Just sharing.

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For Thou Hast Created All Things! For behold, He who forms mountains, And creates the wind, Who declares to man what his thought is, And makes the morning darkness, Who treads the high places of the earth-- The LORD God of hosts is His name. Amos 4:13 NKJV _________________ He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities--all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. Colossians 1:15 - 17 ESV _________________ "You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, And by Your will they exist and were created." Revelation 4:11 NKJV _________________ I made the earth and created man on it; it was my hands that stretched out the heavens, and I commanded all their host. For thus says the LORD, who created the heavens (he is God!), who formed the earth and made it (he established it; he did not create it empty, he formed it to be inhabited!): "I am the LORD, and there is no other. Isaiah 45:12,18 ESV _________________ We need a Savior because we are sinners, and the wages of sin is death... Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift: Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God is the object of our faith; the only faith that saves is faith in Him.

 

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“That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith.”

Ephesians 3:17

Beyond measure it is desirable that we, as believers, should have the person of Jesus constantly before us, to inflame our love towards him, and to increase our knowledge of him. I would to God that my readers were all entered as diligent scholars in Jesus’ college, students of Corpus Christi, or the body of Christ, resolved to attain unto a good degree in the learning of the cross.

But to have Jesus ever near, the heart must be full of him, welling up with his love, even to overrunning; hence the apostle prays “that Christ may dwell in your hearts.” See how near he would have Jesus to be! You cannot get a subject closer to you than to have it in the heart itself. “That he may dwell”; not that he may call upon you sometimes, as a casual visitor enters into a house and tarries for a night, but that he may dwell; that Jesus may become the Lord and Tenant of your inmost being, never more to go out.

Observe the words—that he may dwell in your heart, that best room of the house of manhood; not in your thoughts alone, but in your affections; not merely in the mind's meditations, but in the heart's emotions. We should pant after love to Christ of a most abiding character, not a love that flames up and then dies out into the darkness of a few embers, but a constant flame, fed by sacred fuel, like the fire upon the altar which never went out.

This cannot be accomplished except by faith. Faith must be strong, or love will not be fervent; the root of the flower must be healthy, or we cannot expect the bloom to be sweet. Faith is the lily's root, and love is the lily's bloom. Now, reader, Jesus cannot be in your heart's love except you have a firm hold of him by your heart's faith; and, therefore, pray that you may always trust Christ in order that you may always love him. If love be cold, be sure that faith is drooping.

 

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Four reasons your man says “I don’t need help” – even when he does




Ladies, whether it is refusing to admit he needs to go to the doctor, or claiming that he knows where he’s going even when he’s clearly lost, a man usually defaults to insisting that he’s fine, it’s all good, he doesn’t need help. Even when we might insist otherwise. My research with men for For Women Only revealed four surprising reasons for the stubborn independence:

1. Needing help means, by definition, that he’s unable to do it himself. We women might say, “Yeah… and…?” because we don’t see the problem with that! In our world, for example, there’s nothing wrong with stopping to ask for directions. After all, it is far more efficient than driving in circles. But for the average man, efficiency is far down the list of concerns. Far more important is accomplishing what you’ve set out to do –and avoiding defeat. Far more important is trying to avoid the shame of failure. (Even if that failure is merely the inability to beat the flu virus!)

2. Accomplishing something keeps a man going; not being able to accomplish it is painful. I can still remember the emotion in the voices of several businessmen I was interviewing, as they described a time they had pursued but almost didn’t land a high-profile business deal that was important for their company. Why the unusual level of emotion? As I investigated further I was unsurprised to hear they had been concerned about letting down their company and their colleagues. I was more surprised to learn that each man had instantly worried about being fired and not being able to provide for his family. But most surprising of all was what each man described as the most painful thought: the idea that he might fail at something he tried to do. Seriously? As one man explained, “That means you’re a loser. You’re weak. You tried… and you failed. And if you ask any guy, in sports or in business, we hate losing even more than we want to win.”

3. Weakness or failure is painful because it confirms their secret insecurities. His confident face is just a mask covering a deep vulnerability. On all of my surveys, three out of four men confessed to a very real self-doubt that was always there. For a guy, that self-doubt is like a raw nerve – which is rubbed even rawer any time he feels weak, uncertain or inadequate. As one very successful business-man put it, “I want to be a great husband to my wife, but am I? Or at work, I put on a good front, but secretly I’m always waiting for someone to find out I’m a total imposter. That’s why I’ll sit in my office for two hours puzzling over something instead of taking five minutes to ask someone how such-and-such is done: if I have to ask, it just confirms that I can’t cut it. I will take the trade-off and work the extra hours any day, in order to avoid that feeling.”
4. But “figuring it out” provides a rush of reassurance. Ladies, you know that feeling you get when you’ve been arguing with your husband or boyfriend, maybe you’re secretly feeling a little insecure, and then at some point he comes over, gives you a big hug and says “we’re okay”? That is such a powerful feeling of reassurance when you’ve felt off-balance and vulnerable. Well, when a man doesn’t know exactly what to do – whether that means which streets to take or how to re-wire the basement lighting — and yet he keeps at it and figures it out, that provides the same sort of reassurance! He has just soothed that secret worry that he is not capable, not adequate to the task. And when you see what he did and applaud him for it – that’s when he feels like a true winner.

