Father’s Day 2010

Songs: Knees to the Earth - Watermark
Running Back to You - Commissioned
Scriptures:
3 John 1:4 (NIV)I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.
Luke 12:47-49 (NKJV)
47 And that servant who knew his master’s will, and did not prepare himself or do according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. 48 But he who did not know, yet committed things deserving of stripes, shall be beaten with few. For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more.
James 4:17 (NKJV)Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.
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Psalm 19:13 (NKJV)Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins; Let them not have dominion over me. Then I shall be blameless, And I shall be innocent of great transgression.

I must admit that I didn’t want to go to church today. Sometimes I just think, “What’s the point?” But I know the point is worship, is obedience, is sacrifice, is surrender of my will (my wants, my plans, what I think, what I feel) to God’s will. Even so, I had just about talked myself out of going because I had put off getting ready for so long that I was going to be late. That’s when I remembered that it was Father’s Day. Before I could even marshal my thoughts to argue about the church being crowded, I heard the words from Watermark’s Knees to the Earth, “How can I bless Your heart?” I knew that going to church, not staying in bed, was the answer to that question.

Then, it was the whole “what am I going to wear?” dilemma, although I thought I knew what I was supposed to wear. But that outfit was wrinkled (since I had not gotten up in time to iron it), and since I was running later and later, I decided to wear something else. Of course, when I got out to the car I saw that the issues with the “something else’ outfit were worse than with the outfit I thought I should have been wearing, wrinkles and all.

Matthew 6:19-20[ Treasures in Heaven ] "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.

Again, because I was running late, I drove off in the direction of the church, going two blocks before I acknowledged that I was in disobedience and went back home to change.

Proverbs 19:21Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails.

I finally got to church, and the sermon was around Jesus’ call to follow Him. I can’t do that if I don’t / won’t obey. And if I don’t obey Him, I don’t really love Him like I would like to think that I do.

Psalm 14:1 (NKJV)
–To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.
1 The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, They have done abominable works, There is none who does good.

[Taking out the italicized words “There is” in that verse (which, to my understanding, were added by translators), leaves it saying, “The fool has said in his heart, ‘No God.’ ” Disobedience is a sign of a foolish heart.
Song: Foolish Heart – Steve Perry (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-A8MSEB9rg&feature=related)
…“Don’t be wrong anymore.”]

Proverbs 10:1[ Proverbs of Solomon ] The proverbs of Solomon: A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish son grief to his mother. Proverbs 15:20A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish man despises his mother. Proverbs 17:21To have a fool for a son brings grief; there is no joy for the father of a fool. Proverbs 23:24The father of a righteous man has great joy; he who has a wise son delights in him.

1 John 3 (King James Version)
1Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.
2Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
3And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
4Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.
5And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.
6Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.
7Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.
8He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
9Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
10In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God...
18My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.
19And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.
20For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.
21Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.
22And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.
23And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.
24And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.

Hebrews 10 (King James Version)
1For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.
2For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins.
3But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year.
4For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.
5Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me:
6In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure.
7Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.
8Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law;
9Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.
10By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
11And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:
12But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;
13From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.
14For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.
15Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before,
16This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;
17And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.
18Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.
19Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,
20By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;
21And having an high priest over the house of God;
22Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.
23Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)
24And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
25Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
26For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,
27But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.
28He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:
29Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?
30For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people.
31It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
32But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions;
33Partly, whilst ye were made a gazingstock both by reproaches and afflictions; and partly, whilst ye became companions of them that were so used.
34For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance.
35Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.
36For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.
37For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.
38Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.
39But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.

Romans 6:14(NKJV)For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.

... and my journey with Him continues ...

