I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life

The boldest of statements which effectively draws a line in the sand that must be crossed.  Simply put, a decision must be made, but not without the entire body of knowledge given prior to this, or else it doesn't make sense.

John 14:6  "I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father, except through Me."

These words are often called Jesus' parting words to His disciples. Since He spent three years teaching and training them, we should take that into consideration before making the claim to an unbeliever.  Why would I want to take the chance of alienating someone without the benefit of introducing them to the compassionate Savior first?

His great compassion
At the beginning of our relationship with Him, we only love Him because He first loved us.  To think differently is to think more highly of ourselves than we ought to.  We are not capable of godly love until we are regenerated by the Holy Spirit, whose task it is to continually remind us of just how much God loves us.  How can we not respond to that?

Recently at church we were singing the chorus (only the chorus) to a Journey song called, "Open Arms." If you know the song, disregard all but this part:

So now I come to you with open arms,

nothing to hide, believe what I say,

So here I am with open arms

hoping you'll see what your love means to me

...open arms.

I know it's not a hymn or a worship song, but it brought to mind a vivid word picture of my Jesus, with outstretched arms, beckoning me to come into His embrace.  I've been saved since I was nineteen, but this was an effective and creative tool the worship team used to show just how approachable our Savior is, especially to the lost sheep.

Our declaration of faith
He is the Way.  When we affirm this, we have seen the light of the truth and the error of going our own way. He is the Truth.  When we affirm this, we reject worldly wisdom as foolishness and express our sorrow in departing from His Truth somewhere along the way. He is the Life. When we affirm this, we attest to His infinite power and omniscience, gladly accepting that He alone is the source of abundant life—apart from Him we can do nothing good.

As the gospels come to a close, we are left to make the same decision the disciples had to make upon His death.  In the quietness of Saturday, they must have pondered all He'd claimed and wondered what the future held. When Sunday dawned, their world was turned upside-down with His resurrection, and they were never the same again.

Our own encounter with Him is much the same.  Our world should be turned upside-down by His resurrection power, and we should never be the same again.

In Jesus' Name, Amen.

We often learn by osmosis; just the fact that we are around particular people, in a certain environment or culture we absorb details, facts, even mannerisms.  A boy will swing a hammer the same way his dad does, or a daughter will copy mom's way of doing housework or even putting on lipstick in a particular way.  We absorb what is modeled for us and it's no different in the church.

While studying a lesson for kids' church concerning prayer, I was trying to compose a teaching that was extremely simple, yet meaningful, that would help take away the mystique of praying—especially praying aloud.  It felt as though the kids were repeating things they had heard from parents or other adults without realizing what they were saying.

I asked them if they'd ever heard people saying (or shouting) "Amen."  Most of them said yes, but none could tell me what it actually meant, so we began right there, defining the word as: truly, or, so be it.  What a revelation that turned out to be—nobody under thirty really says truly or so be it anymore, either, but it felt good knowing they could say the word with a newfound comprehension.

What about, "In Jesus' Name?"
In the manner in which we normally hear it said, it almost sounds like a magic phrase like, "Bibbity, bobbity, boo."  No offense intended, it's only that people throw it in at the last second like an ending salutation on a business letter—sincerely yours, amen.

His Name is the authority by which we pray, ask or declare.  Jesus said, "All authority has been given to Me..." and "whatever you ask for in My Name I will do it..."

His Name assures that we will fix our desires on His will, not our own.  We can be confident that He hears us whenever we ask for things that please Him (1 John 5:14).

He receives glory when our prayers are answered.  As Christians we desire to bring honor to the Lord in our living, giving and serving, so when we talk about the things that He has done in our lives it brings glory to God.

Next time you use the phrase, "In Jesus' Name, Amen," think about its meaning and use it intentionally.

Who deserves to be blessed?

It's been more than a week and I was actually away from a computer for 5 days... it was pretty relaxing, although I feel a little out of touch.  I've been thinking a lot about receiving from the Lord—His love and His blessings—which leads me to the discussion of receiving by faith.

"I ask you again, does God give you the Holy Spirit and work miracles among you because you obey the law?  Of course not! It is because you believe the message you heard about Christ." Galatians 3:5 NLT

I promise, this is not law-bashing, as the bible states that there is "no conflict between the law and God's promises."  The law has a purpose in that it:

• points us to Christ by exposing our sinful state
• restrains evil in society through punishment
• serves as a guide to godly behavior in daily life

Paul is emphatic about placing faith in Christ alone, however, and not in anything we do—right or wrong.  Through Him we obtain both salvation and blessings we know we don't deserve... that is what makes it so incredible!  If you and I could earn them, then Jesus died for no reason.  Instead, God graciously gives us the Spirit with all of its fruits (Gal 5:22) and gifts (1 Cor 12), and He works miracles in our midst with His mighty power.

Remember that you have received God's greatest blessing of salvation by faith.  We must trust in the perfect work of Jesus in order to receive His salvation.  It is His goodness, not ours.

Perhaps that is why the inexplicable sometimes happens.  We hear of someone being blessed that we think doesn't deserve it, or conversely, someone we feel quite deserving gets overlooked.  When trying to figure out the reason, we don't exactly have all the information, do we?  Instead of judging we should celebrate the grace of God.

When I start over tomorrow, in my waking breath I will declare that I am the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus, and all of His blessings are mine not because of anything I've done, but because I have been adopted into His family becoming an heir with Christ.  I will declare my trust in Him and His lovingkindness toward me knowing He has plans to prosper me and not to harm me.  I will thank Him for providing my every need (whether or not I see it) because that is what I believe He wants me to do.  I will believe by faith, which is not confined to what I can see, hear and touch.

