The Eyes Of A Parent

I'm thinking about bad parents and good parents. Some people love their children in wisdom and others have little capacity for love. A child sees their reflection in the eyes of their parents and sometimes the reflection they see is tainted and untrue.

"You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me." - John 8:44-45 ESV

"Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also." - John 14:1-3 ESV

The Devil is a bad Father. His children never find out who they really are. They never know where they stand. He is a gas-lighting narcissist. He is a liar.

God is a good Father. He is 'The Good Father'. In His eyes you discover who you are. You like how you look there. If you forget where you stand He reassures you. You are loved. When you go far away and come back He runs out to greet you and pile on gifts you don't deserve that He has set aside just for you.

You and i don't really know who we are. We must discover who we really are in kind loving eyes that are wise. Some people never discover their identity. They just run from one thing to the next looking to fill a hole that grows ever larger.

Don't forget to look up today and make sure you stay in touch with those wise humans on Earth that care for your soul. They are rare treasures... and remember... the Devil is a liar.

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Motive Descriptors

Thinking today about 'motive descriptors'... words that describe what something is doing (ex. 'a wave' = water moving a certain way, a hand moving to signal someone. A wave isn't a thing. It is a motive descriptor).

If we make motive descriptors 'things' we will have strange nonsensical ideas and expectations and it is very easy to do just that.

Light is also a motive descriptor. It doesn't move. There is no speed of light. That is like saying the speed of green. There is a speed of illumination. It takes about 8 minutes for the sun to illuminate the Earth. The sun we see is the sun as it was 8 minutes ago. A proton is the 'crashing of a light wave.' It isn't a tiny pebble. Understanding that changes everything.

Then we can apply that concept to 'a certain sound'. The source is God's mouth and we can tell by the content (living word order). Doctrine can be dry and murderous. The certain sound gives life to the hearer. The power comes from the source.

Love isn't a thing. Without a loving person it doesn't exist. The lover loves. God is 'love' is such a profound statement. Love can not and does not exist without Him. He is the lover that illuminates. His love is shed abroad in our hearts. Wow!

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Was Jesus Racist?

Was Jesus racist? Is God?

"And Jesus went away from there and withdrew to the district of Tyre and Sidon. And behold, a Canaanite woman from that region came out and was crying, "Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely oppressed by a demon." But he did not answer her a word. And his disciples came and begged him, saying, "Send her away, for she is crying out after us." He answered, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." But she came and knelt before him, saying, "Lord, help me." And he answered, "It is not right to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs." She said, "Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table." Then Jesus answered her, "O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire." And her daughter was healed instantly." Matthew 15:21-28 ESV

'Dog' was a racist slur but Jesus was putting this woman's faith on display. He was saying to his disciples and to the world, 'Do you think I have a 'us' and 'them' mentality like every other fallen man does? I don't!'

Yes. All the men following Him were Jewish but that was the first stage of God's plan. Jesus came to save the world.

"For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise." Galatians 3:27-29 ESV

"Therefore if any man [be] in Christ, [he is] a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." 2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV

Jesus noticed what race this woman was. He didn't ignore the difference like it didn't exist. He used the obvious difference to prove a point. God loves people.

He loves you. He loves me. He loves the person struggling with their gender identity. He loves those who don't know who they are and those that think they do.

In Him we find newness, healing and belonging. In Him we find salvation and life. He will dissolve our prejudices. He invites us to sit at the table with Abraham as a family member.

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The Valley Of Dry Bones

"And he said to me, 'Son of man, can these bones live?' And I answered, 'O Lord GOD, you know.' " Ezekiel 37:3 ESV

Take a look at the field of dry bones (the dead structure of a promise from God) and answer God out loud. Ezekiel gave the right answer. It was health to Ezekiel's bones to answer with a faith answer. He didn't say 'Yes'. That would have been a hyper-spiritual lie. He didn't say 'No' because He knew He was conversing with The Almighty God. Ezekiel was ready to witness a miracle if that is what God had in mind. Are we?