Singing to Him

Songs: Our God – Chris Tomlin
Knees to the Earth – Watermark

Scriptures: (NIV)
Isaiah 8:10Devise your strategy, but it will be thwarted; propose your plan, but it will not stand, for God is with us.
Romans 8:31-39 31What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36As it is written:"For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered."
37No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

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I am really glad the Scriptures encourage us to “make a joyful noise unto the Lord for He is good” – making mention of and putting the focus on the goodness of the Lord, and not what we sound like. When we are told to “sing a new song” or to “sing praises to His Name” it is because of Who God is, because of His character, His nature, His attributes, His holiness, and not because of our skill, talent or ability (or lack thereof.) I have really been convicted and blessed by the boldness of some who sing joyfully with abandon to God, regardless of what may they sound like to anyone else– because after all, they are singing to God and not to or for anyone else. I am so thankful that worship is not just about how well someone can sing, and that we are free to worship our God in many ways to bless His heart.

I don’t think I’ve been in a church choir since I was a child. Even singing in the church congregation these days, I find lately that the words I sing change from what everyone else is singing. I think it’s God, because I don’t think fast enough to change the words and still have what I’m singing be in time with the music. Usually the words are changed such that instead of singing words about God, I’m singing to Him.

The latest example that has been coming up a lot is Our God by Chris Tomlin. The part of the lyrics (the chorus and “the bridge”) that are:

Our God is greater
Our God is stronger
God, You are higher than any other
Our God is Healer
Awesome in power
Our God, Our God

And if our God is for us, then who could ever stop us?
And if our God is with us, then what could stand against?

I find myself singing - and, since it’s God-ward, in a sense praying (in song), affirming -

God, You are greater
God, You are stronger
God, You are higher than any other
God, You are Healer
Awesome in power
O God, Our God

And if You God are for us, then none could ever stop us...
And since You God are with us, then none can stand against!

Hallelujah for the victory we have in Christ Jesus!!!

2 Corinthians 2:14(New American Standard Bible) But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place.

1 Corinthians 15:57-58 (Amplified Bible)
57But thanks be to God, Who gives us the victory [making us conquerors] through our Lord Jesus Christ.
58Therefore, my beloved brethren, be firm (steadfast), immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord [always being superior, excelling, doing more than enough in the service of the Lord], knowing and being continually aware that your labor in the Lord is not futile [it is never wasted or to no purpose].

... and my journey with Him continues ...

A Tithe Of All

Song: He Wants It All – forever Jones (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z3lyJkYnkzo)

Scriptures:
Genesis 14:17-20 (New King James Version)
17 And the king of Sodom went out to meet him at the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley), after his return from the defeat of Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him.
Abram and Melchizedek
18 Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was the priest of God Most High. 19 And he blessed him and said: “Blessed be Abram of God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth;
20 And blessed be God Most High, Who has delivered your enemies into your hand.”
And he gave him a tithe of all.

Mark 12:41-44 (King James Version)
41And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much.
42And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing.
43And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury:
44For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.

Luke 21:1-4 (King James Version)
1And he looked up, and saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury.
2And he saw also a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites.
3And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all:
4For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had.
[ penury:
1) deficiency, that which is lacking
2) in reference to property and resources, poverty, want, destitution]

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Seemingly random things have been occurring over several days which, taken together, prepare me for / to pay attention to whatever I believe the Lord is saying:

- Heard that Christian musical group forever Jones was going to be interviewed on the radio; after that announcement, the radio station played their song, “He Wants It All”
- In a Christian bookstore, hearing some people talking about / looking for the CD from forever Jones
- The next day, hearing on the radio that the CD was to be released
- While in a Bible study class (on a Tuesday) referencing the healing of Naaman in 2 Kings 5, a woman in the class began speaking of tithing (though I don’t now remember the context)
- On the way home from the class, thinking about something else, interrupted in hearing: “…a tithe of all”
- Found this in Genesis 14:20 (NKJV)
- Reminder of 100% tithe lesson (blog from 2009.12.07 – That’s Not Your Testimony) when started rationalizing to myself that God was not saying what it looked like He might be saying, using other translations which said “a tenth of everything” (not “a tithe of all”)
- Lesson on the widow’s mite assigned that next day
- Email message the day of that assignment entitled: Tithe Habitually

So, I’m wondering exactly what God wants all of – no, even as I write this, I realize that I’m not really wondering that at all. I believe He wants all of everything, given as a gift, a sacrifice of love, not of duty or obligation. Guess I’m just not sure what that will look like in my life right now. (I do know that I probably should have been up writing this at 3 something this morning instead of almost 3 something in the afternoon – still struggling with that waking up / getting up thing, especially since it was so cool then … having to battle that lust of the flesh! Sorry, God.)

