tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22981613353433577392024-03-12T18:56:18.269-04:00 Captive Thoughts"We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ..." II Corinthians 10:5
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12934949793528399544noreply@blogger.comBlogger40125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2298161335343357739.post-76228134237446331042018-03-28T12:39:00.000-04:002018-03-28T12:39:57.203-04:00Ten Bible Verses You Aren't Sharing with your Mommy Friends (but you should be)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Being a woman is hard sometimes. Much of our lives we feel misunderstood, overworked, or undervalued. But as much as the tendency is to overcompensate by focusing on the worth and glory of women, may this be a fresh reminder: <u>Ladies, we're Christians too.</u></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">It seems as if the message to women has become "once you carry a child, you should lay down your cross". The implication is that motherhood requires so much of you that God now owes you something and you owe Him nothing. As a result we've made the assumption that mothers need praise and never challenge. This is simply not true. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">It's humbling to admit that even in my short (and relatively easy) experience in motherhood, I've had many, many bad attitudes. Most of my married life so far, I've been pregnant and nursing; my husband has been very patient. There have been times of overwhelm and tears and anger. As sure as I am that I could find a thousand others who've had a similar experience, I have no excuse. We all struggle with selfishness, but that doesn't mean it's less shameful. I could have reached out every single time for sympathy in my troubles, but sympathy isn't always what I needed. What I needed was God's Word and friends who would remind me of the truth. I don't need friends who will play along with my selfish and limited perspectives, I needed to be pointed right to my Creator. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">There are so many texts in Scripture that don't get shared with our sisters in Christ because they aren't (what others have described as) "pink". They aren't "encouraging". They aren't comforting or flattering. More often than we realize though, the best encouragement will be a hearty - but loving - version of "Courage, sister! Look to Christ."</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">When I'm discouraged and overwhelmed as a mom, the last thing I need to hear is how hard my life is. I don't need platitudes on all the things I deserve but am not getting. It's in those hard moments that I need to compare my circumstances to what Christ faced; I need to look to Him as my example in facing what I've been divinely appointed. </span>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">So here are the Scriptures we haven't been quoting: </span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">1) Luke 17:10 </span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"> "So you too, when you do all the things which are commanded you, say, </span>
</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">‘We are unworthy slaves; we have done only that which we ought to have done.’”</span>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">When we are overwhelmed with our tasks, when we're tempted to think God's piling on us more than we deserve to bear, ladies, this is our text! We are not deserving. We are to serve Him with the perspective of a slave, without expectation of a pat on the back. This work you're doing today? It's not an extravagant sacrifice for God. It's exactly what He requires of you.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">2) 1 Peter 1:17 </span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">"If you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each one’s work, </span>
</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay on earth,"
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">In an age of "take it easy on yourself" and "you're only human", choose instead to think on this. Remember that it's not for your eyes that you're striving, and it's not for your mother-in-law's eyes either. You're running this race for your Father's eyes, to be pleasing to Him. Let your reverent fear of God drive you more and more to holiness and excellence. </span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"> 3) Hebrews 12:3, 4, & 12-13 </span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">"For consider Him who has endured such
hostility by sinners against Himself,<br />so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.<br />You have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood<br />in your striving against sin:"</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Weariness in motherhood. You know it well. You know the struggle. It helps to reach out and find that you're not alone; that other mothers are struggling with the same things. It may make you feel better, yes, but it won't give you vision. Consider, instead, what Christ faced. Know that He is well acquainted with human weakness and struggled harder than any of us ever have. He sympathizes and calls out to God on our behalf; then He calls us to take up our cross and follow in His footsteps.</span>
<span style="color: black; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Have you bled in your struggle to do what is right? Have you been so devoted that you'd rather sacrifice your body than give in to temptation? Surely you can fight harder, endure longer...</span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">"Therefore, strengthen the hands that are weak and the knees that are feeble, </span>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">and make straight paths for your feet, </span>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">so that the limb which is lame may not be put out of joint, </span>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">but rather be healed."</span></span>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Call to God for strength in your weakness. Put away the complaints and sighs. It's time to do the work, strategize, and know that this struggle, though not easy, can be taken on with strength and determination.
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">4) Ephesians 6:10 </span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might." </span>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Here's a text that reminds us that doing well in the struggle has nothing to do with self-determination or girl power. We need constant reminders that our resources to do right are unlimited because it is GOD who graciously strengthens us in that cause.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">"But He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, </span>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">for My power is made perfect in weakness'." (2Co. 12:9) </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">5) James 1:2 </span><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: large;"></span><br />
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">"Consider it all joy, my brethren,
</span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">when you encounter various trials,
</span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">knowing that the testing of
your faith </span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">produces endurance.
</span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">And let endurance have its perfect result,
</span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">so that you may be </span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">perfect and complete,
</span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">lacking in nothing."</span></span>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">We so often live as if suffering shouldn't be part of our lives, as if hardships are an anomaly. We whine about our problems and the little things that inconvenience us. We make motherhood look like the HARDEST JOB IN THE WORLD because we simply have our expectations out of whack. In reality, suffering is actually a God-ordained part of life. We're even commanded to rejoice in it! There's so much fuel for a bad attitude in motherhood already. Let's not give our friends more fuel by talking as if these struggles weren't meant to happen. God has a purpose in all things, and we should help each other remember how wonderful that reality is.
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">6) Matthew 15:11 </span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">"It is not what enters into the mouth that defiles the man,<br />but what proceeds out of the mouth, this defiles the man.”</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">If you have any care at all in the realm of nutrition, it's easy to criticize others based on what they put in their bodies. Let's not feed this tendency in each other. Call this text to mind and be in the habit of checking your priorities against Scripture. Sometimes that will mean steering your coffee chats away from topics that feed passionate opinions in areas that God truly doesn't care about. </span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">7) Philippians 2:3 </span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">"Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, </span>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">but with humility of mind regard one another </span>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">as more important than yourselves;"</span></span>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Do nothing from selfishness. Nothing. Not the much-needed "me-time", not the date night, not sweeping the floor. If it's done in selfishness, forget about it. Whatever you do, have a ministers heart behind it. If you can have me-time, a date night, or a clean floor, that's great!! But don't rob these of eternal worth and enjoyment by doing them with an indignant heart. Let's not cause our friends to stumble either by implying that rest can only be found in selfishness rather than in God. We take the opportunities for rest that He gives us with thankful hearts, not greedy hands.
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">8) 1 Corinthians 13:5 </span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">"[Love] does not take into account a wrong suffered."</span>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">How many wrongs do we suffer through the day, both from our husbands and children? I'm sure we've refreshed the tally recently. This is unfortunate, because we tend to be more gracious with people we barely know than with the people God specifically gave us to love. When our friend is late to a play date we say, "no problem, don't feel bad!" but with our own husbands are we so gracious? Do we gossip about our family's mistakes and murmur about all "these kids" make me put up with? We shouldn't have murmur fests in our mom-to-mom conversations. Instead, let's encourage each other to put on a heart of forgiveness, the kind that forgets wrongs.</span>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">9) 1 Peter 3:1-2 </span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">"In the same way, you wives, be submissive to your own husbands </span>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">so that even if any of them are disobedient to the word, </span>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">they may be won without a word by the behavior of their wives, </span>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">as they observe your chaste and respectful behavior."
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Husbands make mistakes. Sometimes husbands have sin issues. And we wives are obsessed with those issues as soon as we see them. We feel insecure with his leadership, an insatiable desire to fix things, and most of all we have a big mouth. God has a different solution though, to our husbands' problems. Meekness, quietness, and faithfulness. A woman who trusts God and controls her tongue is strong not weak. Women will often turn to other women in these situations, and the advice given is rarely Biblical. We need to strengthen each other in the truth when our natures oppose it the strongest. Let's encourage each other to pray for our husbands, love them unconditionally, and set an example of righteous living. This is what God says will win a disobedient husband. </span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">10) Luke 21:34 </span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">"Be on guard, so that your hearts will not be weighted down </span>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of life, </span>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">and that day will not come on you suddenly like a trap."</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Finally, motherhood is distracting. (see even 1Co. 7:34) When the would-be empty contemplative minutes of the day are filled to the brim with diaper changes, resolving arguments, making phone calls, and cleaning up messes, it's so very easy to forget what we're living for. The days start feeling bland, and yet our minds are cluttered with random things to put on the shopping list or where that other sock went. Theology becomes just a word. Christ's return seems like a very distant, very abstract thought. But this is one of the most essential parts of Christian life, mother or not. When we forget what we're living for, we default to the world's value system. Our outlook needs to be daily refreshed to keep in the front of our minds that we are servants of God who will give an account. I won't get into eschatology, but if the world were to melt away in the middle of your daily routine and you were to stand before God, would you be prepared? It's important that we do motherhood, not based on a book or a method or a self-made vision of our industrious domestic lives. We need to order our lives so that we can be disciplined in eternal priorities. God's priorities. </span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Ladies, we're Christians too. Motherhood is challenging and tiring and distracting, but it matters. As weak as you feel, God empowers you just as He empowers every other saint. Let's faithfully remind each other to take advantage of the amazing grace we've been given to live daily for Gods kingdom. </span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12934949793528399544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2298161335343357739.post-89197598523029650372017-05-12T14:38:00.000-04:002017-05-12T14:38:33.293-04:00Little {isn’t always} much.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Talking about motherhood and the significance of that
responsibility was easier to do before I became a mother. The outside
perspective is fresh and full of motivation. There’s no morning sickness or post-partum
recovery or sleep deprivation or hormonal roller coasters involved. Those things
can be anticipated, but what I didn’t expect was how militant those things can
be in blotting out your sense of fulfillment.