How wide, how long, how high, how deep

Wow, I'm glad that today is the beginning of a new week, because the last one was full of challenges.  When I think about it, every day is filled with challenges and it's how I react to them that sets the tone for my day.  Where do my thoughts go?  What kind of words are coming from my mouth?  Do I advance or retreat?  I have to answer these questions in order to take my spiritual temperature.

Have you ever prayed, "Lord, make me more like you," or "Have your way in me?"  Rest assured that when you utter prayers like these, He begins the process of making you more Christlike, as that is the ultimate goal.  The interesting thing is that you can stop the process at any time by refusing to submit to God's molding or pruning efforts on your behalf.  We sometimes forget that what seems painful at the moment will surely be profitable in the long run.  We must yield to Him when He allows the inevitable testing of our faith.

I've come to the decision that my future is secure in Him, even if I don't understand what's going on. As a mathematical equation, it might look like this:

Circumstances + Emotions = Worry 

Circumstances + Trust = Faith

In order to keep on going and growing in the right direction, my prayers should reflect the trust and utter dependence I have on God, as Paul said in Ephesians 3:14-19:

"I pray that from His glorious, unlimited resources He will empower you with inner strength through His Spirit. Then Christ will make His home in your hearts as you trust in Him. Your roots will grow down into God's love and keep you strong.  And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep His love is.  Then you will be made complete with all the fulness of life and power that comes from God."

Can we grasp the enormity of His love for us? Before you and I react to anything, we should meditate on this love. When we do, we might better understand the incredible grace His love has afforded us and the reason we should not give in to despair, no matter what the situation may be.

My Heart is Good Ground

Where to start... 
I have sort of been avoiding writing this past week since I've been struggling privately with something I thought was no longer an issue.  Let me explain about the 15 year journey, the battle, the miracle, the relapses, the pain and the encouragement I received.

The fifteen-year journey was dealing with rheumatoid arthritis; which naturally worsens with time, disfiguring and immobilizing the joints, which in my case were wrists, knees, neck, elbows, feet and hands.

(it's so ugly, isn't it?)

The battle was the part of me which rose up in faith declaring that my God would heal me of this awful disease.  I had witnessed the miraculous healing my father received 35 years ago—same diagnosis—completely well again. In my heart, I hid the word, believing and declaring it for years which built my faith.

The miracle took place 2 1/2 years ago, when I needed a cane to walk and was unfit to drive, I experienced a touch from God when I was visiting another church.  I literally ran around the inside of the building that day and recovered mobility and lost the pain.

The relapses can be so disheartening.  Over the past two years there have been a few struggles with inflammation and pain, and since I've never attained 100% wellness, I remain under the care of a very kind doctor who has heard me testify time and again about God's healing power.  We are both waiting for the complete healing that I've been proclaiming for 30 months now.

The pain level in the last few days has been intense and has introduced some confusion into my thought life, so I knew trouble was brewing in my spirit.  This is not the way I normally think, yet I began to feel sorry for myself and questioned God's faithfulness.  Sometimes we get weary when we've been on the front lines of a battle for an extended period.  We tend to think that the small strides we've made don't matter anymore—we only want the big thing.

The encouragement came (finally) as I picked up a favorite devotional this morning.
If you cannot see this, click here for devotional: HERE



I truly hope this encourages you as it did me.  You may not be suffering physically; your struggle may be emotional or relational or even financial, yet the same faith applies to your specific need.  When you and I are waiting on God, we must make sure that our hearts are good ground which will yield the best crop.  How?  By affirming our trust in His goodness and faithfulness. Then we can rest assured that He has a plan that includes building our character in the difficult times, just like a good parent would do for a child he dearly loves.

I AM—What's this got to do with contentment?

About halfway through the list of I AM statements, you might be wondering what this has to do with Philippians 4, my project for 2010.  This is the subject I'd like to address today, beginning with this question:

How do we handle life and relationships when things are not going the way we want?  (Can we remain content or do we become disgruntled?)  The answer to this says so much about our knowledge of God and His word, specifically who we say Jesus is and what part He plays in our daily life.

If you go back and read this post YHWH about the LORD God in the Old Testament, you'll find that this is the name He gave to Himself as revealed to Moses at the burning bush.  One translation says, "I AM," or "I AM the all-sufficient One." In other words, whatever man needed God to be, He was.

Since Jesus is the incarnation of God, He is truly I AM in the realm of humankind. He became, in flesh and blood, everything man needed, including the only way to God.  As He continues to reveal Himself throughout the gospel of John, we get a behind-the-scenes look at God's attempt to reach us through His beloved Son.

Right thinking about Jesus is necessary for faith and complete dependence on Him.  If we don't trust Him (see I AM the Good Shepherd and the Gate here), we won't believe that He wants to bless and protect us.  If we don't invite His light into our lives (see I AM the Light of the World here), we will never conquer habitual sin or feelings that are suppressed.  If we do not partake of Him, (see I AM the Bread of Life here), we will never be satisfied with what life has to offer.

