon find yourself floating on a raft rather that swimming to breathe!
God wants to help you - but He will never push Himself into your life. You have to lay back and allow Him to do His work in you.
Relax and float a while.
Life will be blessed by God if you do!
For ten years I was just trying to keep my head above water. I woke up one day and found that I had lost ten years of my life just trying to survive my life!
What would have happened if I had been able to give it all over to God to being with? How much effort and energy would I have been able to save knowing that God was in control?
Think about it. We live our lives. Life sometimes gets us down. Picture a swimming pool. We are in the pool living life. Sometimes we are able to tread slowly and keep pace with life. Sometimes we have to work hard to keep above the water line. There are even times when we are sitting on the sidelines or floating on a raft.
God lives outside the pool area - he can see from above. He can see what is coming upon us as we swim our way through life. He sees what is coming up the road, around the corner, and slithering through the grass. Knowing this, He will help us prepare for the situations if we will only give the control to Him!
Relax! Remember your swimming lessons from childhood! Lay back and float. Stop spending so much time and energy on trying to keep your head above water! You don't have to do all that work. God is in control. If you will just lay back and place it all in His hands and float a while, you will soon find yourself floating on a raft rather that swimming to breathe!
God wants to help you - but He will never push Himself into your life. You have to lay back and allow Him to do His work in you.
Relax and float a while.
Life will be blessed by God if you do!
Thursday, April 3, 2008
Unveiled
2 Corinthians 3:18 says,"And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit."
In the beginning of that quote is the idea that our faces are unveiled.
Are they, really?
This scripture is referring back to Exodus when Moses was spending a LOT of time up on the mountain with God. 40 days and nights without food or water he spent up there! Wow!
His face was glowing when he returned. GLOWING!!! He was so completely filled with God's goodness and happy from His presence that he was glowing. He was glowing so much that he scared the Israelites and had to cover his face (veil).
How often do we truly unveil ourselves to those around us?
When we are at work, we are wearing the 'work veil'.
When we are at home, we are wearing the 'wife', 'mother', and/or 'daughter' veil.
When we are at a sporting event, or a school event, we wear the appropriate veil.
When we encounter someone in authority we quickly make sure we have on the correct veil for that situation.
Why the veils?
Are we truly glowing underneath the veils? If we are, then why do we hide it? Why are we afraid to show God's glory to those around us? Why do we hide His presence from those we encounter every day?
Or is that another veil we wear - the veil of Christianity.
Do we put on the veil that tells everyone we are a Christian, only to hide the fact that there is no glow underneath?
Are you spending time daily with God? Do you have the glow of His presence and His goodness shining on your face like Moses?
Ask God to give you His glow and then keep it unveiled for the world to see! What a change you will see for yourself!!!
In the beginning of that quote is the idea that our faces are unveiled.
Are they, really?
This scripture is referring back to Exodus when Moses was spending a LOT of time up on the mountain with God. 40 days and nights without food or water he spent up there! Wow!
His face was glowing when he returned. GLOWING!!! He was so completely filled with God's goodness and happy from His presence that he was glowing. He was glowing so much that he scared the Israelites and had to cover his face (veil).
How often do we truly unveil ourselves to those around us?
When we are at work, we are wearing the 'work veil'.
When we are at home, we are wearing the 'wife', 'mother', and/or 'daughter' veil.
When we are at a sporting event, or a school event, we wear the appropriate veil.
When we encounter someone in authority we quickly make sure we have on the correct veil for that situation.
Why the veils?
Are we truly glowing underneath the veils? If we are, then why do we hide it? Why are we afraid to show God's glory to those around us? Why do we hide His presence from those we encounter every day?
Or is that another veil we wear - the veil of Christianity.
Do we put on the veil that tells everyone we are a Christian, only to hide the fact that there is no glow underneath?
Are you spending time daily with God? Do you have the glow of His presence and His goodness shining on your face like Moses?
Ask God to give you His glow and then keep it unveiled for the world to see! What a change you will see for yourself!!!
Saturday, March 8, 2008
A Difference
I am in the process of preparing for my Small Group lesson for tomorrow morning. It is on self-control - the last of the fruit of the Spirit. I wrote the book, but I still fill out the Scripture verses and underline and mark my book just as I would any other book I was using. It's been a while since I wrote it, and God speaks to me through it just as if I hadn't written it myself.
God spoke to me today.
This is what I had written:
"If you learn only one thing, I pray it is this: Being a Christian is a life of action. It means putting ourselves out where we will be vulnerable to attack, but we choose to do so and lean on God for the power to continue.
It means taking our love of God seriously and following His commands to take care of those around us.
For many of us, this means a total life change. It means hard work re-training the way we view our lives and how we interact with our world."
I underlined in my book what I bold and italicized above. That is an important point. How often do we allow ourselves to be put in a situation where we are vulnerable in order to serve God? I had to think, then the Holy Spirit spoke to me and I just had to share.