 

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Seek His Righteousness "Ah Lord GOD! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and by Your outstretched arm! Nothing is too difficult for You, who shows lovingkindness to thousands... O great and mighty God. The LORD of hosts is His name! Jeremiah 32:17,18 NASB _______________ The LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless. O LORD Almighty, blessed is the man who trusts in You. Psalm 84:11,12 NIV _______________ Evil pursueth sinners: but to the righteous good shall be repayed. Proverbs 13:21 KJV _______________ "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." Matthew 6:33 NASB _______________ And men will say, "Surely there is a reward for the righteous; Surely there is a God who judges on earth!" Psalm 58:11 RSV _______________ Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift: Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God is the object of our faith. The only faith that saves is faith in Him.

 

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“If fire break out, and catch in thorns, so that the stacks of corn, or the standing corn, or the field, be consumed therewith; he that kindled the fire shall surely make restitution.”

Exodus 22:6

But what restitution can he make who casts abroad the fire-brands of error, or the coals of lasciviousness, and sets men's souls on a blaze with the fire of hell? The guilt is beyond estimate, and the result is irretrievable. If such an offender be forgiven, what grief it will cause him in the retrospect, since he cannot undo the mischief which he has done!

An ill example may kindle a flame which years of amended character cannot quench. To burn the food of man is bad enough, but how much worse to destroy the soul! It may be useful to us to reflect how far we may have been guilty in the past, and to inquire whether, even in the present, there may not be evil in us which has a tendency to bring damage to the souls of our relatives, friends, or neighbors.

The fire of strife is a terrible evil when it breaks out in a Christian church. Where converts were multiplied, and God was glorified, jealousy and envy do the devil's work most effectually. Where the golden grain was being housed, to reward the toil of the great Boaz, the fire of enmity comes in and leaves little else but smoke and a heap of blackness. Woe unto those by whom offences come. May they never come through us, for although we cannot make restitution, we shall certainly be the chief sufferers if we are the chief offenders.

Those who feed the fire deserve just censure, but he who first kindles it is most to blame. Discord usually takes first hold upon the thorns; it is nurtured among the hypocrites and base professors in the church, and away it goes among the righteous, blown by the winds of hell, and no one knows where it may end. O thou Lord and giver of peace, make us peacemakers, and never let us aid and abet the men of strife, or even unintentionally cause the least division among thy people.

 

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Professional Discipleship




It’s mid-August. Every year at this time, professional football teams engage in training camp, preparing for the regular season. At the same time, rabid fans devour information from sports writers about their favorite teams. It’s a busy time of year in the world of sports.

As I reflect upon the kind of dedication it takes to be a professional athlete, it makes me think about what scripture says about discipleship. There are some interesting parallels between the two. So today, I’d like to talk about professional discipleship.
Going Pro

There are a number of traits that generally characterize pro athletes: discipline, hard work, and talent, to name a few. However, the one trait that brings everything together is an attitude and lifestyle that subordinates everything to the sport. For the pro athlete, especially the elite, every aspect of life must bend toward the demands of the profession. Diet, exercise, even sleep are all assessed based on how they contribute to the athlete’s success in the profession. Skipping a practice or a workout is, generally speaking, not an option. Conversely, certain activities are avoided for fear that they might undermine success.
This doesn’t apply to athletes alone. Professional musicians, particularly the elite, typically subordinate most other aspects of life to their craft. When others are enjoying recreational activities or entertainment, the professional musician is often alone practicing. Even relationships can be treated as a lower priority. Just like the pro athlete, the professional musician bends every aspect of life toward the demands of the profession.

And it’s not just athletes and entertainers. Variations on this theme can be found in professional business executives, medical professionals, military professionals, and farmers, to name a few. In fact, any person who rises to an elite level in any profession will likely subordinate other considerations to its demands. For the pro, all life will bend toward the profession.
The Pro v. the Hobbyist

What some people do as a profession, others pursue as a hobby. For some it’s athletics. For others it may be music or art or cooking or gardening.
I have hobbies just like anyone else. I play guitar. I’m a triathlete. However, my dedication to these hobbies is not professional. My life does not bend toward them. When choices have to be made about the allocation of my time and energy, these things will often be the first to go. So, while the professional triathlete will subordinate every aspect of his or her life to the demands of training, as a hobbyist I will set my training aside if necessary in favor of more pressing demands.

A Professional Slave

One could argue that elite professionals are actually slaves to their profession. On the one hand, the pro enters the profession by choice. He or she freely pursues it and is free to walk away at any time. On the other hand, once the choice is made, the pro’s life is completely dictated by the demands of the profession. The pro becomes a slave.
Years ago I was a small business owner. When I would talk to people about it, I would routinely say that, in reality, you don’t own the business. The business owns you. For the pro, this is certainly the case. In order to succeed, he or she has to live life as a slave to the profession.

Today, I’m a professional Bible teacher. Most other things in my life bend toward this. When I have to make hard decisions about how to invest my time and energy, other considerations are subordinated to this. This includes job opportunities. In addition to my full time job as a Bible professor, I am often invited to speak at churches. Because this is my profession, I have a general policy of saying “yes.” So, you could say that I’m a slave to teaching. As a professional Bible teacher, there are certain non-negotiable demands to which I must yield, toward which other parts of life must bend. That’s what it means to go pro. It’s what differentiates the pro from the hobbyist.

A Professional Disciple

If the pro athlete, musician, medical practitioner, or business owner is a slave to his or her profession, how much more will Christian discipleship require one to become a slave to discipleship? Jesus came calling people to become his disciples. Some will choose to follow him. Others will not. For those who make the choice to follow, they commit to professional discipleship. This means that all other considerations must become subordinate to that profession. All life must bend toward the demands of discipleship.