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It’s like that with anything, really. Any work has its
trials that you can’t fully expect, and one day you find yourself loathing the
ordinary tasks you’re given just because they’re ordinary. No matter what you
do for a living, life has a way of feeling boring and monotonous. We quickly
become dissatisfied with work we thought we’d always enjoy. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This has been a struggle for me some days, and I’m grateful for
the resources available to point my thinking back in the right direction. Reminders
of the importance of the mundane things, that they are worth while. Reminders
that my work is of value to God and that “little is much when God is in it”.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But now here’s my question: does this mean that if I simply
stay home with my kids and keep them alive, that is automatically of eternal
worth?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’m going to propose an unpopular answer…</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">What if it’s not?</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u>Little isn’t always much. <br />
</u>A Christian can choose to do a simple task, but that doesn’t mean the task
is automatically valuable to God. There is such a thing as wood, hay, and
stubble in the outcome of our lives. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6twhr42vjZs/WRX8vCJFmmI/AAAAAAAABOE/UZG77CEBcvUez43sDvmt3VqdqEBJ1hLhACLcB/s1600/15875576_1211257672285029_6508440687575356206_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6twhr42vjZs/WRX8vCJFmmI/AAAAAAAABOE/UZG77CEBcvUez43sDvmt3VqdqEBJ1hLhACLcB/s400/15875576_1211257672285029_6508440687575356206_o.jpg" width="256" /></a>I want to clarify right now that I’m not trying to debunk
the concept that “little is much when God is in it”. That phrase is true and
beautiful to us, often because even the most important work here on earth can
seems so lackluster and boring. I’m not saying that any task that’s small must
be worthless to God. But does God value the work <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">because</i> it is small? Or does He value it for another reason.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In my head right now I picture my “boring” days. Do I
console myself simply with the fact that being a mom, in and of itself, is
enough to satisfy my calling as a Christian? As I start my morning and do the
things and make the meals and clean the kids- just because that’s what moms
have to do- am I automatically glorifying God? If that were the case, I can
name several non-Christian moms who glorify God better than me!
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The conclusion must be reached: </div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">It matters how you mother. <br />
(It matters how you do any work God gives.)</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
By that I mean that glorifying God in your role takes more than just having the
role. It takes spiritual vitality and discipline. It doesn’t start with how to
properly fold towels or reading more books to your kids. It starts with your
purpose and seeing motherhood (or whatever work you do) as a channel to
glorify God.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So how then do I glorify God in my small work? <br />
<br />
<b>1. Be energized by gratefulness.</b> </div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus,<br />
giving thanks through Him to God the Father.” (Col. 3:17)</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Isn’t that basic? In order to glorify God, you actually need
to… glorify God. Thank Him in the little things. We will never run out of ways He’s
showing grace and power, even just in our own quiet lives.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<b>2. Take it seriously.</b><br />Do it as for the Lord and do it well. It means being
present, not passive. Looking for ways to improve. For me as a mother, it means
making good use of my day through planning, efficiency, and creativity. </div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than
for men,<br />
knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance.<br />
It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.” (Col. 3:23-24)</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<b>3. Engage your heart in the work and do it with vitality.</b><br />
Notice how “do your work heartily” is a command? Obedience isn’t just doing the
work. Obedience is being engaged in the work because it was God who gave it to
us. Get your heart involved, not for the work’s sake, or even the
accomplishment’s sake; do it for your Master’s sake.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
That really is the main point here. Your heart matters. Let’s not console
ourselves that we’re glorifying God based only on what we’re doing. Let’s
strive to make the little things great because we’re doing it for Him and we’re
using it as a means to honor His name and notice His goodness. </div>
<br />
I’m writing this post for me. Getting down to the truth of
things has revealed why I have struggled to find fulfillment in motherhood. It’s
never the work alone that we were made to find fulfillment in. We weren’t made
to find fulfillment just in being married or being a mother or a provider or an
author or any other role. It isn’t the work alone that glorifies God and makes
little into much. It’s not even the fact that a Christian is doing it that makes our
work significant. Instead, “little is much when <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">God</i> is in it.” He is our Portion and Focus.<br />
<br />
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<br /></div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kPmvtxMduYY/WRYApunK5PI/AAAAAAAABOQ/fe7CxlsKkhcG9wDz4hgYw0PtIRwqbk8XwCLcB/s1600/18379343_1337992706278191_275790752_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kPmvtxMduYY/WRYApunK5PI/AAAAAAAABOQ/fe7CxlsKkhcG9wDz4hgYw0PtIRwqbk8XwCLcB/s320/18379343_1337992706278191_275790752_o.jpg" width="320" /></a><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i></div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Does the place you’re called to labor<br />
Seem too small and little known?<br />
It is great if God is in it,<br />
And He’ll not forget His own.</i></div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Little is much when God is in it!<br />
Labor not for wealth or fame.<br />
There’s a crown—and you can win it,<br />
If you go in Jesus’ Name.<br />
</i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Kittie L. Suffield</span></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12934949793528399544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2298161335343357739.post-4648544330073098452016-08-08T16:00:00.001-04:002016-08-08T16:00:28.192-04:00The Audacity<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zkGYB-9iIbY/V6jkYn-UYtI/AAAAAAAABK0/1iSYKDspmmg9Ms691bjt6E6ipfWNh-gNgCLcB/s1600/13555819_10209444753497268_467733654_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zkGYB-9iIbY/V6jkYn-UYtI/AAAAAAAABK0/1iSYKDspmmg9Ms691bjt6E6ipfWNh-gNgCLcB/s640/13555819_10209444753497268_467733654_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span class="text Titus-2-15" id="en-NASB-29924"> </span><span class="text Titus-2-15" id="en-NASB-29924">Godliness matters.</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span class="text Titus-2-15" id="en-NASB-29924">The
apostle Paul wrote to Titus on the conduct of Christians. Older men,
older women, younger men, and younger women... whether slave or free. If
a person was a Christian, there was a standard for them to live by, and at
the end of chapter 2, Paul told us why.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span class="text Titus-2-11" id="en-NASB-29920">For the </span></i><span class="text Titus-2-11" id="en-NASB-29920">grace</span><i><span class="text Titus-2-11" id="en-NASB-29920"> of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men,</span><sup> </sup><span class="text Titus-2-12" id="en-NASB-29921"> </span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span class="text Titus-2-12" id="en-NASB-29921">instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires </span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span class="text Titus-2-12" id="en-NASB-29921">and to live </span></i><span class="text Titus-2-12" id="en-NASB-29921">sensibly, righteously and godly</span><i><span class="text Titus-2-12" id="en-NASB-29921"> in the present age,</span> <span class="text Titus-2-13" id="en-NASB-29922"> </span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span class="text Titus-2-13" id="en-NASB-29922">looking for the blessed hope and the appearing</span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span class="text Titus-2-13" id="en-NASB-29922"> of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus,</span> <span class="text Titus-2-14" id="en-NASB-29923"> </span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span class="text Titus-2-14" id="en-NASB-29923">who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, </span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span class="text Titus-2-14" id="en-NASB-29923">and to </span></i><span class="text Titus-2-14" id="en-NASB-29923">purify</span><i><span class="text Titus-2-14" id="en-NASB-29923"> for Himself a people for His own possession,</span><span class="text Titus-2-14" id="en-NASB-29923"> </span><span class="text Titus-2-14" id="en-NASB-29923"></span></i><span class="text Titus-2-14" id="en-NASB-29923">zealous for good deeds</span><i><span class="text Titus-2-14" id="en-NASB-29923">.</span><span class="text Titus-2-15" id="en-NASB-29924"><sup> </sup> </span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span class="text Titus-2-15" id="en-NASB-29924">These things </span></i><span class="text Titus-2-15" id="en-NASB-29924">speak and exhort and reprove</span><i><span class="text Titus-2-15" id="en-NASB-29924"> with all authority.</span><span class="text Titus-2-15" id="en-NASB-29924"> </span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span class="text Titus-2-15" id="en-NASB-29924">Let no one disregard you. </span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="text Titus-2-15" id="en-NASB-29924">Titus 2:11-15</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="text Titus-2-15" id="en-NASB-29924"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="text Titus-2-15" id="en-NASB-29924">Notice what starts off this (very thorough) run-on sentence about denying sin and embracing righteousness: </span><span class="text Titus-2-15" id="en-NASB-29924">"the grace of God". We are tempted to think His grace is present in our lives just to make things easier on us, but here it is <u>grace</u> that instructs us to reject our natural desires and pursue godliness. It's not easy, but it's the love of God at work. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="text Titus-2-15" id="en-NASB-29924"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><span class="text Titus-2-15" id="en-NASB-29924">Godliness is in our best interest. </span></b><span class="text Titus-2-15" id="en-NASB-29924">It's a result and benefit of salvation. </span><span class="text Titus-2-15" id="en-NASB-29924">It's an essential part of how God redeems. He saves from sin, and He <u>purifies</u> us to be His own.</span><b><span class="text Titus-2-15" id="en-NASB-29924"> </span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><span class="text Titus-2-15" id="en-NASB-29924">Godliness is the greatest evidence that we are God's. </span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="text Titus-2-15" id="en-NASB-29924">And yet somehow we get timid on the topic of godliness. We blush thinking of encouraging someone in a spiritual way and avoid saying important things for fear people would think us too religious. I think we forget the advantage that godliness really is... we forget that it really doesn't do us well to live otherwise... we forget the <u>glory of purity</u> that God intended for His people. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="text Titus-2-15" id="en-NASB-29924"><u>We forget mostly that we're His people at all.</u></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="text Titus-2-15" id="en-NASB-29924"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="text Titus-2-15" id="en-NASB-29924"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="text Titus-2-15" id="en-NASB-29924">Paul described the result of God's grace, redemption, and purification.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span class="text Titus-2-15" id="en-NASB-29924">Sensible</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span class="text Titus-2-15" id="en-NASB-29924">Righteous</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span class="text Titus-2-15" id="en-NASB-29924">Godly</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="text Titus-2-15" id="en-NASB-29924"><b>Zealous for good deeds</b> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="text Titus-2-15" id="en-NASB-29924"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="text Titus-2-15" id="en-NASB-29924">God saved us to be godly, but godliness is nothing if it just amounts to arrogant piety. He saved us so that, in our godliness, we would be fruitful. He intended the church to be a people who would be about His work... even <u>zealous</u> about His work. If this was one of the main purposes of salvation, why wouldn't we be bold in carrying it out? Why do we so often forget the whole reason we're here? Why are we so shy about encouraging others in godliness as well?</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="text Titus-2-15" id="en-NASB-29924"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-D4MRXjwIV08/V6jkEsuIuLI/AAAAAAAABKw/FtOOzl7wHkoC3QBsBqJuW_J4W5jRG9veQCLcB/s1600/13548902_10209444554852302_428554009_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-D4MRXjwIV08/V6jkEsuIuLI/AAAAAAAABKw/FtOOzl7wHkoC3QBsBqJuW_J4W5jRG9veQCLcB/s640/13548902_10209444554852302_428554009_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
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<span class="text Titus-2-15" id="en-NASB-29924">What Paul wrote to Titus is something we all need to grasp. If godliness is so important to God and so fundamental to our purpose, let us be <u>bold</u> in living it. And as bold as we are in living it, let us be bold in driving other Christians to godliness as well. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="text Titus-2-15" id="en-NASB-29924">It takes a kind of audacity. The audacity to deny the world of it's influence and push ourselves out of our comfort zones. Churches should be full of Christians who will "</span>spur each other on to love and good deeds" (Heb. 10:24) Christians who will remind each other faithfully of what God redeemed us for. Those who will advise, encourage, warn, and rebuke. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Righteous living is one of the clearest goals of the Christian life. We shouldn't be ashamed to live it or encourage it, especially in the church. Let it be a theme in what we say, but let us say it graciously. Because godliness isn't a punishment, it's a gift and a privilege. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Build up godliness, and don't despise it. Don't question the necessity of what God intended us for all along. To belittle godliness is to belittle Him. So honor Him. <u>Speak the truth in love.</u> (Eph. 4:15) </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Fill your days and your conversations with what is sensible, righteous, and godly. Have the audacity to live and proclaim your kingdom work. Don't be ashamed; it's the only work that will last. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="text Titus-2-15" id="en-NASB-29924"><br /></span></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12934949793528399544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2298161335343357739.post-84078524928403944062016-07-15T22:54:00.000-04:002016-07-15T22:54:37.167-04:00To Love a Sinner<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cmPT141YzDs/V4mfTcZE1TI/AAAAAAAABJs/1b5KOZeAyo86f-un59GzzioNVrFD8nedQCLcB/s1600/Reach-out.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="387" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cmPT141YzDs/V4mfTcZE1TI/AAAAAAAABJs/1b5KOZeAyo86f-un59GzzioNVrFD8nedQCLcB/s640/Reach-out.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b>In Scripture, there's a difference between loving the world<sup>1</sup> </b></div>
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<b>and loving sinners in a Christ-like way. </b></div>
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For those who have been taught God’s Word, this difference
doesn’t take long to figure out. Sadly though, it’s not uncommon to find
professing Christians who have found a way to “love” the world without speaking
one word of the Gospel! I’m afraid the love they think they’re showing (by
avoiding the Gospel) is really just idolatry. They love and fear the world more
than God.<br />
<br />
It’s come to the point where a Christian can surround herself with worldly
friends and think she’s evangelizing just by being nice to them. No need to
talk about the sin they’re doing. Besides, who is she to expect they’ll act
like Christians when they don’t even claim to be? Why would she talk to them
about what God requires? She thinks the most Christ-like thing she could do is <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">accept</i> them for who they are. Before she
knows it, she has fallen head-over-heels for the world. She’s found good in the
world, apart from God. She’s learned to accept the world for what it is, and
the result is tragic. Believing she’s sharing God’s love with sinners, she has
abandoned the truth and joined the world on the path to destruction.</div>
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How do we show Christian love to a lost world? The answer is muddled by the
ignorant (though well-intended) church-goer as they encourage us to “just love”
- and by love they mean flatter - <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>sinners.
They encourage us to build them up with a hardy “Jesus loves you”. They warn, “If
we point to someone's sins before they are right with the Lord we risk causing
them to not want to seek Jesus at all.”<sup>2</sup> So we are told that the
only way to win a sinner to Christ is to convince them they are just fine
without Him. We are told that we can’t talk about sin with a sinner because,
after all, how could we expect them to be what they are not?</div>
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To be fair, this is true: we <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">do not </i>expect a sinner to be what they are not. We aren’t surprised
that they are worldly and make wrong choices. We aren’t surprised that their
priorities are different from God’s. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But
shouldn’t we help them WANT to be what they are not? Isn’t being a sinner kind
of a negative thing? See, for some reason we feel apologetic about that! But
really… have we forgotten? Have we forgotten how miserable sin is? Have we
forgotten the danger of judgment a sinner faces every day they lack Christ? The
love we are called to share simply <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">must</i>
go beyond “I accept you and respect your opinions” and become more like the
love Jesus Himself shared. </div>
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So what did Jesus say? Did He say, “Be who you are!”… did He
say, “you’re special to God!”… did He say, “I respect your opinions”? No, He
said, “Repent! (Change!) For the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Mat. 4:17) He
said, “Go, and sin no more.” (John 8:11) He called for sinners to take refuge
in Him. Refuge from judgment and refuge from sin itself. </div>
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As a Christian, it is not my goal to keep people from
sinning; but it IS my goal to proclaim the truth about sin… that “the outcome
of such things is death” (Ro. 6:21). In love, I will not hesitate to tell
someone that their sin will lead to their destruction. In love, I will distance
myself from having any part in their sin.<sup>3</sup> In doing so, I will do
all I can to lead them <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">away</i> from sin
and into life in Christ. In love, I sense the responsibility to sometimes push
myself past the easy-going, shallow conversations for the probing, eternal
ones. </div>
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<br />
To do this is to follow the pattern God Himself laid. He showed us what love is
by telling us the Truth and giving us hope in Christ. It would not have been
love to accept us as we were, because we were ruined and cursed and defiled. So
His love wasn’t first about acceptance. It couldn’t be. It was first about
sacrifice, redemption, and renewal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
was about considering our good rather than just our comfort level. It was about
turning our eyes away from self and onto our Creator for not just a better
future, but a sanctified perspective. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gZBBfe76bkg/V4mgUH19uFI/AAAAAAAABJ4/1bGuh2no1SAYunOdgSyTYveWgsJkz_XcQCLcB/s1600/flower%2Band%2Bsun.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gZBBfe76bkg/V4mgUH19uFI/AAAAAAAABJ4/1bGuh2no1SAYunOdgSyTYveWgsJkz_XcQCLcB/s640/flower%2Band%2Bsun.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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There’s a foundational thought to all of this: <b>We need a
love built on faith.</b></div>
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<b> </b> <br />
Unless we believe what God says, we will love based on what we feel and see. We
will love like the world loves and we will love <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">what</i> the world loves. If we don’t actually believe God will judge
sin, why would we go through the trouble of warning (or even disagreeing with)
sinners? But if we are actually convinced that God is both Creator and Judge of
all, that fact will affect our entire lives. It will affect how we live and how
we love. We will “walk as children of Light” in a dark world, unashamed of the
Gospel of Christ, knowing it is the power of God to salvation for all who believe.<sup>4</sup> We will speak of God’s commands, not as if they are burdens, but pleasures. </div>
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I’ve realized that <u>the only people who believe the Gospel
is unloving are the people who believe the Gospel isn’t true. </u>Those who
read Scripture, know about the coming judgment, and know the love of God in
Christ <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">cannot</b> in good conscience
support, accept, or participate with a sinner in their sin. In love, they
cannot participate in what condemns them. In love, they cannot possibly <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">avoid </i>sharing that Gospel with sinners
when there’s an opportunity. In love, they will urge sinners to take refuge in
Christ. Anything less reveals an insincere faith and reduces our love to offering
hugs and hand-shakes to people as they race into hell.</div>
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<b>
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<b>To love a lost world is to preach Christ.</b> </div>
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“By this the love of
God was manifested in us, <br />
that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world <br />
so that we might live through Him.”<br />
1 John 4:9</div>
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<sup>1</sup> 1 John 2:15</div>
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<sup>2</sup> This is an actual quote.</div>
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<sup>3</sup> “Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of
darkness, but instead even expose them.” Eph. 5:11</div>