"The hand of the LORD was upon me, and he brought me out in the Spirit of the LORD and set me down in the middle of the valley; it was full of bones. And he led me around among them, and behold, there were very many on the surface of the valley, and behold, they were very dry. And he said to me, 'Son of man, can these bones live?' And I answered, 'O Lord GOD, you know.' Then he said to me, 'Prophesy over these bones, and say to them, O dry bones, hear the word of the LORD. Thus says the Lord GOD to these bones: Behold, I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live. And I will lay sinews upon you, and will cause flesh to come upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and you shall live, and you shall know that I am the LORD.' So I prophesied as I was commanded. And as I prophesied, there was a sound, and behold, a rattling, and the bones came together, bone to its bone. And I looked, and behold, there were sinews on them, and flesh had come upon them, and skin had covered them. But there was no breath in them. Then he said to me, 'Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, Thus says the Lord GOD: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live.' So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived and stood on their feet, an exceedingly great army. Then he said to me, 'Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. Behold, they say, 'Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost; we are indeed cut off.' Therefore prophesy, and say to them, Thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I will open your graves and raise you from your graves, O my people. And I will bring you into the land of Israel. And you shall know that I am the LORD, when I open your graves, and raise you from your graves, O my people. And I will put my Spirit within you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. Then you shall know that I am the LORD; I have spoken, and I will do it, declares the LORD.' " - Ezekiel 37:1-14 ESV

I see stages here. I see stages of edification and faith. A vision dies and leaves full grown bones but then God has a person speak faith over that dead vision and the bones take form and get covered with sinew, muscle and skin. Then in another stage breath is given by words of faith. Then hope.

Bones are out there in a field like that because there was a battle and the ones who fell in that battle were left out there to rot and get bleached by the sun.

Our world is filled with valleys of dry bones. People have souls that resemble a field of dry bones.

We, the ones who believe, are the ones who look out at the disaster and say 'O Lord GOD, you know.' and speak the life found in the finished work of Christ by faith.

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Prayers For A Edifying Thanksgiving

"Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption." - Ephesians 4:29-30 ESV

Wow. What a great passage. What we say and do can 'build up' but it is grace that really does the building.

I have been praying all week for the coming Thanksgiving holiday. People will be with people and it is an opportunity to build in an unusual setting.

God bless us as we are with people. It is a day to be thankful to you. Bless our interactions. We worship You God. You are the God of all grace. Orient us to your mind. These events can be interesting ones for so many people. Touch those who are grieving and those who are rejoicing and everyone inbetween. Thank You Lord.

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A Merciful Mind

"Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful." - Luke 6:36 ESV

Wow. That is loaded.

Jesus practised this.

"But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. They said to her, 'Woman, why are you weeping?' She said to them, 'They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.' Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, 'Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?' Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, 'Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.' Jesus said to her, 'Mary.' She turned and said to him in Aramaic, 'Rabboni!' (which means Teacher). Jesus said to her, 'Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, 'I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.' Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, 'I have seen the Lord'- and that he had said these things to her." - John 20:11-18 ESV

We have a merciful Father. He isn't sentimental. He Is merciful. We need to see His mercy. There are merciful actions and there are also merciful thoughts. I like how it says 'be' merciful which covers both but starts with an identity of mercy.

It is easy to justify unmerciful behaviour in our minds.

"For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment." - James 2:13 ESV

God give us a merciful disposition today... even if it is not our native personality... let us be purposely merciful so we can showcase your mercy. Thank You God. You are merciful to us. Give us a merciful mind and increase our capacity to think mercifully and act in mercy with an identity that lives in mercy.

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Morning Worship

Quieting myself and entering into worship this morning. Pause. Worship. Everything is about HIM just for a few moments. He IS amazing, wonderful counsellor, mighty God and King of all Kings. Full focus. There are no problems. Pain can go on a coffee break. Worry can take a walk alone outside. Just HIM. He Is all I see or care about. Obligations... none... not now. Now I just enjoy Him and know that He enjoys me because of Christ.

As I enter my day He Is with me and I am with Him. Miracles are waiting even in seemingly mundane circumstances. He becomes my Shepherd.

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Heart And Soul - Part 1

Heart and soul. The Bible uses both of these terms extensively. We really don't want to draw our understanding from popular culture for these terms. The Bible gives definition and if we look carefully we can put the 'puzzle pieces' together and get some deep understanding about ourselves and others.

My Pastor of many years gave this definition for the heart and it is still the best I have found...