Jesus, in fact, demands nothing less than this. In Matt. 10:37-39, Jesus declares that those who love father, mother, or children more than him are not worthy of him. In fact, his followers must lose their lives in order to find them, which he repeats in Matt. 16:24-26. Discipleship to Jesus demands nothing less than absolute allegiance.
Jesus’ followers clearly embraced this disposition. In the introduction to their letters, Peter, James, and Paul identify themselves as slaves to Jesus (most translations use “servant,” but the Greek word is definitely “slave”). They were men who practiced before they preached.

Discipleship: Hobbyist or Pro

Many Christians treat discipleship as a hobby. They like the idea of it and practice when they can. However, for them it is mostly an at will activity. When confronted with other demands, they are quite willing to set discipleship aside.
For Jesus, there is no such thing as hobbyist discipleship. One is either a professional disciple or not at all. Nothing short of our absolute allegiance is acceptable. Any thing less and we are not worthy of him. I must regularly examine my commitment to discipleship and evaluate my attitude. Am I treating it like a hobby or a profession? Do my attitude and lifestyle reflect a commitment to professionalism? I invite you to ask the same question of yourself.

 

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He shall judge with righteousness "And I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God." John 1:34 NKJV _______________ His delight is in the fear of the LORD, And He shall not judge by the sight of His eyes, Nor decide by the hearing of His ears; But with righteousness He shall judge the poor, And decide with equity for the meek of the earth; He shall strike the earth with the rod of His mouth, And with the breath of His lips He shall slay the wicked. Righteousness shall be the belt of His loins, And faithfulness the belt of His waist. Isaiah 11:3-5 NKJV _______________ And now, dear children, continue in him, so that when he appears we may be confident and unashamed before him at his coming. If you know that he is righteous, you know that everyone who does what is right has been born of him. John 2:28,29 NIV _______________ Because we keep His commandments and do the things that are pleasing in His sight. This is His commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as He commanded us. The one who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. We know by this that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us. 1 John 3:22b-24 NASB _______________ We need a Savior because we are sinners, and the wages of sin is death... Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift: Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God is the object of our faith; the only faith that saves is faith in Him.

 

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“If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest.”

Acts 8:37

These words may answer your scruples, devout reader, concerning the ordinances. Perhaps you say, “I should be afraid to be baptized; it is such a solemn thing to avow myself to be dead with Christ, and buried with him. I should not feel at liberty to come to the Master's table; I should be afraid of eating and drinking damnation unto myself, not discerning the Lord's body.” Ah! poor trembler, Jesus has given you liberty, be not afraid.

If a stranger came to your house, he would stand at the door, or wait in the hall; he would not dream of intruding unbidden into your parlor — he is not at home: but your child makes himself very free about the house; and so is it with the child of God. A stranger may not intrude where a child may venture. When the Holy Ghost has given you to feel the spirit of adoption, you may come to Christian ordinances without fear.

The same rule holds good of the Christian's inward privileges. You think, poor seeker, that you are not allowed to rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory; if you are permitted to get inside Christ's door, or sit at the bottom of his table, you will be well content. Ah! but you shall not have less privileges than the very greatest. God makes no difference in his love to his children. A child is a child to him; he will not make him a hired servant; but he shall feast upon the fatted calf, and shall have the music and the dancing as much as if he had never gone astray.

When Jesus comes into the heart, he issues a general license to be glad in the Lord. No chains are worn in the court of King Jesus. Our admission into full privileges may be gradual, but it is sure. Perhaps our reader is saying, “I wish I could enjoy the promises, and walk at liberty in my Lord's commands.” “If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest.” Loose the chains of thy neck, O captive daughter, for Jesus makes thee free.

 

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5 Ground Rules When Discussing Creation vs Evolution






In some circles the debate over our origins continues to drive a wedge between people, especially since the two sides (creation vs evolution) are irreconcilable: we either came from God or we didn’t. Just like professional sports teams can have a fair contest because the rules of the game are agreed upon beforehand, here are five ground rules when discussing (or debating) creation vs evolution:

GROUND RULE #1 – The Bible was not written as a scientific textbook. If the Bible doesn’t answer all of our scientific questions, that’s okay. The Bible is the written revelation of God’s interaction with man, culminating in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. You don’t get upset with an art history book because it doesn’t talk about calculus. If the Bible doesn’t contain the answer to every scientific question ever asked, it’s because it wasn’t written as a scientific textbook.

GROUND RULE #2 – Everybody has a bias. I’m biased, you’re biased, if we can all agree that we have a bias, it will help us all out. Fox News can claim all it wants that it’s “fair and balanced,” just like CNN can claim it’s the “most trusted name in news,” but everyone has a bias. Many scientists claim that they’re not biased, that they’re just pursuing the facts. But the facts are incomplete because we don’t have a time machine like Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure. So what we have is an incomplete set of facts, and we have to fill in the gaps with our theories, which tend to follow our biases. Here’s a great quote about science: “Paleontology (the study of fossils) is much like politics: passions run high, and it’s easy to draw very different conclusions from the same set of facts.” ~~ M. Lemonick, “Parenthood, dino-style,” Time Magazine, p. 48, January 8, 1996.

So, when you read all the “facts” that theoretically prove evolution, you’re reading the findings that seem to present the best case to prove what those scientists already believe. Everybody is biased.