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<sup>4</sup> Eph. 5:8, Ro. 1:16</div>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Salutation"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Date"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Block Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Hyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="FollowedHyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Document Map"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Plain Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="E-mail Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Top of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Bottom of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal (Web)"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Acronym"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Address"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Cite"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Code"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Definition"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Keyboard"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Preformatted"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Sample"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Typewriter"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Variable"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal Table"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation subject"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="No List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Contemporary"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Elegant"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Professional"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Balloon Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Theme"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" QFormat="true"
Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="41" Name="Plain Table 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="42" Name="Plain Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="43" Name="Plain Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="44" Name="Plain Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="45" Name="Plain Table 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="40" Name="Grid Table Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="Grid Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="List Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="List Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="List Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 5"/>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12934949793528399544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2298161335343357739.post-19420165653394010272016-05-12T17:13:00.001-04:002016-05-13T09:14:51.801-04:00WOMEN, WE'RE OVERRATED<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Don’t get upset, this isn’t Biblical heresy. This is
societal heresy, and I acknowledge that gladly. We have way over-estimated our value as women. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Yes, we live in a culture where women are demeaned through
sexuality. Yes, we even see some cultures still today that devalue women, as if they
are lesser than men. But you know what the typical response to both of those issues
is? </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“You’re perfect just the way you are!”<br />
“Don’t sell yourself short!” <br />
“Love yourself!” <br />
“You’re worth it!”<br />
“You’re beautiful!”</i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sound familiar? We hear this chorus all the time.<br />
But is this the Biblical response? Is this what Jesus promoted in response to a
culture that belittled women?<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DCwlwGeBAsg/VzUNZk1WyGI/AAAAAAAABIw/yntY8JYEBy0vVqO86weh7aiq6UnAH_n5QCLcB/s1600/girl-at-mirror-webjpg-fe64fb4776e621da.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DCwlwGeBAsg/VzUNZk1WyGI/AAAAAAAABIw/yntY8JYEBy0vVqO86weh7aiq6UnAH_n5QCLcB/s320/girl-at-mirror-webjpg-fe64fb4776e621da.jpg" width="304" /></a></div>
</div>
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<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
"Jesus went away
from there, and withdrew into the district of Tyre and Sidon. And a Canaanite
woman from that region came out and began to cry out, saying, 'Have mercy on
me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is cruelly demon-possessed.' But He did not
answer her a word. And His disciples came and implored Him, saying, 'Send her
away, because she keeps shouting at us.' But He answered and said, 'I was sent
only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.' But she came and began to bow
down before Him, saying, 'Lord, help me!' And He answered and said, 'It is not
good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.' But she said,
'Yes, Lord; but even the dogs feed on the crumbs which fall from their masters’
table.' Then Jesus said to her, 'O woman, your faith is great; it shall be done
for you as you wish.' And her daughter was healed at once." Matthew
15:21-28</div>
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<br /></div>
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So. If Jesus is so concerned that women feel valued, why did
He call her a dog? I’m not trying to be unfair by using this text. I realize
there is more to this text than the point I’m making. But as a basic question,
if it is so important to God that women acknowledge their great value, why
would He refer to her as a dog? The answer is hard: because she <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">was</i> a dog. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She did not deserve favor, and she didn’t
deserve a miracle. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">And she knew it.</b> Nevertheless,
knowing she was nothing, she came to Jesus anyway. Though knowing herself, she
knew He was merciful, and that set her apart as a woman of faith. She
acknowledged that she did not deserve His mercy. She had no faith in her value;
she had faith in God.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Let me just pause here and say that if Christ said the same
thing to the average woman in America today, she would walk away angry and
offended that He would demean her thus! </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But back to my point, Jesus had other priorities. Here’s
another example:</div>
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<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
"While Jesus was
saying these things, one of the women in the crowd raised her voice and said to
Him, 'Blessed is the womb that bore You and the breasts at which You nursed.'
But He said, 'On the contrary, blessed are those who hear the word of God and
observe it.' Luke 11:27-28</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The lady in the crowd was building up his mother, and He
changes the subject?! Again, just pointing out… There are things a lot more
important to God than the empowerment of women. Things like hearing the Word
and obeying it. He doesn't waste time buttering up the female ego. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We need to remember this in our own evangelism. Do we need
to build women up to bring them to Christ? Do we need to tell unbelievers they
have value? Is that part of the Gospel? I'm not saying we need to tear them
down; but I can tell you right now, that the Gospel isn't designed to make you
feel good about yourself. Books like Romans reveal the truth about humanity.
The truth isn't that “we all have value”. The truth is that <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">none</b> of us have value. This is what
makes the Gospel the Great Equalizer. “<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">All</b>
have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23)<br />
The Gospel is so offensive to the world because it starts with the premise that
you aren’t good enough. Not only are you not good enough, but <u><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">you aren’t even good</span></u>. <br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Being a woman doesn’t give me worth</b><u>.</u></span> Being a kind, talented,
hard-working woman doesn’t give me worth either. Only Christ can give me worth.
Christ died for sinners, yes, but that doesn't mean we were worth dying for. <b>We
were not worth it. </b>But God, being rich in mercy, loved us. This is the Gospel.
Let’s not be so focused on empowering women that we help them forget they need <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">God</b> for their lives to be worth
something! </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Have you noticed that there aren’t
any sermons or parables in the Bible that emphasize your personal worth?<sup>1</sup> </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Have you noticed that there’s no command to love yourself?<sup>2</sup> </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Have you noticed that, though we see it on Christian motivational posters all
the time, the Bible rarely talks about the fact that we’re royalty? <sup>3</sup> </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Have you noticed that among the myriad of Gospel sermons that can be
drawn from in the Bible, not a one starts out by showing the lost their
intrinsic worth? </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Have you noticed that not a single New Testament admonition to believers
involves building self-esteem? </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Have you noticed that we are told to follow Christ’s life closer in reference
to His humiliation than His divine position?</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
If we expect to follow Christ’s
example, we should expect to think of ourselves as servants, not royalty.
Because Christ, though being God Himself, took the form of a bondservant, not a
king. (Php. 2) This is the example we are called to follow. He chose the humble
title, the servant’s attitude, the lackluster work.
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
Let’s not misapply the “child of
the King” idea. Notice the Biblical take-away from that Truth: </div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
“If you address as
Father the One who impartially judges according to each one’s work, <u>conduct
yourselves in fear during the time of your stay on earth.</u>” 1 Peter 1:17</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We aren’t trophies to God. We’re not objects of glamour. We
are objects of mercy. (Romans 9) <br />
<span style="font-size: large;">We are sons. We are saints. We are slaves.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IQVChG2yH_o/VzUQgnZec6I/AAAAAAAABJM/_q271wvhrg4DhiqZ2DDpipzy52wcJCvowCLcB/s1600/girl-walking-in-a-field-of-wheat-0008%2Bedited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IQVChG2yH_o/VzUQgnZec6I/AAAAAAAABJM/_q271wvhrg4DhiqZ2DDpipzy52wcJCvowCLcB/s400/girl-walking-in-a-field-of-wheat-0008%2Bedited.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Listen, I’m not talking about false humility; this is
Biblical humility. This is the humility that has no trouble with the fact that
I am nothing. It’s the humility that is simply more comfortable with exalting
God than exalting man. Biblical humility involves trembling at the Word,
testing yourself to see if you are in the faith, and trying to figure out what
is pleasing to the Lord. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This humility isn’t despairing. It’s not whiney. It’s realistic. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Biblical humility acknowledges that I am worth nothing; and only in Christ do I
have value and purpose! I boast in Christ alone and am strong in Him. Finding
confidence in Christ involves being “strengthened with power through His Spirit
in the inner man, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.” (Eph
3:16-17) And that’s not describing the doctrine of self-respect. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">That’s describing faith.</b> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Why is the church preaching what the Bible never preaches?