In the Bible study class I’ve been attending, we’ve been talking some about people (“unnamed heroes”) who do the unexpected, and my thoughts have been about how God does the unexpected. I think often of verses from Isaiah 55:

Isaiah 55:6-13 (New International Version)
6 Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near.
7 Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will freely pardon.
8 "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD.
9 "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
10 As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,
11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.
12 You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.
13 Instead of the thornbush will grow the pine tree, and instead of briers the myrtle will grow. This will be for the LORD's renown, for an everlasting sign, which will not be destroyed."

Lord, I ask You to forgive me, to please help me. Too often You know that my obedience is not immediate, not complete. And You know that my surrender to Your will in all things, at all times, is not what it should be. Help me forsake my way, my thoughts, and let that mind be in me that was in Christ Jesus. Thank You for Your goodness that has drawn me to repentance, for the convicting power of Your Spirit and of Your Word, for Your faithfulness and Your promise in Your
Word to forgive me my sins and to purify me from all unrighteousness, all sin by the blood of Jesus. Thank You for Your patience, Your love, Your truth, Your tender mercy and grace towards me that continues.

Psalm 19:13Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.
Romans 6:14For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

... and my journey with Him continues ...

Saved By Grace

Songs: God Favors Me – Hezekiah Walker featuring Marvin Sapp
Hymn – Saved, Saved (http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/s/a/savdsavd.htm)

Scriptures:
Ephesians 2 New Century Version (NCV)
We Now Have Life
1 In the past you were spiritually dead because of your sins and the things you did against God.2 Yes, in the past you lived the way the world lives, following the ruler of the evil powers that are above the earth. That same spirit is now working in those who refuse to obey God. 3 In the past all of us lived like them, trying to please our sinful selves and doing all the things our bodies and minds wanted. We should have suffered God's anger because we were sinful by nature. We were the same as all other people.

4 But God's mercy is great, and he loved us very much.5 Though we were spiritually dead because of the things we did against God, he gave us new life with Christ. You have been saved by God's grace.6 And he raised us up with Christ and gave us a seat with him in the heavens. He did this for those in Christ Jesus7 so that for all future time he could show the very great riches of his grace by being kind to us in Christ Jesus.8 I mean that you have been saved by grace through believing. You did not save yourselves; it was a gift from God.9 It was not the result of your own efforts, so you cannot brag about it.10 God has made us what we are. In Christ Jesus, God made us to do good works, which God planned in advance for us to live our lives doing.

One in Christ
11 You were not born Jewish. You are the people the Jews call "uncircumcised." Those who call you "uncircumcised" call themselves "circumcised." (Their circumcision is only something they themselves do on their bodies.) 12 Remember that in the past you were without Christ. You were not citizens of Israel, and you had no part in the agreements with the promise that God made to his people. You had no hope, and you did not know God.13 But now in Christ Jesus, you who were far away from God are brought near through the blood of Christ's death.14 Christ himself is our peace. He made both Jewish people and those who are not Jews one people. They were separated as if there were a wall between them, but Christ broke down that wall of hate by giving his own body.15 The Jewish law had many commands and rules, but Christ ended that law. His purpose was to make the two groups of people become one new people in him and in this way make peace.16 It was also Christ's purpose to end the hatred between the two groups, to make them into one body, and to bring them back to God. Christ did all this with his death on the cross.17 Christ came and preached peace to you who were far away from God, and to those who were near to God.18 Yes, it is through Christ we all have the right to come to the Father in one Spirit.

19 Now you who are not Jewish are not foreigners or strangers any longer, but are citizens together with God's holy people. You belong to God's family.20 You are like a building that was built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets. Christ Jesus himself is the most important stone in that building,21 and that whole building is joined together in Christ. He makes it grow and become a holy temple in the Lord.22 And in Christ you, too, are being built together with the Jews into a place where God lives through the Spirit.