Through Jesus, God the Father has communicated Himself and His character.  John 1:16-18 says:

"From His abundance, we have all received one gracious blessing after another.  For the law was given through Moses, but God's unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ.  No one has ever seen God.  But the Unique One, who is Himself God, is near to the Father's heart.  He has revealed God to us." (NLT, emphasis added)

We must see Jesus in all of His truth, all of His glory; in the fullness of His love and all of the authority of heaven behind Him.  He is the embodiment of God's unfailing love and faithfulness toward us as the scripture says. When you feel His eyes upon you, are you comforted, or are you ashamed?  Please understand this:  If you know Him as Savior, then your life is hidden in Him, and there is no cause for condemnation over your failures or shortcomings.

Nothing is concealed from His sight, so there is no reason to go on pretending or going through the motions.  Unburden yourself by casting all of your shame, your cares and worries on Him so you can experience His grace.  You will find contentment when you are able to see yourself as the object of His great love.

I AM the Resurrection and the Life

Perhaps no other claim is as important as this—that we must believe all life is derived from God.  In John chapter 11, we find that Jesus purposely delayed his return to Bethany when He was informed of Lazarus' illness.  Two days after hearing the news, Jesus and the disciples left for the two-day trip to Bethany.  The Lord already knew that His friend was dead (v.14).

As many of us would be, Martha (who came to meet Jesus on the road) was confused with a mixture of both grief and faith.  On one hand, she seemed to understand who He was and what He was capable of doing, yet her belief had limitations—she believed in healing—but resurrection from the dead?

Jesus told her, "Your brother will rise again."
"Yes," Martha said, "he will rise when everyone else rises, at the last day."
Jesus told her, "I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in Me will live, even after dying.  Everyone who lives in Me and believes in Me will never ever die.  Do you believe this, Martha?"

In Strong's concordance, the Greek word for resurrection (pronounced an-as'-tas-is) can be interpreted also as standing up again; recovery of truth; and raised to life again. 

The crowd, including Martha & Mary, Jesus and the disciples, and a group of mourners then proceeded to the grave site, where Jesus instructed them to roll away the stone.  Martha protested that it had been four days, insisting the smell would be horrible, once again forgetting that Life itself was in her midst.  It makes me wonder what she thought Jesus was planning to do once Lazarus' body was revealed.

Jesus responded, "Didn't I tell you that you would see God's glory if you believe?"

The emergence of Lazarus from the tomb was a picture of the resurrection of the Lord soon to come; it was also proof of all that He had said to Martha that day.  With this incredible miracle Jesus sealed His reputation and His fate, as the religious leaders sought to arrest Him from that day on.

These passages tells me a few things:

• Jesus was intimately involved in the lives of His friends, since they felt they could call on Him when they needed comfort (v.3)
• Jesus had a plan that would bring glory to His Father (v.4)
• Jesus used the situation to teach the disciples who He really was (v.15)
• Jesus was patient with Martha even when her faith stumbled (v.21-29)
• Jesus was not a passive, ethereal presence on the earth, but quite the opposite.  He was angry over sin that caused death (v.33) and wept over the loss (v.35)

In a setting of grief and sorrow, we find the Lord ministering healing and life to those He loves.  That is you and I.  When we face difficulty and uncertainty, we can rest assured that the very LIFE of God is within us.  In what part of your life do you need resurrection power?  It may be time to stop grieving and mourning over the past, or worrying about the future, in order to fully embrace God's plan for right now.  We can take a cue from Martha, who ran up the road to meet Him, knowing we can trust Him in our time of need.

The Gate

The Thief
Breaking glass, picking locks and sneaking through windows are ways that a thief usually gains entry into forbidden places.  Most people lock their doors, set alarms or take precautions against intruders, however, we've learned through other people's misery that those measures don't always work.

Using a door or gate as an entrance is the standard—the robber has no approved access so he must figure out another way.  That's why when a neighbor sees someone climbing over walls or through windows, he can be pretty sure that something illegal is underway.

The Blind
In John Chapter 9, Jesus healed a man who was blind from birth.  When the man was questioned by the Pharisees about what had happened, he admitted he didn't know how Jesus had done it, but that he must be some kind of prophet, since no ordinary man was ever able to do such things.  The man was dismissed by the leaders as a fool and a sinner.

When Jesus was informed, He tracked down the man and simply told him who He was, and asked if he believed.  The man proclaimed his belief and worshipped Him.  Jesus used this opportunity to point out that the spiritual blindness of the religious was far worse than physical blindness.  And then, He proceeded to use the imagery of shepherding to make sure everyone in earshot understood what He was about to say...

The Truth
"I tell you the truth, anyone who sneaks over the wall of a sheepfold, rather than going through the gate, must surely be a thief and a robber! But the one who enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep.  The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep recognize his voice and come to him.... I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep.  All who came before me were thieves and robbers... Yes, I am the gate.  Those who come through me will be saved... the thief's purpose is to steal and kill and destroy but I came to give them a rich and satisfying life."(John 10:1-10 in part)

When Adam and Eve were banished from Eden, God stationed at the entryway, a mighty cherubim with a flaming sword to guard the Tree of Life.  Eternal life was no longer accessible to man.  But now Jesus has placed Himself at the gate, thus opening the way again.  Those who claim there is a way other than through Jesus, are warned in the passage in John 10 that they are mistaken.

The Thief
We often hear this verse applied to satan as the thief, and although the attribute fits, I think there is a more widespread implication.  Jesus said anyone who tries to circumvent the true way is a thief and a robber.