Now, before we get to this next ground rule I want to set it up by humble bragging for a moment, but for a very specific reason. By God’s grace, school was never that hard for me. I graduated from high school with an average higher than 4.0, not sure exactly, maybe a 4.2 or something like that because of AP classes. Because of those AP classes, I was able to graduate from college with my bachelors and a double major in three years. I went on to get my Master’s degree and my Doctorate degree, and the running joke was that my wife was never quite sure I went to seminary because she never saw me doing homework. So, when it comes to academic credentials, I can throw down with the best of them, which is why I am qualified to make this next statement:
GROUND RULE #3 – A doctorate doesn’t necessarily make you the smartest person in the room.

I can tell you with certainty that my degrees do not make me the smartest person in the room, and more often than not scientists will try and bully you with their degrees. That college science professor will belittle Christians because they have the degrees, therefore they must be right and our faith must be wrong.
Don’t buy it. People with the most degrees sometimes are just the ones with the most ammunition for their confirmation bias. Take it from me, I’m literally a doctor, and people with doctorates are not automatically the smartest people in the room, so don’t let them intimidate you.

GROUND RULE #4 – Every generation thinks they’re right.
This is another big argument against creationism. Creationism is a theory that originated thousands of years ago, and we’re so advanced now, how can anything believe in anything that archaic? That makes the assumption that because we’re the latest generation, we must have it all figured out. Every generation thinks they’re right.

William Herschel was a scientist that lived in the 1700s and his innovations helped revolutionize telescope technology. He also argued that the sun’s surface is cold and fully inhabitable, populated by aliens who’s heads were acclimated to the large amount of sunshine. Edmond Halley, Halley’s comet, lived around same time, argued from the latest science available that the center of the earth was hollow, leading to Jules Verne Journey to the Center of the Earth. We think we’re right and have it all figured out. Every generation thinks so.

GROUND RULE #5 – Every position takes an element of faith.
Everything takes an element of faith. When you get in your car and turn on the ignition, you are taking a step of faith that the engine won’t blow up. When you get on an airplane, you have faith that a fully loaded average sized airplane of 175,000 will fly. When it comes to the beginning of time, none of us were there. All we have are theories. Evolution is a theory. I’m not offended if someone calls creation a theory. None of us were actually there.

Every position takes an element of faith. But, there’s a difference between faith and blind faith. Faith is jumping out of an airplane at 10,000 ft with a parachute strapped to your back assuming the parachute will work as designed. Blind faith is jumping out of an airplane with no parachute and hoping you’ll grow wings on the way down. You have to have faith to believe in creation, but everything takes faith, and I would argue that believing in creation is by no means blind faith. You do not have to check your brain at the door to believe in creation.

 

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Trust in the Living God...Not Riches! Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life. 1 Timothy 6:17-19 NKJV _______________ You are right, O GOD, and you set things right. I can't argue with that. But I do have some questions: Why do bad people have it so good? Why do con artists make it big? You planted them and they put down roots. They flourished and produced fruit. They talk as if they're old friends with you, but they couldn't care less about you. Jeremiah 12:1,2 MSG _______________ I have seen a wicked and ruthless man flourishing like a green tree in its native soil, but he soon passed away and was no more; though I looked for him, he could not be found. Consider the blameless, observe the upright; there is a future for the man of peace. But all sinners will be destroyed; the future of the wicked will be cut off. Psalm 37:35-38 NIV _______________ We need a Savior because we are sinners, and the wages of sin is death... Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift: Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God is the object of our faith; the only faith that saves is faith in Him.

 

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“The people, when they beheld him, were greatly amazed, and running to him saluted him.”

Mark 9:15

How great the difference between Moses and Jesus! When the prophet of Horeb had been forty days upon the mountain, he underwent a kind of transfiguration, so that his countenance shone with exceeding brightness, and he put a veil over his face, for the people could not endure to look upon his glory. Not so our Savior. He had been transfigured with a greater glory than that of Moses, and yet, it is not written that the people were blinded by the blaze of his countenance, but rather they were amazed, and running to him they saluted him.

The glory of the law repels, but the greater glory of Jesus attracts. Though Jesus is holy and just, yet blended with his purity there is so much of truth and grace, that sinners run to him amazed at his goodness, fascinated by his love; they salute him, become his disciples, and take him to be their Lord and Master. Reader, it may be that just now you are blinded by the dazzling brightness of the law of God. You feel its claims on your conscience, but you cannot keep it in your life. Not that you find fault with the law, on the contrary, it commands your profoundest esteem, still you are in nowise drawn by it to God; you are rather hardened in heart, and are verging towards desperation.

Ah, poor heart! turn thine eye from Moses, with all his repelling splendor, and look to Jesus, resplendent with milder glories. Behold his flowing wounds and thorn-crowned head! He is the Son of God, and therein he is greater than Moses, but he is the Lord of love, and therein more tender than the lawgiver. He bore the wrath of God, and in his death revealed more of God's justice than Sinai on a blaze, but that justice is now vindicated, and henceforth it is the guardian of believers in Jesus. Look, sinner, to the bleeding Savior, and as you feel the attraction of his love, fly to his arms, and thou shalt be saved.

 

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5 signs your marriage is on the wrong track




I often talk to couples who are in crisis and on the brink of divorce. Very often, I find that these couples ignored or minimized some “warning signs” along the way that should have been a wakeup call to make some changes in the marriage. If one of more of these warning signs is happening in your marriage, it may signal that you’re veered onto an unhealthy path and need to make some immediate course corrections.


1. You argue more than you laugh.
Laughter is a great indicator of a strong marriage. Even in difficult seasons, healthy couples will find ways to laugh together and keep joy alive. If there is consistently more disagreements than moments of laughter, that’s a serious warning sign. If you’re looking for some ways to get started, here are 5 simple ways to bring more laughter to your marriage.