'The heart is the premise of all motivation. It is the basis for all my operational behavior. It is the communication center of all my thoughts, feeling and decisions.' -P Carl H Stevens

Our soul is all we are. Our mind, emotions, feelings, sense of self identity. Our value system and even our memory, to a certain extent, fall into the category of the soul. It is who we are if we had no body. It isn't a mystical jelly fish of light that can be sold to the devil. It is us. We are not bodies with souls. We are souls with bodies.

"For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?" - Matthew 16:25-26 ESV

Wow. Great questions.

This post is an introduction to a series of posts where we will search out the heart and soul. I have an expectation that what we discover will be transforming.

You are very welcome to join me on this journey. Only the scriptures can reveal what is invisible to the naked eye. Our souls are eternal and our heart determines the quality of our life. Let's look at them and see what God has done.

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Process Or Ignore

Recommendations and accusations are both verbal assessments of something. One is positive and the other is negative. One comes from a sense of 'above and beyond'-ness and the other transgressed a person's sensibilities in such a way that they feel they need to say something in order to balance the scales.

How do we deal with recommendation and accusations?

We can ignore them but that sends a message. People pay attention to those they respect and ignoring something a person says implies a lack of respect for that person (or group).

If we don't ignore the assessment then we have to process it in some way and there are several ways to do that.

"But the serpent said to the woman, 'You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.' So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate." - Genesis 3:4-6 ESV

In one statement 'the serpent' accused God and recommended the fruit of the forbidden tree. Eve was totally unprepared for an accusation. It is the first one ever recorded.She was also unprepared to ignore anything someone said because she never had a reason to do that either.

Accusations have barbs. They trigger a 'knowledge of God and Evil' response.

People must know what God says on a subject. He must become the overriding voice in order for our minds to be whole. Then we can say, 'God said' and ignore without disrespect while at the same time we can recommend from a sound point of view.

If God is better than both of us we can still say, 'You and I are equals.'

That is why the attack on the Bible is so forceful. If people can invalidate that Book truth is up for grabs and no one can ever be equal. Emotionalism or intellectualism will always provide other strong winds of doctrine that blow people off course.

"And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified." - Acts 20:32 ESV

Grace is truly amazing. If we live in it we can 'recommend it' and what we are saying is valid. Grace is only found in God and only communicated by His words. Grace is truly amazing. If we live in it we can 'recommend it' and what we are saying is valid.

"The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost." - 1 Timothy 1:15 ESV

Wow. The Apostle said this and the people who heard it knew it was true. In his former life he hunted Christians. Most speakers list some credentials so that their recommendations (or accusations) will be received. Paul's terrible past was his recommendation. Amazing. Paul is basically saying, 'You shouldn't respect me but I am not recommending myself. I am revealing God's power to save.'

We are surrounded by ideas and groups that say, 'If you don't hear us it is disrespectful.' and they are right... to a degree. If we ignore God it is also disrespectful to Him but He gives 'grace words' and no one else has those.

"Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!" - Psalm 34:8 ESV

"Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool." - Isaiah 1:18 ESV

Accusations may have sunk down deep if our soul but God can take the 'red' and make us 'white as now'. Will we trust His recommendation?

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Faithful In Little

I started out this morning doing a study on 'taking responsibility' but it brought me to this passage and the principle was so good that I want to park here for a while.

"And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous wealth, so that when it fails they may receive you into the eternal dwellings. One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much. If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches? And if you have not been faithful in that which is another's, who will give you that which is your own?" - Luke 16:9-12 ESV

Yes, This speaks of honesty, investment and advancement but there is a depth to it beyond the natural side.

This principle is so vital. It basically says that if you have $5 you could buy a latte or you could get 2 coffees, one for you and one for another person and that investment gives you entrance into their 'eternal dwelling place.' You access their soul. It hints that later you will have an invitation to their eternal Heavenly home, which is outside our understanding, all by using money in an eternal way. Millions would be great but just a few dollars will work also.

Wow.

This faithfulness with 'unrighteous wealth' (money, power, influence, etc...) puts us in a place to be trusted with true riches.

This makes me want to be positioned so that what I have can be used well. Perhaps changes and seeming sacrifices need to happen for that to be true. Why not get a latte if no one is standing next to me? This isn't putting money into a jar that says, 'Relief for _____ victims'. That is great in its own way. We can't outgive God. But this is a one on one investment that touches a soul and the true riches are invested in our soul as peace, wisdom and an awareness of God's gracious mind. The true riches have to do with proximity to Christ and His life.