The culture Jesus and the apostles lived in was far worse than ours when it
comes to the social degradation of women, and yet there’s not one verse on female
empowerment the way it’s presented today. <span style="font-size: large;"><b>If it were important for women to respect
themselves, don’t you think God would have addressed that?</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Women (and men), we’re nothing of ourselves. We only have
value in Christ. Why isn’t it enough for us to find our value in Him? Why are
we so bent on encouraging our hearts with self-worth when God calls us to
encourage our hearts instead with <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">His</b>
promises and faithfulness?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<sup>1</sup> “Are you not worth much more than [the birds]”
from Matthew 6 is not teaching self-esteem, but God’s faithful provision. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<sup>2</sup> Self-love is assumed to be a natural, human
trait in the command to love you neighbor as yourself, it’s not intended as a
point of emphasis. See 2 Timothy 3:2 for a reference to self-love in Scripture.<br />
<sup><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;">3 </span></sup>Go ahead, look for a text other than the "royal priesthood" one in 1 Peter 2.</div>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
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/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
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mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0in;
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12934949793528399544noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2298161335343357739.post-80777816842917625602016-05-06T12:32:00.000-04:002016-05-06T12:33:47.137-04:00When Faithfulness Isn't Enough<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Faithfulness is a commendable and often underestimated quality. <br />
We know that doing the right thing says little about our character unless we're truly consistent in it. Being the Christian I should be <i>on occasion</i> isn't what God has called me to. He's called me to be the Christian, the wife, the mother, the daughter I should be... <u>every</u> day; and though I can't be perfectly consistent, by grace, my life and every day will follow that basic pattern.<br />
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Though I sin, I am not a sinner; I am a Christian. If my life were held up to a mirror, I would see a Christian. Because I trust in Christ, I have died with Christ, and I am raised with Christ. Sin is not "master over me." (Romans 6)<br />
<br />
To live this truth isn't just possible, it's essential to live faithfully.<br />
But this isn't my main point. I wanted to bring up something I was reminded of this morning:<br />
<b>There is a time when faithfulness is not enough.</b><br />
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I'm studying through Psalm 50, and the main judgment of Israel in this psalm is that they were not focused on what God truly valued. In verse 8, He says, <span class="text Ps-50-8" id="en-NASB-14677">"I do not reprove you for your sacrifices,</span><span class="text Ps-50-8"> and your burnt offerings are continually before Me." He assures them that He notices how faithful they have been in offering animals and following the logistics. But clearly that wasn't the problem. <i>The problem wasn't that they weren't being faithful.</i> The problem was, they weren't being faithful in the things that He cared most about. Later in the psalm He tells them what those things are.</span><br />
<span class="text Ps-50-8"><br /></span>
<span class="text Ps-50-8">Though we shouldn't apply texts about Israel directly to ourselves, there are some very important things that we learn about our Creator as we pay attention to how He responded to the Israelites. A major take-away is that it is possible to be faithful and still fail to honor God. Often we are focused on something we <i>think</i> is important to Him... when it actually isn't. </span><br />
<span class="text Ps-50-8"><br />We see this also in Matthew 7:21-23, where some very hard-working church members come before God expecting to be exalted to heaven... only to realize that they completely ignored the one thing God required. Despite their genuine efforts, He says to them "I never knew you". It's important that we not only <i>know </i>what He values, but that we make those things the priority of our lives. </span><br />
<span class="text Ps-50-8"><br /></span>
<span class="text Ps-50-8">As a wife, there are several things I am more often faithful in that... really, aren't as important to God as they are to me. Let me take, for instance, nutrition. I think we'd all agree that nutrition is a very good thing to be faithful in giving to our families. We do our best. But some of us know what it's like to have a husband whose priorities don't include fruits and veggies. :) There are some weeks where I am very faithful in providing my family nutrition, but at the expense of faithfulness in honoring my husband. (honoring his budget or his preferences) </span><br />
<span class="text Ps-50-8"><br />Nutrition isn't the only thing I can prioritize over God's desires. How about my schedule? Am I so determined to be faithful about my plan for today that I forget to be gracious and patient and sacrificial? And have I been gracious, patient, and sacrificial... from the heart?</span><br />
<span class="text Ps-50-8"><br /></span>
<span class="text Ps-50-8">We think that giving our best means giving what's most valuable... to us. Like Israel, we think because the sacrifice was a form of self-denial, that it must be all God could possibly want. <br />But it's not about how much sugar I can eliminate from my diet today. God doesn't care about that. It's not about getting a full thirty minutes of Bible reading time in. God doesn't care about that. It's not about the kids being squeaky clean before scurrying off to church. God doesn't care about that. </span><br />
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<span class="text Ps-50-8">We put so many expectations on our day that matter to us so much that we attribute them to God as well. Suddenly, nutrition and cleanliness and Bible time isn't just a great thing to do, it's (in my mind) "what God told me to do, and who are you to hinder the work of the Lord??" </span><br />
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<span class="text Ps-50-8">You know what's dangerous about that? We go about our day treating our self-made standards like they are God's priority, and we end up shoving our husbands and children away to get those done. </span><br />
<span class="text Ps-50-8"><br /></span>
<span class="text Ps-50-8">But what does God really prioritize?</span><i><span class="text Mic-6-8" id="en-NASB-22657"> </span></i><br />
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<i><span class="text Mic-6-8" id="en-NASB-22657">He has told you, O man, what is good;</span></i><br />
<i><span class="text Mic-6-8">And what does the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span> require of you</span></i><br />
<i><span class="text Mic-6-8">But to do justice, to love kindness,</span></i><br />
<i><span class="text Mic-6-8">And to walk humbly with your God?</span></i></div>
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<span class="text Mic-6-8">Micah 6:8</span></div>
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<span class="text Mic-6-8"> </span><i><span class="text Mic-6-8"><br /></span></i></div>
<span class="text Ps-50-8">So when you're determined to clamp down on your diet, and your husband wanted to surprise you by bringing home your favorite candy... When you're determined to spend a quiet thirty minutes in the Word this morning, but your your kids are up... When you're determined to have everyone ready for church in time, but the baby just dumped cheerios all over the kitchen... </span><br />
<span class="text Ps-50-8"><br />Remember God's priorities, not yours. <b>Do justice</b>, upholding what is right by first holding yourself to His standard. <b>Love kindness</b>, responding with grace and patience, ready to serve. <b>Walk humbly</b>, and whatever He plans for your day, make your heart ready and eager to do it.</span><br />
<span class="text Ps-50-8">And when we do get that precious thirty minutes of Bible reading time, don't treat it like clocking in. Look intently for what He values, and use that time to align your heart with His. Be faithful in His work, not just yours. </span><br />
<span class="text Ps-50-8"><br /></span>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12934949793528399544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2298161335343357739.post-22777752987580139922016-04-19T09:47:00.001-04:002016-04-19T09:47:42.256-04:00The Effective Prayer of the Righteous Man<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b>"The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.</b><span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1461069880772_5113"><sup id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1461069880772_5114"><span style="font-size: small;"><b> </b></span></sup><b>Elijah was <sup data-cr="#cen-NASB-30372AR" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NASB-30372AR" title="See cross-reference AR">AR</a>)" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1461069880772_5115"></sup>a man with a nature like ours, and <sup data-cr="#cen-NASB-30372AS" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NASB-30372AS" title="See cross-reference AS">AS</a>)" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1461069880772_5116"></sup>he prayed earnestly that it would not rain, <br />and it did not rain on the earth for <sup data-cr="#cen-NASB-30372AT" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NASB-30372AT" title="See cross-reference AT">AT</a>)" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1461069880772_5120"></sup>three years and six months.</b></span><b> </b><span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1461069880772_5121"><b>Then he <sup data-cr="#cen-NASB-30373AU" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NASB-30373AU" title="See cross-reference AU">AU</a>)" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1461069880772_5123"></sup>prayed again, and <sup data-cr="#cen-NASB-30373AV" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NASB-30373AV" title="See cross-reference AV">AV</a>)" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1461069880772_5124"></sup>the sky poured rain and the earth produced its fruit."</b></span></div>
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James 5:16-18</div>
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<b>Notice that James started out the letter emphasizing prayer as well </b>(James 1:5-8, ask in faith <sup data-cr="#cen-NASB-30273Q" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NASB-30273Q" title="See cross-reference Q">Q</a>)" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1461069880772_5379"></sup>without any doubting)<b>.</b><br /><b><br />Other texts that describe "effective" </b>(working/persistent)<b> prayer:<br />Genesis 18:23-32 </b>(Abraham begging for the lives of the righteous men in Sodom)<br /><b>Luke 11:5-13 </b>(bothersome friend parable)<br /><b>Luke 18:1-8</b> (the widow and the judge parable)</div>
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<b><br />The effective prayer is never just a wish or a longing, it's an active prayer to God... Actually taking the matter to Him because He actually can do something about the situation. Only He can accomplish "much". Instead of pretending that the situation is hopeless, we should follow the example of Abraham and Elijah and ask </b>(with humility, noticing Abraham's approach, "I am but dust and ashes")<b>,</b> <b>knowing that God can and will do as He pleases. It is because we can do so little that we go to God, often desperately and persistently. </b><i id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1461069880772_5990"><b>The persistence is based in dependence, not manipulation.</b></i></div>
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<b><i><br /></i></b></div>
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<b>Prayer is never described as a magic formula. God is not a genie in a bottle; He does as He wills and grants the request of those who fear Him and love what He loves. For instance, with Elijah, he did not pray for a drought because he was tired of all the rainy weather. He prayed for a drought because he desired what God desired. In this case, judgment on Ahab. And when Elijah prayed again for rain, it wasn't because he was thirsty or because he felt bad about the drought. He prayed for rain based on </b><i id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1461069880772_6098"><b>God's</b></i><b> purpose. <br /><br />Elijah was "a man with a nature like ours" </b>(he prayed for the drought when he was known more as a Tishbite than a prophet)<b>. But in his righteous indignation and perception of what was going on, he didn't just sit there and stew about it or just wish things were different. He prayed a prayer to the One who had the power to judge His people. This is how the effective prayer accomplishes much. A "wish" or a "longing" accomplishes nothing. We need to actually approach God with these things, as a matter of dependence and trust. <u>Faith.</u></b></div>
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<br /><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-z7IyAlveXO8/VxY09lPxJ5I/AAAAAAAABFE/MRaVMakbHNAnF9X7nvayZmAEkbwNjIg_ACLcB/s1600/fence.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-z7IyAlveXO8/VxY09lPxJ5I/AAAAAAAABFE/MRaVMakbHNAnF9X7nvayZmAEkbwNjIg_ACLcB/s400/fence.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>Notice the examples we've been given in Scripture: </b></div>