2. You rarely touch each other.
I’m not just talking about sex here, although a stagnant sex life is a huge red flag in a marriage as well. I’m talking about the posture we have around each other. Have you stopped putting your arm around his/her shoulders? Do you no longer hold hands? Do you sit on opposite ends of the couch? A lack of affection is a big warning sign.
3. You criticize each other more than you encourage each other.
When we’re always drawn to our spouse’s flaws, it creates a toxic cycle where neither spouse can ever seem to do anything right. Healthy couples focus on celebrating the good in each other much more than pointing out the flaws.

4. You complain about your spouse online or to friends.
When you’re constantly tempted to vent about your spouse to co-workers, friends and anyone else who will listen, you are at the doorstep of divorce unless something changes very quickly. Publicly airing dirty laundry about your spouse has tremendous, negative effects on your spouse and the levels of trust within your marriage.

5. You fantasize about life without your spouse.
When our dreams and fantasies no longer include our spouse, we’ve mentally detached from the marriage, and unless action is taken, it won’t be long before we physically detach from the marriage as well. Divorce starts in the mind long before it gets to a courtroom. If your marriage is in crisis and you don’t know where to start, I’d encourage you to check out the resources at SaveMyMarriage.com.

 

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Limp in -- leap out

Nehemiah 8
"... the joy of the Lord is your strength." (v.10)

Joy is part of a Christian's armor. Jealousy, for example, can quickly find a lodging place in a heart which is unsatisfied. The joy of Jesus banishes all that. This particular fruit of the Spirit secures us from the sins which can so easily beset us. Brimming joy, for example, helps to cancel out any envy that may arise within us. Instead, our souls long to share the treasures that we ourselves have found.

Joy keeps us alert and alive spiritually. Disease germs, we are told, penetrate most easily into a body debilitated by despondency. So do the termites of the spirit. They enter without ceremony and eat away the health of the soul. Joy gives them no room. It immunizes the spirit against attack. Joy is not just the bloom of health; it is its protection also. Remember, you are made for joy and if there is not joy in your life, then there is something wrong: joy is being blocked. Clear away the blocks and joy comes automatically.

If you are conscious that you lack this deep abiding joy, then look within. Ask yourself: how close am I to God? What steps do I need to take to deepen my relationship with Him? Give yourself to Him fully. If He is to transfer to you His total joy, then He must have the total you. A garage has a sign: "Limp in -- leap out." That's what will happen to you when you surrender yourself fully to Him. You will limp in and leap out. God is not withholding Himself and you must not withhold yourself. Where the two meet, joy is inevitable.

Prayer: O Father, forgive me that I go bumping through life on the broken springs of pleasure when I ought to be cruising in joy. I submit my life to You today for spiritual repairs. I limp in -- help me to leap out. Amen.

 

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“Sing, O barren.”

Isaiah 54:1

Though we have brought forth some fruit unto Christ, and have a joyful hope that we are “plants of his own right hand planting,” yet there are times when we feel very barren. Prayer is lifeless, love is cold, faith is weak, each grace in the garden of our heart languishes and droops. We are like flowers in the hot sun, requiring the refreshing shower. In such a condition what are we to do? The text is addressed to us in just such a state. “Sing, O barren, break forth and cry aloud.”

But what can I sing about? I cannot talk about the present, and even the past looks full of barrenness. Ah! I can sing of Jesus Christ. I can talk of visits which the Redeemer has aforetimes paid to me; or if not of these, I can magnify the great love wherewith he loved his people when he came from the heights of heaven for their redemption. I will go to the cross again. Come, my soul, heavy laden thou wast once, and thou didst lose thy burden there. Go to Calvary again.

Perhaps that very cross which gave thee life may give thee fruitfulness. What is my barrenness? It is the platform for his fruit-creating power. What is my desolation? It is the black setting for the sapphire of his everlasting love. I will go in poverty, I will go in helplessness, I will go in all my shame and backsliding, I will tell him that I am still his child, and in confidence in his faithful heart, even I, the barren one, will sing and cry aloud.

Sing, believer, for it will cheer thine own heart, and the hearts of other desolate ones. Sing on, for now that thou art really ashamed of being barren, thou wilt be fruitful soon; now that God makes thee loath to be without fruit he will soon cover thee with clusters. The experience of our barrenness is painful, but the Lord's visitations are delightful. A sense of our own poverty drives us to Christ, and that is where we need to be, for in him is our fruit found.

 

[beensetfree]

7 Things Wives Should Stop Doing



What should a wife do if she wants to improve her marriage? How should she treat her husband?
I wrestled with this question for years. How did some women make marriage look effortless while I struggled?

No matter what I tried, it didn’t seem to have a lasting impact on my marriage. I read books. I bargained. I pouted. I got traditional counseling. Nothing worked long-term.
Turns out, those weren’t the things I needed to do to improve my marriage. I needed to change the way I looked at my husband and my marriage. When I changed my mindset about my marriage, my marriage improved.
I changed my perspective. In doing so, I realized what I needed to stop doing to fix my marriage.
Once I stopped doing these things, my marriage improved.
Here’s how you can change your marriage
To improve your marriage, stop doing these things:

1. Stop criticizing, condemning and complaining
It sounds like this: Do I have to do everything? Can’t you even change a diaper? It looks like this: He loads the dishwasher; you reload it. He makes the bed; you remake it. When your husband can’t do anything right, marriage is hard. If he feels like he can’t do anything right, he may stop trying. Stop criticizing, condemning and complaining and start cheering, comforting and encouraging instead.