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Thank You God

It is a slow 'thank You' morning.

Thank You God. Thank You Lord. Thank You Jesus. Another day to say thank You. Another day to hug the ones we love and say thank you to God for life and breath and another day to live in.

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The Way Of An Injured Man

I listened to a radio program (NPR - Around The Nation - An Anti-Violence Activist Shares Her Reason For Buying A Gun) yesterday and my heart broke for this woman. A good woman trying to do the right thing and have a positive impact on the world but overwhelmed by the effects her past has on her present.

It made me think of this passage.

"I know, O LORD, that the way of man is not in himself, that it is not in man who walks to direct his steps. Correct me, O LORD, but in justice; not in your anger, lest you bring me to nothing. Pour out your wrath on the nations that know you not, and on the peoples that call not on your name, for they have devoured Jacob; they have devoured him and consumed him, and have laid waste his habitation." - Jeremiah 10:23-25 ESV

We see the right thing to do but often it is just past our grasp. Things have happened to us and even though we don't live in them the residue of them remains in our lives.

"A man of violence entices his neighbor and leads him in a way that is not good." - Proverbs 16:29 ESV

They say that most violence in areas with gang activity is retaliatory. Social media has amplified that cycle. People used to be able to 'talk smack' behind closed doors but now it is out there for every ego to see.

"As they were talking about these things, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, "Peace to you!"" - Luke 24:36 ESV

"Jesus said to them again, 'Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.' " - John 20:21 ESV

The way He sends us is the way of peace but that way isn't in us. It is in Him and He gives it to us.

"The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you." - Romans 16:20 ESV

"Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ." - 1 Corinthians 1:3 ESV

"Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ." - 2 Corinthians 1:2 ESV

"Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ," - Galatians 1:3 ESV

"Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ." - Ephesians 1:2 ESV

"Peace be to the brothers, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ." - Ephesians 6:23 ESV

"Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ." - Philippians 1:2 ESV

"And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." - Philippians 4:7 ESV

"Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace." - 1 Thessalonians 1:1 ESV

"Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." - 1 Thessalonians 5:23 ESV

"Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ." - 2 Thessalonians 1:2 ESV

"To Timothy, my true child in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord." - 1 Timothy 1:2 ESV

"To Timothy, my beloved child: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord." - 2 Timothy 1:2 ESV

"To Titus, my true child in a common faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior." - Titus 1:4 ESV

"Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ." - Philemon 1:3 ESV

"Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen." - Hebrews 13:20-21 ESV

"...according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood: May grace and peace be multiplied to you." - 1 Peter 1:2 ESV

"May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord." - 2 Peter 1:2 ESV

"Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us, from God the Father and from Jesus Christ the Father's Son, in truth and love." - 2 John 1:3 ESV

Do you see a theme here? I do. Peace comes from God through His Son. Maybe you are one of the few who have lived an injury free life and never have felt the need to lash out but this peace comes from the God-man who was mistreated more than any of us. It is a tested and proven peace that will not be overwhelmed.

"So Jesus said to them, 'Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you." - John 6:53 ESV

"Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life." - 1 John 5:12 ESV

Believe in the Son and the life of the Son will be in You. Trust in His way and study and meditate on His words and His way will become your way.

"And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever." - Daniel 12:2-3 ESV

Choose the shining way of grace and peace. Choose the Son as Your Savior. Do it once and then let Him turn you day after day to a path you would not find yourself.

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A Dark Moon Before The New Year (Rosh Hashanah 2017)

Today the moon is dark and not giving off any light and I am quiet in my soul. Soon a sliver of light will begin to shine. The trumpet will sound in Jerusalem and it will be a new year.

The end of an old year and the start of a new one.

I'm sure for many in Mexico city it has been a long sleepless night. That place and those people are heavy on my heart. Storms and fires rage. Life will never be the same for many of the people in those places because of what has happened in their neighborhoods over the last few weeks.

Quietly I rehearse some of God's promises.