When we first arrived in Kirksville just 6 or 7 months ago, our son, Jacob, became fast friends with a boy named Killian. Making new friends in a new school is tough, and Jacob already has a tough time in this area, so we fostered this new relationship. We had Killian over to spend the night one Friday night. Wow! What a night! This kid never stopped! He talked and moved all over the house - even was playing the drums after he was supposed to be asleep late late late in the night. He wasn't trying to be disobedient! He really and truly couldn't help himself.
A couple of weeks later, we invited Killian over on a Saturday night so that we could bring him to church. In the process, we got his sister also. Another full house and a busy one, but the kids loved the church family and have returned regularly throughout the winter!
As we got to know this family, we learned that Mom is a single mother who was struggling to even be on her feet, let alone get back up on them. We found ourselves watching kids up to bedtimes on weeknights or even keeping them overnight a few times. Of course, all the while, wondering just how 'legitimate' each situation really was. These times haven't come up lately, and I've always felt that even though the time was rough, it was the right thing to do. We continued to have groups of kids over to the house and usually try to plan it for Saturday nights with the ulterior motive of getting them to church. It makes for very busy nights, but productive ones!
All this story comes to a head today - the mom, Salina, talked with me today about how well things have started going - just recently and in a way that is just blowing her away. She no longer has to pay her ex-husband child support for kids she is taking care of. The state will be going after him for a situation that will make her the legal guardian again. With this, she has been able to work and keep all of the money she earns, making it possible for her to move her kids to a house with a yard in a neighborhood and out of the unsafe trailer in an industrial part of town with lots of drugs and guns around.
As she was telling me all about how well things are going now and how overwhelmed whe is about it all, she makes the point that she in intent on keeping in touch with me and with Carolyn, who were the only people in Kirksville who ever did anything nice for her and helped her. She recognized and names several times when she needed a pick-me-up and found it in the First Church of God family. No, she has never attended a worship service on Sunday morning, but she saw Jesus. She saw Him through us.
How many of us are going the extra mile for those within our reach? It's not an easy task. I didn't always have the time or the energy to listen to long stories on the phone. I wasn't always in the mood to enjoy staying up late to oversee groups of children in our home on a Saturday night. There have been clothing drives and food gifts. How often do we blow off opportunities to help? How often do we drive past the dumped cargo that we could help pick up and reload? How often do we walk past someone who will work for food?
Does is really matter whether or not they are legitimate? I think that can be a rationalization to play it safe - to keep from putting ourselves in a vulnerable position. I believe God wants us to be smart, but to also be vulnerable - to put ourselves out there where we can do the best for others, even if it hurts sometimes. Remember - NO PAIN NO GAIN
God spoke to me today.
This is what I had written:
"If you learn only one thing, I pray it is this: Being a Christian is a life of action. It means putting ourselves out where we will be vulnerable to attack, but we choose to do so and lean on God for the power to continue.
It means taking our love of God seriously and following His commands to take care of those around us.
For many of us, this means a total life change. It means hard work re-training the way we view our lives and how we interact with our world."
I underlined in my book what I bold and italicized above. That is an important point. How often do we allow ourselves to be put in a situation where we are vulnerable in order to serve God? I had to think, then the Holy Spirit spoke to me and I just had to share.
When we first arrived in Kirksville just 6 or 7 months ago, our son, Jacob, became fast friends with a boy named Killian. Making new friends in a new school is tough, and Jacob already has a tough time in this area, so we fostered this new relationship. We had Killian over to spend the night one Friday night. Wow! What a night! This kid never stopped! He talked and moved all over the house - even was playing the drums after he was supposed to be asleep late late late in the night. He wasn't trying to be disobedient! He really and truly couldn't help himself.
A couple of weeks later, we invited Killian over on a Saturday night so that we could bring him to church. In the process, we got his sister also. Another full house and a busy one, but the kids loved the church family and have returned regularly throughout the winter!
As we got to know this family, we learned that Mom is a single mother who was struggling to even be on her feet, let alone get back up on them. We found ourselves watching kids up to bedtimes on weeknights or even keeping them overnight a few times. Of course, all the while, wondering just how 'legitimate' each situation really was. These times haven't come up lately, and I've always felt that even though the time was rough, it was the right thing to do. We continued to have groups of kids over to the house and usually try to plan it for Saturday nights with the ulterior motive of getting them to church. It makes for very busy nights, but productive ones!
All this story comes to a head today - the mom, Salina, talked with me today about how well things have started going - just recently and in a way that is just blowing her away. She no longer has to pay her ex-husband child support for kids she is taking care of. The state will be going after him for a situation that will make her the legal guardian again. With this, she has been able to work and keep all of the money she earns, making it possible for her to move her kids to a house with a yard in a neighborhood and out of the unsafe trailer in an industrial part of town with lots of drugs and guns around.