2. Stop splitting everything right down the middle
Stop expecting him to do half of everything. Operating like this seems not only fair, but reasonable, too. He does his half; you do yours. You meet somewhere in the middle. Unfortunately, someone always feels like they’re getting the short end of the stick. (It’s usually me.) You start feeling like “he owes me.” While 50/50 sounds good, it never works. Focus on giving instead of splitting.

3. Stop putting your kids first
A lot of women feel like the kids ought to come first. And a lot of women come to a time in their lives when they lament, “I wish I’d understood how important it is to make sure my husband knows he’s a priority.” If you routinely put others ahead of him, he’ll get the message: He’s unimportant to you. His behavior and attitude will reflect that. Put your man first. It may be inconvenient at times, but your marriage will grow stronger when he knows you’re on his side and you value him. The best thing you can do for your kids is have a marriage that makes them want to get married.

4. Stop forgiving but not forgetting

Another common refrain among wives is, “I’ll forgive, but I’ll never forget.” What that really means is: I’m waiting for him to mess up again. If you’re waiting for him to mess up again, you won’t be disappointed. He will. While you’re waiting, you’ll notice every mistake he makes because what you focus on will grow. You’re going to get hurt in marriage. Find a way to learn from it and move past it, even if you have to get help.

5. Stop making him feel unappreciated
Your husband needs to hear you say you appreciate him. No matter how confident he seems, he still needs to hear regularly you appreciate the effort he puts into your marriage and your family.

6. Stop disrespecting him
Respect to men is like love to women. He needs it. It’s almost as important as oxygen. He needs it to thrive. If your goal is to destroy your marriage, continually disrespect your husband and your chance of ending up in divorce court will increase.

7. Stop crowding God out of your life
When you focus on pleasing someone other than yourself, marriage gets easier. Why? Because you’re not focused on what he does. You’re focused on what you do. Your actions aren’t contingent upon his. You love and respect him because God tells you to, not because he deserves it.
If you’re a frequent offender in one or more of these areas, you’re hurting your marriage. Your words and actions speak volumes to your husband.
Find out what you need to stop doing and stop doing it.

 

[beensetfree]

Fulfulling Our Duty to God: By Repentance from Dead Works "But if a wicked man turns away from all the sins he has committed and keeps all my decrees and does what is just and right, he will surely live; he will not die. None of the offenses he has committed will be remembered against him. Because of the righteous things he has done, he will live. Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked? declares the Sovereign LORD. Rather, am I not pleased when they turn from their ways and live?" Ezekiel 18:21-23 NIV _______________ Depart from evil and do good, and dwell forevermore. Psalm 37:27 KJV _______________ If you return to the Almighty, you will be restored; If you remove unrighteousness far from your tent. Job 22:23 NASB _______________ Jerusalem, wash thine heart from wickedness, that thou mayest be saved. How long shall thy vain thoughts lodge within thee? Jeremiah 4:14 KJV _______________ If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14 KJV _______________ ... From the days of your fathers you have turned aside from My statutes and have not kept them. Return to Me, and I will return to you, says the LORD of hosts. Malachi 3:7 NASB _______________ Thanks be unto God for His wonderful gift: Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God is the object of our faith; the only faith that saves is faith in Him.

 

[beensetfree]

“Into thine hand I commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O Lord God of truth.”

Psalm 31:5

These words have been frequently used by holy men in their hour of departure. We may profitably consider them this evening. The object of the faithful man's solicitude in life and death is not his body or his estate, but his spirit; this is his choice treasure—if this be safe, all is well. What is this mortal state compared with the soul? The believer commits his soul to the hand of his God; it came from him, it is his own, he has aforetime sustained it, he is able to keep it, and it is most fit that he should receive it.

All things are safe in Jehovah's hands; what we entrust to the Lord will be secure, both now and in that day of days towards which we are hastening. It is peaceful living, and glorious dying, to repose in the care of heaven. At all times we should commit our all to Jesus’ faithful hand; then, though life may hang on a thread, and adversities may multiply as the sands of the sea, our soul shall dwell at ease, and delight itself in quiet resting places.

“Thou hast redeemed me, O Lord God of truth.” Redemption is a solid basis for confidence. David had not known Calvary as we have done, but temporal redemption cheered him; and shall not eternal redemption yet more sweetly console us? Past deliverances are strong pleas for present assistance. What the Lord has done he will do again, for he changes not. He is faithful to his promises, and gracious to his saints; he will not turn away from his people.

“Though thou slay me I will trust,
Praise thee even from the dust,
Prove, and tell it as I prove,
Thine unutterable love.
Thou mayst chasten and correct,
But thou never canst neglect;
Since the ransom price is paid,
On thy love my hope is stay'd.”

 

[beensetfree]

Be Anxious For Nothing, Pray About Everything



Here’s how you can kill the anxiety by praying about everything.
Anxiety
Anxiety is described as a feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease about things, situations, or relationships, typically about some imminent event or something with an uncertain outcome. That sounds a lot like worry to me, and Jesus commanded us not to worry, saying, “do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing” (Matt 6:25)? This imperative command includes what we eat, what we wear, and what tomorrow may bring. I heard one man say that almost 90% of what we worry about never comes to pass, and the other 10% are things we cannot change. Either way, having anxiety over these things is a great waste of energy. If you’re worried about tomorrow and it’s still today, you’re robbing the joy out of your day and wasting it on something that’s not even here yet. Again, Jesus commands us to “not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble” (Matt 6:34). Worrying about tomorrow is like borrowing trouble with interest, but paying the note today. It’s a joy-killer. It also robs us of peace of mind. We know that worry is not good for our health, and neither does it do any good for the mind, so what’s the solution? I don’t have it…rather, it’s found in the Bible.