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This past Sunday, just as I was getting to church, the song “God Favors Me” by Hezekiah Walker came on the radio. For some reason, it touched me to the point of tears (I think now that it was God preparing me, sensitizing me to His Spirit of grace.) After the song ended and I went inside the church, I saw in the program that the topic for the day was “Saving Grace.” Grace, Favor. At the end of the service, the Pastor was singing the hymn, Saved, Saved.

I’ve thought of the hymn several times since (even to imagining singing it in an audition before the judges of Sunday Best, and just worshipping God, and having His Spirit manifest Himself during that time - hmmmm), and the grace, the cost, by which I have been saved.

It occurred to me today, that the “by grace” (in Ephesians 2:5) might also be understood as “for grace” as an additional reason for our salvation when considering v7 (Amplified translation):

7He did this that He might clearly demonstrate through the ages to come the immeasurable (limitless, surpassing) riches of His free grace (His unmerited favor) in [His] kindness and goodness of heart toward us in Christ Jesus.

Wow… how humbling…

Thank You, God, for Your amazing grace!!! There is so much more to Your grace...

[Christy Nockels, Grace flows down – (can be heard at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lBPNdTowJuc)]

Help me, Lord, to be – to even want to be – an instrument of Your grace. That it would be seen, be manifested in, overshadow and overwhelm my life – only for Your glory. That others would experience it through their interactions with me, and would be drawn to Your sweetness, O God. More of You, less of me…

Revelation 1:4-6 (King James Version)
4John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne;
5And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,
6And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

... and my journey with Him continues ...

Not Who I Think…

Songs:
Mark Schultz – I Am
Donald Lawrence & the Tri-city Singers – I Am God
Bebo Norman – I Will Lift My Eyes

Scriptures:
Psalm 46:10a (KJV) Be still and know that I am God…
Exodus 3:1-14 (KJV)
1Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb.
2And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed.
3And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt.
4And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I.
5And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.
6Moreover he said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God.
7And the LORD said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows;
8And I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey; unto the place of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites.
9Now therefore, behold, the cry of the children of Israel is come unto me: and I have also seen the oppression wherewith the Egyptians oppress them.
10Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt.
11And Moses said unto God, Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?
12And he said, Certainly I will be with thee; and this shall be a token unto thee, that I have sent thee: When thou hast brought forth the people out of Egypt, ye shall serve God upon this mountain.
13And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them?
14And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.

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A couple of years ago, I sensed the Lord ask me:

Do you want to know who I am?

Yes, LORD! I said excitedly.

No, do you really want to know who I am. … I'm not who you think I am.

This shocked me into silent reflection. Here I was, sitting in church during Bible study, having the Lord ask me if I wanted to know Him. We were discussing whether God causes things to happen or whether He just allows them. Our Bible study was interactive, and someone in the congregation was voicing their opinion / belief that God doesn't cause bad things to happen - He only allows them. I was only half listening, still wondering about what I felt the Lord had spoken to me, thinking that I agreed with the person who was speaking.

Some people don't want to know the truth. Do you really want to know who I am?

At this point, I was about to cry. That He was asking if I really wanted to know Him suggested that what I thought I knew of Him at this point was not right. This made me pause in fear: what if I didn't like, couldn't love, wouldn't want to be in league with Who God really was? I felt that God had manifested Himself to me in a totally unexpected way in 1996, and then proceeded to challenge, shatter and reshape many of my ideas about Him, religion, myself - about life. My views about everything had been shaken. And now, to think that I still wasn’t getting it right – that I still didn’t know Him – saddened me. I finally said, in fear and trembling, that I did really want to know Him.

I’ve since come to the conclusion that in this life, there will always be so much more of Him for me to know; while I am in this flesh, there will always be correction and adjustment needed to what I think I know about Him, and the need for a corresponding change in my relationship with Him.

A while back, I sensed the Lord focusing again on this topic of knowing Him, when he said, again:

I’m not who you think I am.