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Prayer for<b> wisdom</b></div>
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Prayer for<b> the protection of the righteous</b></div>
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Prayer for<b> the spiritual growth of believers</b></div>
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Prayer for<b> God's judgment on His enemies</b></div>
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<b>None of those are requests for personal convenience or pleasure. They're all based on what we know of God and what He desires. The prayer of the righteous man will always have <u>God's values in mind</u> and will take into account His power to do all He wills.</b> </div>
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<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br /></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12934949793528399544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2298161335343357739.post-47287126442541662052016-03-29T21:48:00.002-04:002016-04-07T16:15:00.565-04:00"As thy Days thy Strength shall be in Measure"<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;">“Do not complain, brethren, against one another, <br />so that you yourselves may not be judged; </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">behold, the Judge is standing right at the door.” James 5:9</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">This verse falls in the middle of a “take heart, the Lord is near” encouragement from James. He’s comforting them, fully aware of the persecution and grief they will continue to face in Christ. In light of that, this verse… this warning… seems a little out of place. But it’s really not. Why? Because we have responsibility, even in suffering.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">This responsibility isn’t to keep a smile plastered on our faces. It’s not a false joy that has vowed to never talk about troubles and burdens.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">But neither is it our responsibility (or right) to make sure everyone knows how pitiful and miserable we are. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The responsibility that no Christian can escape in suffering is <u>the responsibility of faith</u>. </span></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fu7i0l52KJQ/Vvsw10hRs4I/AAAAAAAABEs/hd7AWX7-k0AhP6pPv-d1stcpcd-f5wtgg/s1600/FB_IMG_1459212220770.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fu7i0l52KJQ/Vvsw10hRs4I/AAAAAAAABEs/hd7AWX7-k0AhP6pPv-d1stcpcd-f5wtgg/s400/FB_IMG_1459212220770.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">As a result of faith, we will be patient. Patient as we wait on God’s timing. Patient to endure whatever trial we are facing with until the end. Patient with each other, without complaining about each other’s failures. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Another result of faith is strength; not our strength but <i>the strength that God supplies</i>. This is a strength that keeps and suspends you above self-pity. It’s the ability, through the Spirit of God living in you, to love even when you feel you’ve been drained of all energy for doing right. Strength to encourage others when you’re still in the valley. Strength to remember the privilege and joy of our eternal hope, even when you’re surrounded by corruption.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">These aren’t just possible, this <b>is</b> what it is to be in Christ. It is faith in <i>His</i> abilities, which are beyond our comprehension. Without faith in Him, the suffering we must face in life will lead us to groan and accuse. It is our natural tendency to complain and play the part of victim when we are mistreated. To get impatient with each other because “in case you haven’t noticed, I’m suffering!!” </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">But it’s not about me. Even when others are sinning against me, God’s eyes aren’t just watching them. He is watching me as well. He judges us all with perfect judgment, knowing our resources, our heart, our intentions. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><u>In suffering, I am accountable</u>. <br />God saved me, and gave me His Spirit. He empowered me in righteousness and told me all I need to know in Scripture. He told me of His goodness, His justice, His sovereignty. He told me that trials are being used to sanctify. He told of the privilege I have in suffering for what’s right and the treasure that awaits those who persevere. He told me how to love. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">How then could I not love? <br />How could I pretend I’m empty when He has filled me?</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">How could I pretend to be a victim when I am a victor?</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Will my response to this suffering turn out as gold, silver, and precious stone, or will it be all worthless and wasted? Don’t we want the pain to be worth something? </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>“Strengthen your hearts, the Lord is near.” </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b style="text-align: left;">Let this truth not only comfort, <br />but convict and energize you in the more trying days of life. </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">“But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. And do not fear their intimidation, and do not be troubled, but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence; and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame.” <br />1 Peter 3:14-16</span></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">Help me then, in every tribulation,</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">So to trust Thy promises, O Lord,</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">That I lose not faith’s sweet consolation,</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">Offered me within Thy holy Word.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">Help me, Lord, when toil and trouble meeting,</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">E’er to take, as from a father’s hand,</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">One by one, the days, the moments fleeting,</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Till with Christ the Lord I stand.</i><br />(Sandell, Day by Day)</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12934949793528399544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2298161335343357739.post-39008331573943516842016-03-23T16:59:00.000-04:002016-03-29T22:01:49.880-04:007 Things to Remember when You’re Neglected and Disregarded<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">To those who aren’t being treated as they deserve. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">To those who struggle in fellowship.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">To all of you who are mistreated, taken advantage of, neglected, overlooked,
misunderstood, and hurt. There are a lot of you! I am writing this to help you live the
victory that Christ won for us. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Most of us, when we are wronged, tend to think automatically
that since I am the victim here, I am right. Because that person is being a
jerk, any wrong response I have (whether it be depression, fear, or anger) is
automatically justified. But it’s not. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Here are the top 7 Biblical reasons why…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> 1.<span style="font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->“He cares for you.” </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">God is the God of the afflicted and brokenhearted. He glories in taking care of
those who can turn to no one else. No matter how much emotional damage others
may inflict, we <i>cannot</i> despair
knowing that He is our Refuge. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I don’t need the praise and love of people. I don’t <i>need</i> people at church to ask me how I’m doing. I don’t <i>need</i> my husband to ask me how I feel
about things. I don’t <i>need</i> to be
treated with equality in the workplace. What I need is Him. <u>He is enough</u>. And
knowing that He is my Father gives me the ability to respond correctly to the
many wrongs I will face in life. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> 2.<span style="font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->When we’re treated unfairly, a thought that can easily
appear in our minds is “I deserve better”. In our heads this may sound more
like, “this isn’t how marriage is supposed to work!” or “who do you think you
are?”, but really, so often it’s the same idea. Watch out for this. Watch out
for how your thoughts may be reflecting a lie. I don’t have “rights”. On a
personal level, I have given them up. As Christians, we do as Christ did and
take up our cross. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">“…while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered
no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously; and He
Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and
live to righteousness (1 Peter 2:23-24)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">This means letting go of the rights we thought we had. It means letting go of
our desires, and even needs, for the sake of others. Christ didn’t die for us so
that we could treasure our rights on earth; <u>He died so that we could know and
treasure our Father above all else</u>. Are we willing to make the sacrifice that…
even Jesus Christ was willing to make for us? He could have said, “I deserve
better”, but He didn’t. We have no right to think we’re above that.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> 3.</span><span style="font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->As a woman made by God, I am equal to you, but I
am not above you. We know that none of us are innately “better”. But consider
this: That person at church who is mistreating you? Think of them as better
than you.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">You’re probably thinking, “Woah! Slow down, that sounds slavish and unwise. I’m
not going to put an unkind person on a pedestal!” But please
hear me out. While we are equal under God, He has told us to “do nothing from
selfishness or empty conceit, but <u>with humility of mind regard one another as
more important than yourselves</u>.” He continues in Philippians 2, “do not merely
look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.
Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although
He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be
grasped.”</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Think better of people than you are first inclined to. Consider them, not just
your own feelings and hurts. Work on how you look on them. Don’t belittle them.
Do your best to see them as important, especially in your prayers. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> 4.</span><span style="font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->There’s something we all need to know about fellowship:
It’s not something to <i><b>expect</b></i> but to <i><b>extend</b></i>. Don’t be the person at church who
sits in the pew and laments that no one talks to you. We have just as much
obligation to love as they do, right? BE the one who will make an effort to
start a conversation and ask “how are you doing”. Even if you aren’t naturally
social. (I know I’m not!) Even if you fear embarrassing yourself. Even if you
think they might be offended by something you said in the past. Ephesians 4
instructs us to be tolerant with each other in love, “being diligent to
preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace”. Don’t dwell on how
others aren’t doing that; YOU be the one to do it, because you love God’s
people. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">“Let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not
forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging
one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.” Hebrews 10:24-25<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> 5.<span style="font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Suffering is a normal part of the Christian
life. We know this, but maybe we think of it too often as just persecution from the
world. Honestly, much of this suffering will come from inside our families… our
churches… our marriages. These are the sources of many of our trials. But don’t
be discouraged in them. Expect that, no matter what, we will be faced with
contradictions, and many of those contradictions hurt so bad because our flesh
is constantly fighting the righteousness we pursue. Know your enemy. <u>Expect that you will be mistreated at times,
and prepare your heart to respond in love.</u> Don’t be surprised when life
hurts. We all will die with emotional scars, but we can still “consider it all
joy” when we face these trials, knowing that they sanctify us. God wastes
nothing. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
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<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> 6.<span style="font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->There is pain that comes with being mistreated,
yes; but there is also responsibility. That’s not something you hear often. But
Biblically, there is great responsibility and, dare I say, privilege, in being
treated unequally. In Christ, we are empowered. We have been given all we need “for
life and godliness”. The Spirit of God equips us to respond correctly, and
since we are equipped, let us feel obligated to use those tools! Let’s feel a
little bit of pressure to be the one to be kind… to give up personal rights.