Anxiety to Peace
You don’t overcome anxiety by sheer human will power or positive thinking. The best way to kill the anxiety is to pray. Not just pray about the problems, but pray about everything! Anything and everything that causes you to be anxious, send it up to God in prayer. Jesus knows we try to carry our own load far too often, and so He says, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matt 11:28-30).

The Greek word used for “souls” is not the living, breathing soul but our minds…Jesus wants us to rest in Him, therefore, “do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God” (Phil 4:6). Everything that concerns you is a concern of the Father, so submit it all to God and do so with a thankful heart. Either way, make sure to at least make it “known to God” and not shoulder the load yourself. Only by turning it all over to prayer can you receive “the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Phil 4:7).

Peace through Christ
Jesus told Martha, who was anxious over the many things she had to do, that “you are anxious and troubled about many things but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her” (Luke 10:41-42). Mary choose to focus on Christ and not on a “to do” list. The Apostle Paul tells us that “since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Rom 5:1). That means we should not be anxious about our salvation since we are now at peace with God through Jesus Christ. If you have made peace with God through Christ, that means “there is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Rom 8:1) anymore. You can have peace of mind and peace of heart knowing God’s wrath was placed upon Christ and not upon you, but Jesus said we must repent and believe (Mark 1:15). When that happens, we become new creations in Christ (2 Cor 5:17), and now we are seen by God as having Jesus’ very own righteousness (2 Cor 5:21). Being born again, or born from above (John 3:3-7) doesn’t make us any better than others…only better off.

Supernatural Peace
Philippians 4:6-7 tells us to worry about nothing but pray about everything. That’s the way to destroy your anxiety. We know worry is sin but most of us do it anyway, so why not confess this and put your trust in the sovereignty of God (Rom 8:28). When you’re giving thanks to God, it’s difficult to be anxious. When you’re taking every heavy load of life to Christ (Matt 11:28-30), it’s hard to be anxious, and when you’re praying to God with a thankful heart, it’s hard to be anxious. Anxiety dissolves with trust, but trust gives you peace. This God-given peace surpasses human understanding because its source is not of human origin. This peace can give us confidence despite the problems that surround us. That’s why this godly peace guards our hearts. We can’t guard our own hearts so let God’s peace rule in your hearts.

Conclusion
Even if we pray about the things that produce anxiety in us, and the things don’t change, what does change is our hearts. Circumstances may have changed, but we have. We have peace because we trust God more than our anxieties. By the way, you cannot even have the peace of God until you’ve first made peace with God, and that comes through a saving relationship through Jesus Christ. He alone can bring us to the Father (John 6:44; Acts 4:12). He alone can bear every heavy burden we have. He alone can extinguish the anxiety and replace it with the peace of God. It really is a peace that surpasses human understanding.

 

[beensetfree]

The Kingdom of God is like… a Triathlon





Last night I completed my ninth triathlon. Before I go any further, I should point out that triathlons come in varying lengths. When most people hear the word, their minds go immediately to Iron Man competitions, like the annual one that happens in Hawaii. However, there are actually four distances: sprint (approx. 15 miles total), Olympic (approx. 30 mile total), half-triathlon (70 miles) and full triathlon (140 miles). The later two are sometimes called half Iron Man and full Iron Man, but technically Iron Man is a trademarked name. Not every 70 or 140 mile race is an Iron Man.

I’ve completed a number of sprint and Olympic distance triathlons. The one last night was a sprint. In terms of my overall performance, it was perhaps my best tri to date. Thankfully, I don’t feel sore today, but I am a little fatigued and a bit groggy. Another good night of sleep should resolve those issues. In addition, I’m feeling a bit reflective. Today, I’d like to talk about why I love triathlons and how they compare to our walk as Christians.

Triathlon v. Other Competitive Sports

One of the things I love most about triathlons is how you define success. In competitive sports, you win by outplaying your opponent. For most sports, you do this by not only playing better than your opponent, but by overtly do things to prevent your opponent winning. In order to win, you have to actively defeat your opponent by doing whatever you can, within the boundaries of the rules, to stop him or her from achieving the goal of the sport, the very goal you yourself are trying to achieve.
Triathlon belongs to a class of competitive sports where you don’t compete as opponents. In fact, if you actively do something, anything, to harm or hinder another competitor’s performance, whether intentionally or not, you will be evicted from the event. Thus, the competitors don’t treat one another as opponents, like most other sports. While victory is achieved by outperforming the other competitors, it is not achieved by defeating them.

The Tri Community

In triathlons, the overwhelming majority of participants are amateurs. While awards and prizes are still available for these competitors, they are small. Within this group, few are competing even for these. The majority of participants are competing against their own personal records, the race time clock, and the finish line. Victory is not achieved in relation to the other competitors. It is achieved by simply crossing the finish line.
This reality makes for a strong sense of community among triathletes. We all know how much time and effort is involved in training. We know much work it is to cross the finish line. Therefore, we are often one another’s biggest cheerleaders.