The Blind
Anyone pointing to another way in is doing the opposite of what Jesus does.  I believe He was making a judgment call on the Pharisees (who believed they were immune to condemnation by virtue of their positions) who were already scheming and planning His arrest.  This is what He meant in this exchange:

Some Pharisees who were standing nearby heard Him and asked, "Are you saying we're blind?" 
"If you were, you wouldn't be guilty," Jesus replied, "but you remain guilty because you claim you can see." (John 9:40-41 emphasis added)

The Truth
The gate is there for a purpose, to keep out those who seek to do harm to the ones inside the fold.  The sheep follow their shepherd to the place of safety and well-being, knowing instinctively his voice and his intentions toward them.  By laying down His life, Jesus is both The Good Shepherd and The Gate.

I AM the Light of the World

The ancient Hebrew festival of Sukkot, or as we know it, Feast of Tabernacles (or Shelters or Booths), was a 7-day commemoration of the time their ancestors wandered in the desert and relied on God for everything.  While living in tents for a week, attendees would observe a daily ritual of pouring out water to remind them how God provided water in the desert, and a solemn lamp-lighting ceremony recalling the pillar of fire that accompanied them at night.

Like every Jew, Jesus participated in the traditions of His people. With this festival providing the backdrop, He makes the next claim that will shock and anger many of the people who hear it:

"I am the light of the world.  If you follow Me, you won't have to live in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life."

While the people understood the LORD God as light, especially in the context of the festival, this statement made it plain that they needed to accept that Jesus was the One they should have been looking and waiting for. Why did they not recognize the reference to the light from heaven?  Their own prophets spoke of the light which would one day come, even pinpointing it to a particular city, yet their hearts were never ready to recognize what God was doing right in their midst.

Isaiah 9:1, 2: "Nevertheless, that time of darkness and despair will not go on forever... there will be a time in the future when Galilee of the Gentiles... will be filled with glory.  The people who walk in darkness will see a great light.  For those who live in a land of deep darkness, a light will shine."


Here is a direct reference to the miracles that Jesus was performing, prophesied 700 years before His birth:
Isaiah 42: "Look at My Servant... My Chosen One... I have put My Spirit upon Him... (He) will be a light to guide the nations;  (He) will open the eyes of the blind; (He) will free the captives...

In the beginning of the gospel of John, we find this statement:

"God sent a man, John the Baptist, to tell about the light so that everyone might believe because of his testimony.  John himself was not the light; he was simply a witness to tell about the light.  The One who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world."

Without the light, we cannot discern the hazards, pitfalls or nefarious characters that are hidden from sight under cover of darkness.  Think about when a storm knocks out electricity—the first thing you go for is the flashlight, which will help you recover some sense of safety.  Jesus is not only the light of the world, but our own intimate light, which dispels the personal darkness we may face on a daily basis.

Let Him be your guide, for that's the only way to see things clearly.

I AM the Bread of Life

My love affair with bread is genetic, of this I am sure.  That percentage of me which is Italian has dominated the larger Irish to create an insatiable desire for bread, pasta and olives and any combination thereof.  Yes, I know that too many carbohydrates are not good, yet there is something akin to euphoria that rises in me along with the fresh loaf of bread.

Why so many references to bread in both the Old Testament and the New?  Bread is a symbol of what sustains life, both physically and spiritually.  Nothing high-tech here:  Gather the grain, pulverize the wheat with mortar and pestle in order to make the flour, add the simple ingredients of oil, water, salt and leaven to form dough, knead with vigor, let it rise and bake.

Bread of the Presence, or showbread in the Holy Place within the Wilderness Tabernacle and later in Solomon's Temple, was baked and set before the LORD each sabbath as an offering from Israel.  When the new bread was presented, the old was eaten by the priests and their households as they were consecrated and set apart for the Lord.

It's interesting to see the similarity in our taking bread as communion, that through salvation by grace we have become a holy nation of royal priests, belonging to God (1 Peter 2:9). Jesus established the bread and wine communion with the disciples in the midst of the Passover meal, itself a commemoration of the Mosaic Covenant, and proclaims prophetically the New Covenant that is about to ensue. Imagine the influence His words had on these men as they sat suspended between the old and new covenants about to witness and experience the deliverance of God through His Son.  Do you think they had a recollection of His earlier reference to being bread?

Jesus, the Bread of Life
In John Chapter 6, on the day after He feeds 5,000 from a few loaves and fishes, Jesus proclaims Himself the Bread of Life.  The crowds had followed Him across the sea because they were enthralled with the miracle of the feeding, but they basically came looking for more, asking Jesus to show them another sign that He was who He claimed.

At that Jesus discerned their priorities were wrong, so He challenged them to make the leap of faith—to believe that God had sent Him from heaven to become the "true bread of life" by which they could obtain eternal life.  In order to do so, they would have to eat the bread of heaven.

Because of the difficulty they had understanding all this, many disciples parted ways with the Lord at that time.  We have the benefit of the knowledge of the full gospel and can see the implied reference to Jesus as the showbread (offering) and the most perfect manna.

As the bread of life, He has become the way to heaven and eternal life; as we partake of Him, our souls are nourished and His living word becomes our daily manna.  I've decided that there is nothing inherently wrong with loving bread, since God instituted the making of it and deemed it important enough to discuss; and besides that, it makes me happy.  Eat and be satisfied.

I AM

I AM

“Tell them I AM sent you.” I AM (in Hebrew, YHWH) was the name God revealed to Moses in Exodus, and although the name had been used throughout Genesis, its true meaning had never been explained for Israel. The Hebrew people knew the name as a sound but didn't know what it meant. In Hebrew the name is spelled with four Hebrew consonants, which in English would look like this: YHWH. When vowels are put to it then it is 'Yahweh'.  