Let’s be the one to turn the other cheek. We may think, “Well, my husband (or
other fellow Christian) is equipped too. He should be able to treat me right!”
But where in Scripture are we excused based on a fellow Christian’s behavior?
If a brother or sister has done wrong, there’s my <i><b>golden opportunity</b></i> to truly
love them. It’s easy to love when people treat us well, but <u>love comes through
strongest and best when it’s faced with mistreatment and neglect</u>. Take
advantage of this opportunity to live out your love in the very way Christ did.
Selflessly.</span><br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> 7.<span style="font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->There is responsibility that comes with being
mistreated, but there is also a prize we can lay hold of! In 1<sup>st</sup>
Peter, we read that if we suffer while doing right… we are blessed! It will not
feel this way, but reality is often different than what we can feel and see
now. The blessing we receive is not one that we will receive here. If I respond
well to an unkind person, I shouldn’t expect that God will now bless me with
extra money. But what I can expect is that my “Father who sees what is done in
secret will reward [me]”. (Matthew 6:3) He gives his children the opportunity
to store up their treasure in heaven. The reason I mention this here is because
the New Testament indicates over and over that there is great reward and
blessing in doing what is right, <i>especially
when we suffer in doing so</i>. Or maybe it’s emphasized because, when we are
hurting, it’s easy to forget the benefits to responding humbly. There <i>are</i> benefits. <u>When we react to mistreatment
wrongly, we give up eternal treasure for temporal satisfaction</u>. Let’s not pass
up these golden opportunities to honor
our Father and store up treasure worth suffering for!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12934949793528399544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2298161335343357739.post-10095369636195380172016-03-02T16:39:00.001-05:002016-03-02T16:39:06.966-05:00Greed. Glamour, and the Treasure of Service<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i>And He told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man
was very productive. And he began
reasoning to himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no place to store
my crops?’ Then he said, ‘This is what I will do: I will tear down my barns and
build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will
say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years to come; take
your ease, eat, drink and be merry.”’ But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very
night your soul is required of you; and now who will own what you have
prepared?’ So is the man who stores up treasure for himself, and is not rich
toward God.”</i> Luke 12:16-21<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
What principle does this parable explain?<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i>“Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed;
for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his
possessions.”</i> Luke 12:15<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But greed isn't just desiring money. Greed is "a
selfish desire to have more of something", and as we see in this text,
greed can be a tragic distraction from our purpose. It can convince us to
invest in a vanishing world rather than in eternal treasure. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
What are we <i>selfishly</i> desiring? What's distracting us from
God's agenda?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Are we distracted with the ambition for our kids to turn out
right? Are we distracted with developing a better reputation? And here's
another one... Are we distracted with "just surviving another day"? I
know, we use that phrase loosely. But think about it.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The godless "survive" this life. But we... are in
Christ, and "more than conquerors". Our day by day actually means
something. Not because our daily lives are just so special to God, but because
we get to participate in the things <i>He's</i> accomplishing here in these Last Days.
We get to be His slaves; we have purpose. We get to be His children and long
for His appearing. We get to be <u>"rich toward God"</u>. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It seems that, typically, we plan more about how to be rich
and glamorous here on earth. We buy new clothes, look every which way for
improvements to our homes, and invest time in simply improving our quality of
life. That's not bad. What's bad is when we think more about those things than
we do about being "rich toward God". Meaning, investing our heart and
time (these Last Days) in what <i>He</i> values.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Are we using up our time and resources and emotions <u>on what
He values</u>? Why do we resent being tired at the end of the day? Why do we resent
when our body shows signs of use? Why do we resent being emotionally drained?
If we are using our lives on what honors the Lord God, it should bring a small,
tired smile to our faces when we feel spent and battered by the day. This is
what it is to be rich toward God.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
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What makes you feel glamorous? (or for guys, what makes you
feel important?) Is it stylish clothes, money in the bank, new stuff? These are
the things we need to be so careful of, friends. Let's rethink our riches.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
What will we boast in when we get to heaven? What will make
us feel important then? <u><i>Our Lord Christ.</i></u> And the glamour of eternal life is the
<i>honor</i> of being used for the things He treasures. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b>What does your life consist of? Remember His cause.</b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i>“Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.”</i> 1 John 2:15-17</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12934949793528399544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2298161335343357739.post-81649720312106060672016-02-23T16:41:00.000-05:002016-02-23T16:41:53.196-05:00I needed to qualify...?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
</div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"...since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you </span><br />
<div>
<span class="text Col-1-12" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><div>
<span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> and to ask </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will </span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: #20124d;"> in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, </span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, </span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> to please Him in all respects, </span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; </span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, </span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; </span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> joyously giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us </span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light." </span></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> Colossians 1:9-12</span></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The last sentence there caught my attention yesterday. Do we think about this much? "I needed to <i><b>qualify</b></i> for eternal life? Is that even grace language??" We think of salvation most often in terms of how God saved us by grace through faith, but we don't often think how God's grace accomplishes what it does or how perfectly it balances with His justice. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />When I married my husband last winter, I vowed to love him and honor him. What's unique about concepts like love and honor is that they aren't as simple as they seem. Love, like honor, isn't just a word. It is fleshed out through self denial, multiple daily decisions, and an active pursuit of what is best for my husband instead of myself. I can say I love him, but only action will accomplish love for what it was <i>meant</i> to be.<br /><br />Grace isn't just a word either. The grace of God isn't just </span><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">a statement</span><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> or </span><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">a smile. If it were, we would smile back and reply, "I like you too, God." The true response to God's grace, though, is described as<i style="font-weight: bold;"> joyously giving thanks</i>. Because that grace actually <i>performed</i> salvation.<br /><br />In sin, we didn't "qualify" for heaven. We know this. This is where we think the grace of God takes over as lackadaisically, God says, "Oh sinner, I love you so much that... well, righteousness isn't that important anymore. Besides, you'd never achieve it anyway. Here, I'll give you a free pass." That's what grace sounds like to a lot of us: just getting blessings that aren't deserved.<br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">As with love, the Bible teaches that grace wasn't that simple and euphorian. Instead of turning His back on justice to ignore our sin, He used justice to condemn the Lord Jesus and return all the righteousness of that perfect Man... to us. Christ lives again, and He lives in us.<br /> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">He </span><b style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">QUALIFIED</b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> us. </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br /><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It wasn't magic, it was sacrifice, and blood, and tears. <br />It was effective grace, not pretend grace.<br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Today as a Christian, your earthly body will sin and fail; but pray that you may be <i>filled with the knowledge of His will.</i> And may that knowledge be comprehended with </span><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>all spiritual wisdom and understanding</i>. This is how we are actually able to <i>walk</i></span><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i> </i></span><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>in a manner worthy of the Lord </i>even though we have to die to self in the process! To know what He says and to do it is the only way we will <i>please Him in all respects. <br />B</i></span><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>ear fruit in every good work</i>; let your efforts be useful and purposeful. <i>Increase in the knowledge of God. </i>Remember that in these things you <u>are</u> </span><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>strengthened with all power, according to </i><u style="font-style: italic;">His</u><i> glorious might </i>for </span><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">consistent endurance and patience in the work He gives you. Remember the grace of God that <b>qualified</b> you <i>to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light</i>, and thank God the Father who gave us grace worthy to rejoice over!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
</div>
</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12934949793528399544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2298161335343357739.post-84583965400057712222016-02-16T15:32:00.001-05:002016-02-16T15:46:49.440-05:00Just a Vapor<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "garamond" , serif; text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Come now, you who
say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, and spend a year
there and engage in business and make a profit.” Yet you do not know what your
life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little
while and then vanishes away. Instead, you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we
will live and also do this or that.” But as it is, you boast in your arrogance;
all such boasting is evil.</b></span></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , serif;">James 4:13-16<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond" , serif;"><b>Contemplate your
life's worth. "You are just a vapor."</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , serif;">The world's most
generous philanthropist. A doctor discovering cures for the worst
diseases. A teacher/counselor who influences generation after generation of
people for good. We all want to be of use in this world and a force for good,
like these. We want to make plans and execute them. We want to make something
of our lives, even in Christlike ways like helping others and sacrificing for
them. These things are good... but are these things why we're here?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , serif;">James addresses