As she was telling me all about how well things are going now and how overwhelmed whe is about it all, she makes the point that she in intent on keeping in touch with me and with Carolyn, who were the only people in Kirksville who ever did anything nice for her and helped her. She recognized and names several times when she needed a pick-me-up and found it in the First Church of God family. No, she has never attended a worship service on Sunday morning, but she saw Jesus. She saw Him through us.
How many of us are going the extra mile for those within our reach? It's not an easy task. I didn't always have the time or the energy to listen to long stories on the phone. I wasn't always in the mood to enjoy staying up late to oversee groups of children in our home on a Saturday night. There have been clothing drives and food gifts. How often do we blow off opportunities to help? How often do we drive past the dumped cargo that we could help pick up and reload? How often do we walk past someone who will work for food?
Does is really matter whether or not they are legitimate? I think that can be a rationalization to play it safe - to keep from putting ourselves in a vulnerable position. I believe God wants us to be smart, but to also be vulnerable - to put ourselves out there where we can do the best for others, even if it hurts sometimes. Remember - NO PAIN NO GAIN
Sunday, February 24, 2008
God Prepares Me
Tomorrow I begin my new job working with Keanne, a tiny little girl with many needs.
I already know Keanne a little bit. I have worked with her and interacted with her through my subbing. Last time I saw her I got hugs and smiles as if she recognized me from the time before! Little did I know back then that I would be her main caregiver in such a near future - did she? I believe God gives some of these learning disabled children a special knowledge - did she recognize me in that way?
God prepares us for our futures in various ways. Looking back can help us see just how much he does that. I can see how God put me in subbing positions that got me this job. I am looking forward to seeing how God will continue to prepare and bless this pairing.
I am looking forward to the relationship that will come and the daily interaction and growth I will see. No more wondering each day whether or not I'll get a call. No more walking into a classroom not knowing the names of the kids. No more trying to be another person - most often one I've never met - and reading their minds trying to do things their way. I will miss all the variety of students I met and now have a relationship with, but I will NOT miss the lack of routine. I am looking very forward to it!
I want to thank God for all the ways He has prepared me for this new position. I will be making decent money AND providing health insurance for my family. From where I am right now, it doesn't seem like it has taken me that long to get the job I needed, but from the view from the past, before I got it, it seemed to have taken so very very long. Not knowing is such a difficult thing.
I wonder how often we miss God's preparations for our futures. How often do we miss the lessons He is trying to teach us? When the time we are in is difficult, do we look inside to ourselves or do we look to God for help? I know I tend to try to solve things on my own first. I wait until I'm in really deep or really upset to take it to God. Why do I do that? Why do I wait? Do I not believe that I am important enough for God to care about the little stuff?
How often do we even look back and learn? I have looked back tonight and seen God's hand and how it has been moving in my life these past few months, but how often do I really do that? Do I only look at the good God has created in my life or have I also been know to look back to see His reprimands and His work in bringing me out of trouble? We need to spend time contemplating our lives and learning how God moves within them!
I already know Keanne a little bit. I have worked with her and interacted with her through my subbing. Last time I saw her I got hugs and smiles as if she recognized me from the time before! Little did I know back then that I would be her main caregiver in such a near future - did she? I believe God gives some of these learning disabled children a special knowledge - did she recognize me in that way?
God prepares us for our futures in various ways. Looking back can help us see just how much he does that. I can see how God put me in subbing positions that got me this job. I am looking forward to seeing how God will continue to prepare and bless this pairing.
I am looking forward to the relationship that will come and the daily interaction and growth I will see. No more wondering each day whether or not I'll get a call. No more walking into a classroom not knowing the names of the kids. No more trying to be another person - most often one I've never met - and reading their minds trying to do things their way. I will miss all the variety of students I met and now have a relationship with, but I will NOT miss the lack of routine. I am looking very forward to it!
I want to thank God for all the ways He has prepared me for this new position. I will be making decent money AND providing health insurance for my family. From where I am right now, it doesn't seem like it has taken me that long to get the job I needed, but from the view from the past, before I got it, it seemed to have taken so very very long. Not knowing is such a difficult thing.
I wonder how often we miss God's preparations for our futures. How often do we miss the lessons He is trying to teach us? When the time we are in is difficult, do we look inside to ourselves or do we look to God for help? I know I tend to try to solve things on my own first. I wait until I'm in really deep or really upset to take it to God. Why do I do that? Why do I wait? Do I not believe that I am important enough for God to care about the little stuff?
How often do we even look back and learn? I have looked back tonight and seen God's hand and how it has been moving in my life these past few months, but how often do I really do that? Do I only look at the good God has created in my life or have I also been know to look back to see His reprimands and His work in bringing me out of trouble? We need to spend time contemplating our lives and learning how God moves within them!
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