"... I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee..." - Hebrews 13:5b KJV

"Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look upon the earth beneath: for the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall wax old like a garment, and they that dwell therein shall die in like manner: but my salvation shall be for ever, and my righteousness shall not be abolished." - Isaiah 51:6 KJV

"And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; men's hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near." - Luke 21:25-28 NKJV

"I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you." - John 14:18 NKJV

"...God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, Even though the earth be removed, And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though its waters roar and be troubled, Though the mountains shake with its swelling. Selah There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God, The holy place of the tabernacle of the Most High. God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved; God shall help her, just at the break of dawn." - Psalm 46:1b-5 NKJV

"Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." - John 14:27 NKJV

God leaves peace with us.

Who knows what this week will bring? The trumpet will sound when the moonlight sliver is sighted and God will still be on His throne. The old year will be over and God will reign in the new one.

God, Help us to wrap up the details of this year. It seems strange to pray a prayer like this in September as an American growing up in the west but today we look up at You and the calendar You gave to Israel and take notice. Renew us in newness and help us to tie up any spiritual loose ends. Thank You God.

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Expectation For The Day

"And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near." - Hebrews 10:24-25 ESV

What is 'the Day'?

This is a great principle. Are you looking for 'the Day'? Do you have an expectation in your heart? What days are you looking forward to? Christmas. An anniversary. The day of your retirement from work. Your birthday. Coming home after being away a long time.

The day referred to here is a 'God' day. We stir each other up in the visitation of God. It is the day when we will see Him move. Is it judgment day? Is it the day we get to Heaven? Is it the next time we all sing together and Heaven comes down on our assembly?

Take your pick. The book of Hebrews doesn't say specifically and I think that is on purpose.

What day are you looking forward to? Get together more and more between now and then and encourage one another. Let your expectation be known. Share it. People need a day to look forward to. 'The Day' is coming. Be ready. Be waiting. Count the hours. Invite as many as are willing to come.

" 'I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.' The Spirit and the Bride say, 'Come.' And let the one who hears say, 'Come.' And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price." - Revelation 22:16-17 ESV

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No Hidden Fees

Ever buy something and feel like you are just getting 'nickeled and dimed' to death with all the hidden costs.

God's kingdom isn't like that.

"Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food. Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live; and I will make with you an everlasting covenant, my steadfast, sure love for David." - Isaiah 55:1-3 ESV

Sure mercies. No hidden costs. There is always meat and drink and that table and God wants us to partake of what He has given freely.

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The Perception Gap

I'm reading 1 John chapter 3 over and over again and wondering at humanity's perception gap.

"Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is." - 1 John 3:2 ESV

The chapter really links personal sin to a lack of perception. Mankind acts in lawlessness because God's nature and character is not in view.

"See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him... No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him. Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God." - 1 John 3:1, 6-9 ESV

Many go through life in lawlessness in the way that a person who knows nothing about cars deals with their broken down vehicle. If they can figure out how to open the hood they do but they still have very little idea what they are looking at much less how to begin fixing the problem so they get in and turn the key, again and again, hoping the problem will just go away.

"Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him. And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us." - 1 John 3:21-24 ESV

God commands us to 'believe in the name of His Son' and see the pattern of love in Christ. Seeing Him activates us in love. We have access to the maker of all things and He shows us how people are made. Instead of 'ungoverned' patterns of self-destruction, we have other options. Revenge, hatred, envy, lying and taking become obsolete practices.

What we are isn't seen yet.

"For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. For God, who said, 'Let light shine out of darkness,' has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us." - 2 Corinthians 4:5-7 ESV

What we will be hinges on what we have seen. Have we seen Jesus? If we see Him there is a transformation that happens inside that eventually is made manifest outside in love.

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Amen In Him

"For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, whom we proclaimed among you, Silvanus and Timothy and I, was not Yes and No, but in him it is always Yes. For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory." - 2 Corinthians 1:19-20 ESV

Wow. It is a great thing to have a 'Yes and Amen'.

Perhaps 'Amen' sounds religious in some way. It did to me at first. Monks say it. Swaying crowds singing Gospel music shout it as they wave their hands. It wasn't a word in my vocabulary or perhaps I uttered a sarcastic, 'Amen brother' here or there to jokingly agree with something.

I didn't see the depth of Shalom that was in the word. 'Amen' has a universal rightness to it. It is agreeing with God. It is uttering a phrase that says, 'I am on the same page with the eternal mind.'

It wasn't in my vocabulary but neither was Jesus. In Him I have my 'Amen' and if I have half a brain I also have a 'Yes' when I hear an eternal truth and it resonates in my being.