The name for God was not a special name that was not part of the Hebrew vocabulary, but was actually one of the words they were already familiar with. In other words, God declared who He was through the use of the Hebrew language. He was trying to portray who He was—the "self-existing one." Yahweh is the personal, covenant name of God, and that name is a perpetual testimony to his faithfulness to his promises.

In this next phase of the Philippians 4 Project, I will be studying the phrase, I AM, in a different way—the I AM statements that Jesus made.  These are the very words that Jesus said of Himself in order that we would understand who He is and what He means to mankind.
I hope you'll join me in discovering the truth as we begin with the next post on John 6:51: "I am the living bread..."

Olympic Training

In the overall quest for contentment, I have come to a time of waiting on the Lord; and in that discipline, I'm not a champion yet—but oh, how I've been training!  I remember the night I got saved, when I returned home to tell my parents (shocked and pleased), my father took me aside and proceeded to explain to me the fruits of the Holy Spirit that were now mine.

When he mentioned long-suffering, I got scared and wanted to reconsider this commitment I'd just made.  It felt like I had opened the door (unwittingly) to a horrific future of taking care of lepers or banishment to the jungles of the dark continent.  Let's just say that when I talk about Galatians 5, I use the more modern interpretation which says patience.

 patient |ˈpā sh ənt|
adjectiveable to wait without becoming annoyed or anxious : be patient, your time will come.• slow to lose one's temper with irritating people or situations : he was always kindly, patient, and considerate.ORIGIN Middle English : from Old French, from Latin patient-‘suffering,’ from the verb pati.
It is not my nature to be patient, conversely, it is God's nature.  That is why we need the Holy Spirit, because not even the best of us is patient enough.  If we could do, be, have these things, we would not need Him.

We are approaching the Olympics Season when we will be introduced to young competitors who have honed their particular skills to perfection, by laying aside every encumbrance that has the power to distract them from their pursuit of the gold.

How I wish I could be that myopic;  having a singular focus, where if anything that comes along doesn't contribute to the vision, it is cast aside.  But alas, I haven't the luxury or the opportunity to hire a coach or spend every waking hour training for the big moment when I either underperform or supersede the expectations of my coach and everyone else who is watching.  Yikes... the pressure!

Now God is reminding me that He has provided me with the Holy Spirit, a coach who will never belittle me or condemn me when I fail.  In fact, that voice is the very one that whispers love and encouragement even when I feel like a loser.  I said something I shouldn't have this morning and I spent a few hours regretting it and feeling sad.  As soon as I opened my bible (should've done it sooner) the burden of shame was lifted and I was able to lift my head again because of the words I read.

You and I might not be Olympic material, but we are nevertheless being cheered on by the crowd:

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up.  And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.  We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion..." (Hebrews 12:1, 2)

Remember that with patience, God may be divinely disciplining us, and that no one enjoys discipline while it is happening.  Yet discipline speaks of the love a parent has for his child.  Be patient and trust Him.

Wrapping up Romans 5

Our God is in the business of changing lives, and that is not just a cliche.  Let me explain by sharing about one life that was transformed by the power of the Word.

Our 20-year-old daughter who lives in a group home nearby, was spending much of this weekend with us for her birthday.   Being together and having fun with her brought back a lot of memories about how she used to behave.  Whenever things didn't go her way, she would become aggressive, destructive and violent.  She had absolutely no self control—I could see her struggling with mental illness and everything that accompanies it—and it was ugly and painful for all of us.

After a year and a half of intensive treatment, she is like a new creature.  She rarely raises her voice now and has learned to live within the boundaries of acceptable behavior or pay the consequences.  She may have a relapse every once in a while, but the difference is like night and day.  God, in His infinite wisdom, has chosen to surround her with folks who are equipped to handle her and her special needs, and we get to enjoy her as a daughter once again on a limited basis... for now.

In the midst of the multi-year trial we prayed, struggling to find comfort in God's word, looking for promises and direction when there were decisions to be made.  What we learned was this—to do what we believed would bring peace.  Peace became the operative word in our house, and even though chaos would arise, people were hurt, and things were broken, I can honestly say that I constantly felt the presence of God.  I knew He saw everything, He felt our pain and He hadn't forsaken us or our daughter.

We declared the scripture over Katie without a shred of evidence that she believed it or understood it, yet that didn't matter.  Here is what we said:


"This is what the Lord says, 'You will be in Babylon for seventy years.  But then I will come and do for you all the good things I have promised, and I will bring you home again.  For I know the plans I have for you,' says the Lord.  'They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days, when you pray, I will listen.  If you look for Me wholeheartedly, you will find Me.  I will be found by you,' says the Lord.  'I will end your captivity and restore your fortunes.  I will gather you out of the nations where I sent you and will bring you home again to your own land.'"(Jeremiah 29:10-14)

Yes, I know this prophecy is for the Jews, who became slaves in Babylon just as God said.  But I also know that as of this century, millions of Jews have returned to their homeland from faraway nations as was foretold by Jeremiah.  The Old Testament is filled with the colorful history of God's people—His chosen ones—a family into which we have been adopted (including Katie)!  His assurance that He has plans for each of us is one of the promises that keeps us going when we face adversity.  We are also assured that He will use those situations for our good.

This is a just a chapter in the story; perhaps someday I'll write a book about it.  For now, I thank God that He has blessed Katie beyond belief and she has found peace.