It’s routine, as we pass each other on the course, to shout out encouragement and crack jokes. Unlike competitive sports where the participants succeed by opposing one another, triathletes see themselves as a group of comrades sharing a common journey. We’re just as happy for the others who cross the finish line as we are for ourselves. Therefore, we urge one another on to victory.
The same is true of the spectators. Often, the course is lined with people cheering on the participants. Folks shout words of encouragement. Some hold up signs (some of which are quite funny). If the course passes through a residential area, occasionally a home owner will point a sprinkler over the road to cool down the bikers and runners.

Triathlons and the Kingdom pt. 1

In 2 Tim 4:7, as the apostle Paul writes anticipating his imminent death, he likens his life to a race. He writes to Timothy, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” The race analogy works well for our lives as Christians. For us, life is the race and the finish line is death. The challenge of the race is to maintain our faith commitment to Christ until we cross that finish line.
Like triathletes, Christians are not competitors who win by defeating one another. We are comrades, co-participants striving for the same goal. Our goal is to cross the finish line. This is how we define victory. Additionally, we’re not merely thrilled by our own success. We encourage and cheer our brothers and sisters, spurring them toward victory as well.
My Worst Triathlon

In a triathlon, none of the participants are required to cross the finish line. They can quit anytime they want. For a variety of reasons, some don’t finish the race. A few years back, I was waiting to start a race. It was early in the morning, raining, and the temperature was 45 degrees. At that time, I didn’t own a wetsuit, unlike most of the people around me. As you can imagine, standing there shivering in the rain, I was struggling mightily trying to convince myself to dive into the water despite the cold.

I went back and forth a lot. No one would have blamed me for choosing to opt out under those conditions. Somehow, though, I managed to convince myself to do it. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the first time I had to make that decision in that race. I hadn’t swum a hundred yards before things went bad. I was so cold I felt like I couldn’t catch my breath. All my training went out the window. I began to panic a bit. Finally, I grabbed onto one of the rescue kayaks and stopped. I was pretty sure I was going to have to ask the volunteer to take me back.

After a couple of minutes, I regained my composure and decided to keep going. I was able to find a rhythm of swimming coupled with short breaks that allowed me to complete the course. Once I was out of the water, the rest went pretty well. The rain stopped and the temperature went up a bit. I was able to complete the bike and run legs of the race and cross the finish line. While it was not my favorite race by a long shot, it is still one of my proudest moments. Despite overwhelmingly adverse conditions, as well as my own fears and doubts, I finished the race.

Triathlons and the Kingdom pt. 2

Even under the best of circumstances, a triathlon is just hard. You’re pretty much guaranteed to experience enough pain and fatigue to make you question your desire to continue. For some, they just reach a point where crossing the finish line isn’t worth it. They don’t want it bad enough.

For some Christians, crossing the finish line isn’t worth the effort and sacrifice that discipleship requires of us. For the New Testament writers, there was an expectation that discipleship would result in suffering. It is common theme throughout scripture, (though not so common in contemporary preaching).
In fact, suffering plays a key role in determining the genuineness of one’s faith. In 1 Peter 1:6-8 we read, “In this you rejoice, even if now for a little while you have had to suffer various trials, so that the genuineness of your faith… may be found to result in praise and glory and honor when Christ is revealed,” (see also James 1:2-4, Rom. 5:3-4). As a triathlete, I can train for weeks and months, but it’s the race with all its hardship that is the true test.
As Christians, we must train ourselves for endurance, so that we can continue despite hardship and suffering. For us, life is the race. There will be times in life when circumstances will make us feel like quitting. What will keep us going during these moments? Do we have the determination to endure to the end? Is our desire to cross the finish line strong enough to push through the pain and fatigue?


Crossing the Finish Line

No matter how many races I complete, the jubilation of crossing the finish line never diminishes. My wife, family, and friends are usually there to cheer me on. I’ve gone to many races to do the same for others.
I’m always impressed by the diversity of participants. Men and women of all sizes and ages (and I’ve seen some pretty old people) are brought together by a single common goal: cross the finish line. It doesn’t matter what stroke you use to swim, just get to the end. Ride your bike fast or slow, just get to the end. Run, walk, or do a little of both, just get to the end.

After using the race analogy, Paul continues in 2 Tim. 4:8, by writing, “From now on there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have longed for his appearing.”
My buddy Sam gave me a little good-natured ribbing for getting a participation medal for crossing the finish line of the tri. Well Sam, evidently, God is all about participation medals. It’s not about who finishes first or fastest. It’s just a matter of crossing the finish line. Everyone’s a victor. We all get to stand in winners’ circle.
I like triathlons for a lot of reasons, but one of the biggies is that it routinely makes me think about discipleship and the goal of our faith. My prayer is that God will continue to be my trainer and that I submit to his training. If so, I will continue to build up my endurance and cross the finish line someday, just like the apostle Paul.

 

[beensetfree]

Fulfulling Our Duty to God: By Repentance from Dead Works "Even now," declares the LORD, "return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning." Rend (tear) your heart and not your garments. Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity. Who knows? He may turn and have pity and leave behind a blessing-- grain offerings and drink offerings for the LORD your God. Joel 2:12-14 NIV _______________ But when I say to the wicked, "You will surely die,' and he turns from his sin and practices justice and righteousness, if a wicked man restores a pledge, pays back what he has taken by robbery, walks by the statutes which ensure life without committing iniquity, he shall surely live; he shall not die. None of his sins that he has committed will be remembered against him. He has practiced justice and righteousness; he shall surely live. Ezekiel 33:14-16 NASB _______________ Thanks be unto God for His wonderful gift: Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God is the object of our faith; the only faith that saves is faith in Him.