I took Psalm 46:10 to heart, and didn’t say anything. I just listened. Then He said:

I’m not Who you think – I AM!

There was such a power in this exchange that it really did frighten me. But in His mercy, God seems to be so slowly, so tenderly wooing me closer, so that I will not be afraid. For example, this past Wednesday, I happened to see Beth Moore (on Life Today, the Wednesdays with Beth series segment on The Bread of Life, part 3) where she said:

- God's Presence with us is a fact.
- It’s fellowship that activates the feeling of Divine Presence.

And I was talking with someone else the other day, about God’s Presence being / going with us:

Exodus 33:12-19 (KJV)
12And Moses said unto the LORD, See, thou sayest unto me, Bring up this people: and thou hast not let me know whom thou wilt send with me. Yet thou hast said, I know thee by name, and thou hast also found grace in my sight.
13Now therefore, I pray thee, if I have found grace in thy sight, shew me now thy way, that I may know thee, that I may find grace in thy sight: and consider that this nation is thy people.
14And he said, My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest.
15And he said unto him, If thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence.
16For wherein shall it be known here that I and thy people have found grace in thy sight? is it not in that thou goest with us? so shall we be separated, I and thy people, from all the people that are upon the face of the earth.
17And the LORD said unto Moses, I will do this thing also that thou hast spoken: for thou hast found grace in my sight, and I know thee by name.
18And he said, I beseech thee, shew me thy glory.
19And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy.

There are different things going on in my life these days, to bring correction, protection, provision, and change – but I know that it is all so that I will know my God better…

…and my journey with Him continues…

Jesus, My "Good Samaritan"

(**unless otherwise noted, Scriptures are New King James Version, and all from www.biblegateway.org)

The story of the Good Samaritan has repeatedly come to my attention in the past few days. I smile when this happens, remembering how my view of this story changed a few years ago when I saw Jesus in it as the Good Samaritan, and myself as the person who had fallen among thieves. The revelation was kind of like this, with the parable shown from the New Century Version, and commentary (indented) from the New King James Version :

Luke 10:25-37 (New Century Version)
Parable of the Good Samaritan
30 Jesus answered, "As a man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, some robbers attacked him. They tore off his clothes, beat him, and left him lying there, almost dead.

John 10:10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

31 It happened that a priest was going down that road. When he saw the man, he walked by on the other side. 32 Next, a Levite came there, and after he went over and looked at the man, he walked by on the other side of the road.

Matthew 5:20 For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 23:1-4, 23, 27-28 1 Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to His disciples, 2 saying: “The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. 3 Therefore whatever they tell you to observe, that observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do. 4 For they bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.
23 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone.
27 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. 28 Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.

33a Then a Samaritan traveling down the road came to where the hurt man was.

John 1:10-14
10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. 11 He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. 12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: 13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
John 3:16-17
16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
Luke 4:18-19
18 “ The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind,
To set at liberty those who are oppressed; 19 To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD.”

33b When he saw the man, he felt very sorry for him.

Exodus 33:19
Then He said, “I will make all My goodness pass before you, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before you. I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.”
Deuteronomy 32:36
“For the LORD will judge His people And have compassion on His servants, When He sees that their power is gone, And there is no one remaining, bond or free.
Psalm 86:15
But You, O Lord, are a God full of compassion, and gracious, Longsuffering and abundant in mercy and truth.
Psalm 111:4
He has made His wonderful works to be remembered; The LORD is gracious and full of compassion.
Psalm 145:8
The LORD is gracious and full of compassion, Slow to anger and great in mercy.
Lamentations 3:32
Though He causes grief, Yet He will show compassion According to the multitude of His mercies.
Zechariah 7:9
“Thus says the LORD of hosts: ‘ Execute true justice, Show mercy and compassion Everyone to his brother.
Matthew 9:36
But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd.
Matthew 14:14 14 And when Jesus went out He saw a great multitude; and He was moved with compassion for them, and healed their sick.
Mark 5:19
However, Jesus did not permit him, but said to him, “Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you.”
James 5:11
Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord—that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful.