One Man, Jesus Christ

Don't get offended by my calling Jesus a man—it was in fact His humanity that made Him the most perfect sacrifice for the corporate sin of mankind.  When He chose to enter our world and put on human flesh with blood flowing through His veins just like ours, He did so with full knowledge of the Father's  plan.  In other words, death did not take him by surprise.

"For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many.  But even greater is God's wonderful grace and His gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ."  (Romans 5:16, 17 NLT)

This passage says that we sin because we are sinners; that is our nature.  Therefore, we do not become sinners because of mistakes, poor judgment, selfishness, etc., we've simply inherited the sin nature from Adam.

The reversal that takes place when we are spiritually reborn requires an incredible amount of faith to believe!  Its simplicity is our undoing.  God offers to trade our sin nature for righteousness as Christ the Savior delivers us from the kingdom of darkness into His marvelous light.

I am learning to acknowledge this truth daily, because the thought of this wonderful grace keeps me from focusing on my failures and sets my heart at peace for the day.

Hope does not disappoint

Look at all of the synonyms for the word hope:
promise, anticipation, expectancy, outlook, prospect, supernatural virtue

Here is the single antonym listed:
despair

What would we do without hope?  I think some people believe that hope is not spiritual enough, even though in scripture hope is always encouraged and applauded.  When our circumstances are desperate, the natural thing to feel is despair (same root word).  But God has another plan for us:

"We can rejoice too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance.  And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.  And this hope will not lead to disappointment.  For we know how dearly God loves us because He has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with His love." (Romans 5:3-5)

I have been in situations that seemed desperate in the moment, even frightening when the outcome was unknown.  Someone you love is in an ambulance on the way to the hospital; a child has gone missing; a large amount of cash has been misplaced; you get the picture.  We've each had momentous burdens to bear and heartbreaking decisions to make.

Whenever I chose to stop fretting in the midst of these circumstances, I always felt the peace of God envelop me like a hug.  I would hear the familiar words of scripture in my head and allow that same word to fill my heart and bring peace.  I am not mad at God, nor do I blame Him for difficulties, for they have made me stronger.  Rather than run from Him, I have run to Him... sometimes it just took a little longer.

If you happen to be unfamiliar with the story of The Hiding Place, by Corrie ten Boom, suffice it to say that she weathered more trials than any human should have to bear; yet in her own words:

It is not my ability, but my response to God's ability, that counts.

- Corrie ten Boom | God Quotes

Author Info

Corrie ten Boom (1892 - 1983) Dutch, Christian Holocaust survivor.

We never really know what we are made of until tested.  The ten Boom family broke the law of the land in order to do the Christian thing--hide Jews in their home, keeping them from the Nazis and certain death, until the entire family was arrested and sent to a concentration camp.  Corrie was the only one in her family who survived.  She knew that her hope, placed in God alone, would never disappoint.

Protect the Peace

It's cold here, and the temperature is dropping by the minute with snow expected all day tomorrow.  I am obviously not at home in Florida; most definitely out of my comfort zone as far as the mercury goes, but nevertheless enjoying the adventure. 

Suffering from the lack of traditional comforts like my bed, my kids, my car and my t.v., can induce a little anxiety and when out of my normal routine, I sometimes stray away from spending time in the word, so this morning, I grabbed my phone, which is loaded with several bible study applications and began to read these words:

"...our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand..." (Romans 5:2) 

This incredible grace in which we stand in the presence of the Father.  When I meditate on this, I sense His acceptance and welcome, no matter what kind of mood I've been in, or how my thoughts have wandered into dark and scary places.  In His presence, these things that just a moment ago seemed oppressive, evaporate like a puddle on an steamy August afternoon.  I need to find a way to remain in this peace even when (especially when) challenges arise.

Picking up gloves, a scarf and hat, a sweater and overcoat to protect myself from the elements, reminds me that I need to protect that peace, by layering truth upon truth, promise upon promise.  I'm confident that I will survive this burst of arctic weather as well as every attempt the enemy makes to steal away this peace I've found. 

As you navigate your own world today with all of its ups and downs, remind yourself that your are continually in a state of grace, standing in the presence of the Father who loves you unconditionally.

Are We Still Sinners?

Here comes the debate on the touchy subject of whether or not believers are still sinners.  I've heard many preachers say things like, "I am a wretched sinner, saved by grace," or "we are all sinners, continually missing the mark." I understand that they are trying to identify with the Apostle Paul when he proclaims himself "the chief of sinners," or "the worst of them all,"  though he was simply holding himself up as an example of us all, in order to prove that no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands.  The law is a picture of the perfect and holy character of God, a standard none could meet.

In Romans 5:6-11, as Paul describes sinners, the literal translation is the ungodly.  In my early education I recall learning that putting the letters "un" in front of an adjective turns it into the opposite of the original word, i.e., true/untrue and happy/unhappy; now you know where I am going with this.  We were once the ungodly, enemies of God; but when we were saved, we became friends of God.

"But God showed His great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.  And since we have been made right in God's sight by the blood of Christ, He will certainly save us from God's condemnation... our friendship with God was restored... we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God... " (Romans 5:8-11)

In no way am I discounting the seriousness of the plight of the sinner I know I once was; however, the Spirit of God bears witness in me through the scripture that I am now the righteousness of God, in Christ Jesus.  He took my sin and gave me His righteousness in return—such undeserved kindness! Righteousness is then not what I do, but how I am perceived by God due to the blood of Christ.