Yes and No. Yes and No. Yes and No. People will say these two all day long. They are like the zeros and ones in a computing machine but who in the room will say, 'Yes and Amen'? Who will look at an empty cross and use their sanctified imagination to gaze into Heaven to see a risen Christ? Will take on His light burden and shed their own heavy burden? Who will join with Him in a seek and save mentality and leave behind the judgement of people in approval and disapproval?

I sit here penning a blog entry but my heart is swaying in a great multitude singing and shouting 'Amen'. I have music because of Jesus. I have glory in Him. I have a connection to the Father as a dusty human being anchored to the Earth. My Spirit is free to roam in glory.

Thank You, God. Yes and Amen to Your Son. He Is my glory. Give me words to say that come from You so others will have an Amen today. Maybe it would be their first one. Thank You, God.

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Study Out Your Approval

"Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth." - 2 Timothy 2:15 ESV

If you study you will find that God approves of you. He doesn't approve of people because they study. He approves because of Jesus. Jesus IS approved and God only sees us as hidden in Christ.

Teachers who teach God disapproves of those who walk by faith in His Son will be ashamed because they didn't rightly handle the truth.

You are approved! Your past can't change that. Your present can't. Your future can't. Study and find out what grace means. Study and prove it to yourself then teach it to others.

"...Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue, 'Do not fear, only believe.' " - Mark 5:36b ESV

"For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord." - Romans 8:38-39 ESV

Your senses are NOT going to tell you this. It must come from the Bible. It must be experienced by being with people who have studied this out also. Forgiveness is learned. This approval is based on God's justice already being satisfied by Jesus Christ.

Shun the teacher that says you don't measure up and won't unless you do a list of things. They will be ashamed.

Believe and receive. Get a PhD in that and you will have peace in crazy times. You will know how to bounce back when others don't. You will be a 'workman' that does not work for God's approval but reveals that God has already done all the work.

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Numerical Correlations - Part 1

You may have noticed that I don't rely heavily on 'numerical correlations' in my interpretation of the scriptures. Some preachers do and they use that method wisely. Clearly, some numbers in the scriptures have great meaning and significance.

Twelve, for example, is used again and again. Israel had twelve tribes and many twelves in the Hebrew scriptures relate to that. Piles of twelve stones. Twelve loaves of show bread. Jesus has twelve disciples in the Gospels.

Ok, I see that. The number twelve represents something. The question is, 'How far do I take that?' because I see people go quite far down the rabbit hole and start finding 'numerical significance' everywhere and start using it to justify 'doctrinal significance.' They start saying things like, 'This person should be in elected into leadership because they have twelve letters in their name.' or they use strange arithmetic adding and subtracting and coming to conclusions.

I am very wary of that kind of teaching. Authoritative claims are made that are not found in a plain reading of the text. The scripture has one 'essential' doctrine and to understand that doctrine you don't need any understanding of the numbers of the Bible.

Salvation is the 'essential' doctrine.

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God." - John 3:16-18 ESV

The Bible is an amazingly symmetrical book like nothing else. There is much to be learned by examining the engineering of it but Christ must be central.

Who called the twelve disciples? He did. Who gave Abraham twelve children? It was God.

If someone does not have the core understanding of salvation by grace as central in their teaching I really don't care what else they have to say about the Bible or spirituality. Knowledge like that is a distraction and not a blessing.

So, I ask you. Do you have the 'essential' truth of the scripture? Do you know that Jesus came to Earth and died on a cross to save your soul and everyone who would believe in Him?

Let that be our foundation. If we have that we can study the Bible and it will blossom like a flower. Then the tools we have can be useful and helpful in watering the incorruptible seed that has taken root in our life and given us a brand new identity.

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The Rhythm Of The Scriptures

I'm reading Proverbs chapter 29 this morning and I find that jumping back and forth from idea to idea is very comforting somehow. A topic is introduced but then another is given and another. Then the writer returns to the first topic and you see it in freshness.

I truly believe that God had men pen the scriptures in such a way that our thinking would be ordered and restored by the words and the 'rhythm of words'

"[To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.] The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge. There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard. Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun, Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race. His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof. The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward. Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults. Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression. Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer." - Psalm 19:1-14 KJV

Yes. We have secret faults but God has given us words to realign our thinking and we can continue as flawed people living in a perfect provision.

Thank you God.

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