34 Going over to him, the Samaritan soothed his wounds with olive oil and wine and bandaged them. Then he put the man on his own donkey and took him to an inn, where he took care of him.

Psalm 104:15
And wine that makes glad the heart of man, Oil to make his face shine, And bread which strengthens man’s heart.
Deuteronomy 1:31
and in the wilderness where you saw how the LORD your God carried you, as a man carries his son, in all the way that you went until you came to this place.’
Matthew 21:1-9
1 Now when they drew near Jerusalem, and came to Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Loose them and bring them to Me. 3 And if anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord has need of them,’ and immediately he will send them.” 4 All this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying:
5 “ Tell the daughter of Zion, ‘ Behold, your King is coming to you, Lowly, and sitting on a donkey, A colt, the foal of a donkey.’”
6 So the disciples went and did as Jesus commanded them. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt, laid their clothes on them, and set Him on them. 8 And a very great multitude spread their clothes on the road; others cut down branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 Then the multitudes who went before and those who followed cried out, saying:
“ Hosanna to the Son of David! ‘ Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!’ Hosanna in the highest!”
Matthew 5:9
Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God.
Romans 8:14
For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.
Galatians 3:26
For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.
1 John 3:1
1 Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.

35 The next day, the Samaritan brought out two coins, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, 'Take care of this man. If you spend more money on him, I will pay it back to you when I come again.' "

Proverbs 19:17
17 He who has pity on the poor lends to the LORD, And He will pay back what he has given.
Matthew 20:28 (Amplified Bible)
Just as the Son of Man came not to be waited on but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many [the price paid to set them free].
Luke 19:11-13
11 Now as they heard these things, He spoke another parable, because He was near Jerusalem and because they thought the kingdom of God would appear immediately. 12 Therefore He said: “A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and to return. 13 So he called ten of his servants, delivered to them ten minas, and said to them, ‘Do business till I come.’
Acts 1:9-11
9 Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. 10 And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, 11 who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.”
Revelation 22:12
12 “And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work.

36 Then Jesus said, "Which one of these three men do you think was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by the robbers?"
37 The expert on the law answered, "The one who showed him mercy."
Jesus said to him, "Then go and do what he did."

Hosea 6:6
6 For I desire mercy and not sacrifice, And the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.
Micah 6:8
8 He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?

From all this, on a larger scale I also considered the importance of a personal relationship with Jesus versus mere involvement with religion (verses 31-33), and how the church, the Body of Christ, could be seen as the innkeeper, entrusted with caring for the ones Jesus has saved.


2 Peter 3:9-14 (Amplified Bible)
9The Lord does not delay and is not tardy or slow about what He promises, according to some people's conception of slowness, but He is long-suffering (extraordinarily patient) toward you, not desiring that any should perish, but that all should turn to repentance.
10But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will vanish (pass away) with a thunderous crash, and the [material] elements [of the universe] will be dissolved with fire, and the earth and the works that are upon it will be burned up.
11Since all these things are thus in the process of being dissolved, what kind of person ought [each of] you to be [in the meanwhile] in consecrated and holy behavior and devout and godly qualities,
12While you wait and earnestly long for (expect and hasten) the coming of the day of God by reason of which the flaming heavens will be dissolved, and the [material] elements [of the universe] will flare and melt with fire?
13But we look for new heavens and a new earth according to His promise, in which righteousness (uprightness, freedom from sin, and right standing with God) is to abide.
14So, beloved, since you are expecting these things, be eager to be found by Him [at His coming] without spot or blemish and at peace [in serene confidence, free from fears and agitating passions and moral conflicts].

Isaiah 61:10-11
10 I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, My soul shall be joyful in my God; For He has clothed me with the garments of salvation,
He has covered me with the robe of righteousness, As a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments, And as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. 11 For as the earth brings forth its bud, As the garden causes the things that are sown in it to spring forth,
So the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations.

Revelation 19:1
After these things I heard a loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying, “Alleluia! Salvation and glory and honor and power belong to the Lord our God!

Revelation 22:20-21
20 He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming quickly.” Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
21 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

... and my journey with Him continues ...