Are we still sinners then?  I don't see myself that way anymore, because I have a new relationship with God.  If I were continually sin-conscious, noting every single failure and infraction throughout the day and constantly uttering, "Forgive me, forgive me, I'm sorry," I'm afraid I would feel hopeless.  Instead, I look to the cross and thank God that all of my sins have already been punished—past, present and future—and thanks be to God, there is no condemnation left for me.

So there is the place of peace; the cross upon which the Savior died in my place... the very spot where the guilty conscience can be set free to find Peace With God.

The Peace Treaty

I remember a movie on television a while back, about a Japanese man who'd been on a deserted island in the south Pacific for many years.  In fact, he'd been the sole survivor of an attack during WWII, and the news had never come to him about the Allies' victory and the end of the war.  Decades later, when a group of people tried to convince him that his people had surrendered long ago, he refused to believe and carried on at war with anyone who set foot on his tiny island.

This soldier had no idea that someone had made a treaty for peace on behalf of him and his country.  His people were no longer at war with America; on the contrary, the two countries were tied together industrially and economically.  Imagine how difficult it was for this old man to comprehend... everything had changed.

Man has been at odds with God since Adam and Eve were cast out of the garden due to their rebellion. Some people interpret this act of God as mean or impulsive--but within this exchange in Genesis 3, are three incredible acts of mercy:

1. God chose to cover their nakedness with animal skin instead of the fig leaves they'd chosen.  Although there is no particular mention of it, the implication is that God Himself killed the animal(s) making the first blood sacrfice in order to cover sin.
2. When Adam & Eve had eaten from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, they obtained knowledge that was not meant for them.  Had they partaken of the Tree of Life, they would have lived forever in their sinful state, and that was not God's plan.
3. As God passed judgment on the serpent, He prophesied about the Redeemer who would one day come and make things right between man and God.

Just as God promised, the sacrificial death of His Son, Jesus, brought reconciliation to sinners who put their faith in Him.  Though we were once enemies of God, we are no longer.  It's as if we were the old soldier who continued to fight a war we didn't know was over, except when we did receive the Good News, we believed and rejoiced!  The peace treaty with our Heavenly Father has been signed in the blood of His Son, and we are the beneficiaries through His grace.

Understanding this concept is the first step to finding Peace With God.  When we humble ourselves before Him and realize we have nothing to offer but our sinful selves, we are able to receive His righteousness in return.

"Therefore, since we have been declared righteous by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." (Romans 5:1)

Next post:  Are we still sinners?











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New Challenge

Two weeks have passed, and the initial challenge is over! Taking inventory again, I felt as though I'd experienced a loaves and fishes miracle.  Many of the items I planned on using are still sitting in the closet and freezer (and I'd worried that the food would not stretch to meet the needs of my household over the past two weeks).  Once again, the provision was there when we stepped out in faith.  

When I finally made it to the grocery store, I felt more discerning than ever, having spent $50.03 and saving $105 in coupons and store promotions.  I was happy to be shopping and choosing new things, but I was also a little winsome...I actually felt like I might walk out of the store empty-handed at one point, but I came to my senses.  I was a little tired of thinking so much about food! If saving money on groceries and household items is something you're interested in, then visit my couponing blog here .


More important than the challenge of Eating from the Pantry, was the personal growth and time spent in the bible finding encouragement and direction.  I rediscovered my love of sharing insights from the word through short stories and personal experiences; and having received positive feedback, I'm inspired to continue. 


The next phase of the project on contentment will find me mostly in Romans Chapter 5, studying about what it means to be At Peace With God.  After all, without peace of mind we cannot find true contentment.  I welcome your thoughts and questions, especially if they are contrary.


I hope you will join me in phase two.  

Days 13 and 14 - Challenges and Trials

I apologize for losing yesterday altogether as I spent most of it in bed recuperating from a stomach bug.  We were expecting company after dinner so I rallied and sort of helped while the guys did the necessary cleaning and baking.

When I began two weeks ago calling this adventure The Challenge, I meant it more or less like a dare.  I felt like God had given me the idea to set aside this time to break the routine I had created; be flexible, be happy at home, and mostly, be content with what I already had.  This was fun, not strenuous or frustrating like a real challenge or trial.

Having experienced everything from infertility, to financial loss, to chronic illness, and disabled children, our family has had its share of challenges; there have been times when I thought no one else understood our struggles.  I learned during those times that Jesus sympathized with me, and in that time of need, I could draw close to Him and find comfort.  Here is what the word says:

"For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin." (Hebrews 4:15)

Somehow, knowing this is true makes everything easier.  Do you ever wonder how people with no faith in God make it through difficulties?  What have they to hope in?  When we are facing something that seems insurmountable, my husband usually declares, "Either He is God, or He isn't.  I believe He is and that He can do anything!"  My faith is restored, and all is well again.



Eating from the Pantry - Day 13 (Thursday)
Breakfast - Neil made waffles (80 cents for 14 waffles)
No lunch due to illness
Dinner - Hot dogs (90 cents for dogs/$1 for buns)
Cookie dough was about $1

Cost for day's meals less than $4


Eating from the Pantry - Day 14 (Friday)
Breakfast - eggs and leftover hash browns (50 cents)
Lunch - Skipped because of busyness!
Dinner - finally got around to making homemade pizza for the family ($3)  See photos:

This packaged dough mix is Walmart's brand and it costs 44 cents.  I used three bags to make a 24" x 12" deep dish cheese pizza.  The sauce was leftover from Tuesday, and added one bag of shredded mozzarella ($1.50).  Entire pizza $3.





I'm thrilled that we've made it two weeks, and a little shocked that I still have meals from the original list I never even prepared.  I didn't take into account the abundance of leftovers.  Over the weekend, I plan on writing about some things that I learned during the challenge of Eating from the Pantry, so I hope you'll continue to join me here.  Very soon I will introduce the nature of the next challenge on the road to contentment. 


I would love to hear your thoughts, so consider leaving me a comment...

Day 12 - Don't be afraid to give

One of the components of contentment is giving.  I will go so far as to say that you will never be truly content if you do not give sacrificially.  Many folks give from their abundance, supporting organizations and charities for tax purposes, which is honorable; but will never tap into the supernatural system of tithes and offerings, and financial gifts to those who preach or give their lives to furthering the gospel.

Some of the things Paul mentions in Philippians 4:
-the Philippian church supported him when he was there preaching
-they continued to support him when he traveled elsewhere
-no other church supported him at the time
-their gifts were a "sweet-smelling sacrifice that was acceptable and pleasing to God"
-God would reward their kindness

In the gospels, Jesus encouraged his followers to give, cautioning,
"Don't let your left hand know what your right hand is doing.  Give your gifts in private, and your Father, who sees everything, will reward you."

In the same way that forgiveness must come from the heart, so should giving.  True giving is with an open hand and with no strings attached; and one more thing--in faith.  Let's just get it out of the way right now...you may feel like you have nothing extra to give and yet you know it's the right thing to do.  What then?  Well, then you give in faith and trust God, who you know will keep His word.

"And my God shall supply your every need according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:19 NLT)

I can attest to this truth, that even though a balance sheet would find us lacking, we have never gone without anything we needed.  There was a time when we were very prosperous and loved being generous with what God had blessed us with.  We are no longer in that position; yet it is in our hearts to give, even when it seems illogical, even detrimental.
One of the hardest things to learn in this process was how to receive from others when God prompted them to give to us; humbling.  And speaking of humble...

Eating from the Pantry - Day 12

Breakfast - eggs, hash browns ($1)

Lunch - leftover chicken (still have enough for another dinner)

Dinner - Leftover tacos, nachos (finally gone!)

Cost of meals for the day was only $1 because everything else was leftovers.


You can tell how much I love my hubby when I confess that since he was dying for some cooked chocolate pudding last night, I agreed to go get a box for him to make.  Never forgetting my frugal disposition, I had an ulterior motivation and that was to obtain a $10 off of $50 purchase coupon from Winn Dixie.  If you read my couponing blog at http://www.frequentbuyer.blogspot.com/, you know that it is my goal to get this coupon every week so that I can use it when I shop at Publix.  It worked, and we were both happy. 

I am currently planning my grocery shopping for Saturday, when I finish this, my first challenge in the Philippians 4 Project.  Stay tuned to find out what the next challenge will be.

Day 11 - Doing Math

Moving on in Philippians 4, it's time to examine our thought life.  Here's how Paul explains it:

"And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing.  Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable.  Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise."

I began breaking down the sentence, adjective by adjective, to come up with some kind of list.
True—truth, immutable fact, certain, loyal—that could cover anything from algebra to your dog.
Honorable—respectable, ethical—some business people, pastors and judges?
Right—suitable,  proper, accurate—doing your taxes, flossing teeth, being charitable
Pure—unadulterated, clean, chaste—an infant, newly fallen snow, fresh squeezed juice
Lovely—adorable, pleasant, aesthetic—a panorama, a cover girl, a memorable day
Admirable—praiseworthy, valued—a winning sports team, a perfect SAT score

Each attribute in its own right can be easily calculated and understood, however, it's the sum total, like a mathematical equation that makes this passage unique.  Like a math problem, there is only one answer, a single conclusion.  Let me explain:

Many things are true, but that doesn't make them honorable.  Many people are lovely, but that doesn't make them admirable.  A soldier is most likely admirable, honorable and true... maybe even right, but hardly ever pure, and never lovely.

There is only one who can measure up to the the standard, the sum total of each of the qualities (true + honorable + right + pure + lovely + admirable) that Paul implores us to fix our thoughts on and that is Jesus. 
    True + honorable + right + pure + lovely + admirable = Jesus

When your thoughts are going in the wrong direction, remember this wonderful promise... when you think on these things, then the God of peace will be with you.


Eating from the Pantry - Day 11
Breakfast - finished off eggs, with toast
Lunch - hot dogs
Dinner - Chicken parmesan, broccoli and noodles.  The cost was about $9 for all the ingredients with enough chicken to last 2 dinners.  The meat was on sale at $2 a pound, I got the breadcrumbs for free with a coupon, although I had to give my son $1.50 to get some eggs because I forgot that the breading required it.

I always filet chicken breasts with a sharp knife to get two thinner breast portions from each.

These steamer bags of frozen vegetables regularly go on sale B1G1 free.  With coupons, they normally end up costing 60-80 cents each.

Pasta and rice side dishes are even less expensive, costing about 50 cents after coupons and promotions.



Here's the finished product:

Total cost for today's meals about $11


Final Thought
Thoughts are not easily controlled by natural means.  It makes me think of a single domino that sets off the chain reaction solely by its proximity to the next domino.  With synapses firing, our brains connect a single thought to countless others triggering memories and associations, which in turn affect our emotions and physiological responses.
The supernatural means of controlling our thoughts described in Philippians 4, is God's way of redirecting the process into a profitable one.  With negative thoughts rejected and godly thoughts welcomed, we abandon despair and are filled with hope.