Haiti’s Earthquake - My Lessons

Regarding a Song:
Psalm 137:1-4 (King James Version)
1By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion.
2We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof.
3For there they that carried us away captive required of us a song; and they that wasted us required of us mirth, saying, Sing us one of the songs of Zion.
4How shall we sing the LORD's song in a strange land?

Ephesians 5:18b-19 (New King James Version)
but be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord,

Scriptures:

Isaiah 55:6-11 (New King James Version)
6 Seek the LORD while He may be found, Call upon Him while He is near. 7 Let the wicked forsake his way, And the unrighteous man his thoughts; Let him return to the LORD, And He will have mercy on him; And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon. 8 “ For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the LORD. 9 “ For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts. 10 “ For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, And do not return there, But water the earth, And make it bring forth and bud, That it may give seed to the sower And bread to the eater, 11 So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.

Ezekiel 18:23, 30-32; 33:10-11 (New King James Version)
23 Do I have any pleasure at all that the wicked should die?” says the Lord GOD, “and not that he should turn from his ways and live?

30 “Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways,” says the Lord GOD. “Repent, and turn from all your transgressions, so that iniquity will not be your ruin. 31 Cast away from you all the transgressions which you have committed, and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. For why should you die, O house of Israel? 32 For I have no pleasure in the death of one who dies,” says the Lord GOD. “Therefore turn and live!”

10 “Therefore you, O son of man, say to the house of Israel: ‘Thus you say, “If our transgressions and our sins lie upon us, and we pine away in them, how can we then live?”’ 11 Say to them: ‘As I live,’ says the Lord GOD, ‘I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn, turn from your evil ways! For why should you die, O house of Israel?’

2 Peter 3:9 (New King James Version)
The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ** * * * * * * * * *
“Why, God? Why?”

The young boy’s screams ripped at my heart as I watched him grasp the reporter’s hand and look up to him with tearful, frightened eyes as if for an answer. Sitting outside on the ground, reportedly with broken limbs and a visible gash on his forehead, this child was crying out to God for a reason – something to understand the devastation in which he found himself following the earthquake in Haiti.

I thought of the book of Job, which I had just finished reading, and prayed that the Lord would reveal Himself to this boy and all others in Haiti as He had done to Job. Not only to the Haitians, but also to all others who were, are or will be there providing rescue and recovery, medical, communication, peacekeeping, protection and other needed services. And not to them only, but to all of us who hear and see of this tragic event. And also to anyone going through a difficult time, asking, begging God, “Why?”

I looked up to see that the newscast was now showing snippets of what they described as a “spontaneous worship service” which they said had broken out on the side of the road. People were singing and clapping, arms raised in praise as they danced.

On another television station, the reporter leaned over a woman who was lying on a stretcher as he spoke of the conditions for those needing medical care. Outside, because the hospital buildings were demolished or unstable. In the heat, with little food or water, and very limited medical supplies or personnel. As he painted this dire picture, the woman reached up and laced her fingers with his as she held his hand. I thought she was reaching out for comfort. He turned away from the camera to look at her as she spoke. He turned slightly to someone who translated her words, and then he conveyed these to his audience: “'It could be worse,' she says. ‘It could be worse.’”

Wow - what strength. How wrong I was in thinking that she was wanting comfort for herself, when her intention was to share hope with others! I think of this when I hear media reports of people giving their opinions as to why this happened, criticizing or condemning others for what they think could have or should have been done to prepare for it, or how it plays politically, or any number of other things. I think back to Jesus’ words when someone asked Him about a situation in Luke 13:

Luke 13:1-5 (New King James Version)
Repent or Perish
1 There were present at that season some who told Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 2 And Jesus answered and said to them, “Do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans, because they suffered such things? 3 I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish. 4 Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse sinners than all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem? 5 I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.”

So I find that for me, again, it’s a reason to examine myself, and draw closer to God for myself in praying as He leads, giving as He provides, doing as He directs…

Ephesians 5:20 (New King James Version)
giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,

... and my journey with Him continues ...