the kind of person who sets out on a business venture. The person who plans
ahead, thinks things through, and has reasonable life goals. This person isn't
lazy or unfruitful or expecting to profit unjustly. This person is responsible
and proactive and willing to sacrifice the comforts of home to succeed. In any
society, this is an upstanding, respected person who does what he sets his mind
to. A do-it-yourselfer. (Even if we were to look on this person as greedy or
money-hungry, they are still going about it the right way, right?) So, it's a
little shocking at first that James gets so "preachy" toward them. I
think that maybe it was meant to be a little shocking? He gets us to think
about something we wouldn't normally consider: that we are living and working
<b>in</b> this world, not <b>for</b> it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , serif;">We aren't here to
make the world a better place, we're here as foreigners waiting to go home. The
person James speaks to here lives with a perspective focused on earthly
successes. He lives on what he can see and plan and prepare for; and while he
seems disciplined, his thoughts are distracted with this short life. He is just
a vapor. He may pursue much in life, but to what end? This reminds me so much
of the "all is vanity" from Ecclesiastes... When Christ returns or we
die and this all-too-engaging life evaporates in front of us, we'll be left to
wonder what it all was for. Was life as long as I thought? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , serif;">And... was life as much
at my disposal as I thought? Those who have said things like "nothing can
stop me from becoming what I want to be" and "no one can stop me from
following my dreams" will come face-to-face with the One who most
certainly can stop them. The businessman James speaks to was "boasting in [his]
arrogance" that he could accomplish what he wanted to, and I think we have
a lot of examples of that today. Many have great faith that they can create
their own destiny and "shoot for the moon", accomplishing greatness
through their own skill and personality. And perhaps they will succeed in their
endeavors! Only to find that they, along with everything they accomplished will
be completely irrelevant in the end. And whatever had been accomplished in life
was accomplished by God's will not theirs.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , serif;">The businessman of James 4 plans and works, but he fails to consider first that God gave him all he has and second that what God has purposed may not match up with his own goals. He lacks the humility that comes with an obedient heart, ready and willing to alter his course and serve God in whatever circumstance blocks his way. He ought to say, <span style="font-size: medium;">“If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that.”</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , serif;">God doesn't exist
to fulfill our dreams, to accomplish our goals, or to help our day go
smoother. We're here by <b>His</b> will, to do <b>His</b> will, and to love <b>His</b> will, forsaking
our own dreams and goals. We're at His disposal. Whatever abilities and
resources we have... We received them all from God, and it is not false
humility to acknowledge this nor is it frivolous to use up our resources for His
purposes. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , serif;">Today, remember
why you do what you do, and remember that God has already determined how your
day will go. Keep a constant level of humility about you as you think and plan
and do, knowing that God does whatever He pleases (Psalm 115:3). You exist for
Him. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , serif;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Behold, the
bondslave of the Lord; may it be done to me according to your word.</b></span></i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , serif;">Mary, Luke 1:38<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , serif;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12934949793528399544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2298161335343357739.post-82856184258448380152014-12-15T10:05:00.000-05:002016-02-16T11:24:17.368-05:00Walk Worthy<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
1 Thessalonians 1:10-12<br />
"...Walk in a manner worthy of the God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory."<br />
<br />
Scripture has not told us to walk in a manner worthy of God's <i>favor</i>. Clearly. But do not allow yourself to confuse that fact with the exhortation Scripture <i>does</i> give... To walk in a manner worthy of God.<br />
These are not texts asking us to deserve salvation. They are imploring us to live in light of grace in thankfulness and the fear of God.<br />
The Lord has called us- from misery and death- into His own kingdom and glory. We need only to remember this. His mercy... Which teaches us to show mercy and forgiveness and added grace to people. His sacrifice... Which teaches us to deny ourselves and give up rights for His cause.<br />
So that even when we (very personally) face difficulty and the deep griefs, these miseries are counted all joy because of what we're allowed to be a part of: His own kingdom and glory.<br />
Our walking worthy is a direct response to remembering His love for us. Not a love which caters to my walk and tendencies, but a love which calls me to His righteousness and glorious cause.<br />
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12934949793528399544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2298161335343357739.post-38473585922316585872014-07-13T19:11:00.001-04:002014-07-13T19:33:27.794-04:00To Know God<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I'll start by admitting that this is a personal topic for me. The more Scripture I read, the more I learn the importance of knowing God. That it is actually the difference between eternal life and eternal condemnation.<br />
John 17:3 "This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent."<br />
<br />
<div>
<div>
Matthew 7:22-23 "Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?' And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.' "</div>
<div>
It's not enough to do the typical... To claim the promises, agree to a doctrinal statement, or keep trying to prove your spirituality. If you do not know the one true God and if that one true God doesn't know you, you have missed something crucial.<br />
I, for one, didn't want to miss it; but for a while, I wondered if... if I really did know God. Was I missing something? What does it really mean to know God? How do I know that I DO know Him? What does that look like? What does it feel like to be able to relate to the Creator?<br />
Just recently things started to make sense. Friday night, I decided to go upstairs and study another verse of Galatians 4. I've been studying Galatians with Tim for a while, but I'm ashamed to say I've not been as consistent as he's been. But it just so happened (i.e. God expertly planned) that the verses I was getting to next would answer my concerns.<br />
You're going to need to read and visualize the context to see the point, so please, don't just skim over this portion. </div>
</div>
<div>
<div>
Galatians 4:1-9<br />
"Now I say, as long as the heir is a child, he does not differ at all from a slave although he is owner of everything, but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by the father.</div>
<div>
So also we, while we were children, were held in bondage under the elemental things of the world.</div>
<div>
But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, 'Abba! Father!'</div>
<div>
Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God.<br />
However at that time, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those which by nature are no gods. But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how is it that you turn back again to the weak and worthless elemental things, to which you desire to be enslaved all over again?"</div>
</div>
<div>
Notice that when Paul brings up knowing God, he is referring back to what he just described above. He is clarifying the comparison of the time before repentance and faith (in bondage to the elementary things) and the time when God sent His Spirit into our hearts. When we were still in bondage, we did not know God. When God sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, we DID know Him and called Him "Father".<br />
So what made the difference? Where is the transition?<br />
I notice a significant phrase that's used twice in that passage: "God sent"<br />
"God sent forth His Son..."<br />
"God sent forth the Spirit of His Son..."<br />
Read that transition point again (vs. 4-7). It's in those verses that we can find what it really means to know God... Or rather, to be known by God.<br />
It has nothing to do with having a spiritual experience or feeling. It has nothing to do with making God your best bud, where you can complete each other's sentences. It has everything to do with His gracious decision to make us His children.<br />
I came to the conclusion that the knowledge of God is not something we can achieve. It is something He discloses to us by sending His Son to earth and the Spirit of His Son into our hearts.</div>
It's not some... spiritual experience or level to be reached as much as it is... To be known <i>of</i> Him. Our relationship to Him is bound up in what He has done, not how close we feel to Him. We <i>have</i> sonship; and we know Him. We know Him as our Father. Therefore, our goal isn't to develop an intimate friendship with God, but to <i>honor</i> Him as He has already disclosed Himself to us.<br />
<br />
John 14:5-11 is also helpful. :)<br />
Thomas said to Him, "Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way?" Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me. If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; from now on you know Him, and have seen Him."<br />
Philip said to Him, "Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us." Jesus said to him, "Have I been so long with you, and yet you have not come to know Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; how can you say, 'Show us the Father'? Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on My own initiative, but the Father abiding in Me does His works. Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me; otherwise believe because of the works themselves..."<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12934949793528399544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2298161335343357739.post-41787245281392451052014-06-20T22:11:00.000-04:002015-07-02T23:59:36.678-04:00The Humanist's Graven Image<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: inherit;">Two days in a row, I found myself in conversations where a certain point of logic was used to defend mankind. The same humanistic retreat from two completely different people.</span><br />
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: inherit;">And both seemed to be... unconsciously annoyed with the concept that the natural expression of the human heart and mind is not good enough for God. Perhaps more annoyed with the concept that, even if people are not good enough for God, God can make the best of it... see past it... and treat them in light of the little specks of well-intentioned "good" that every moral human exhibits. How could my "super hero" Jesus... my "bro" Jesus... my "bff" Jesus... my "greatest admirer" Jesus... How could <b>Jesus</b> not want me to embrace who I am? </span><br />
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: inherit;">To step back a moment...</span><br />
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: inherit;">As Christians, most of us know this world will unanimously agree that purposing to "be yourself" is a virtue; and when that perspective is contradicted, where better to retreat than to the witty and church-kosher theology that hey, "We're made in God's image, right?" This is the logic- Satanic logic- that, so far, I have heard three different people employ in their defense of self-worth and self-esteem (self-love) and self-expression.</span><br />
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: inherit;">As Christians, we may remember 2 Timothy 3:1-7 ("But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy...") and really aren't even past the first trait of that prophesied society before we understand to associate it with our own culture. But it's not just that people are self-absorbed and haters of God. They are <b>deceived</b>. They follow a <b>false Jesus</b>; and as typical for a world fallen prey to the devils plots, they have a religious back-up plan to defend their sin:</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: inherit;">"God made us in His image. </span><span style="color: #660000; font-family: inherit;">And why would God make people the way they are </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: inherit;">and then judge them for it?"</span></div>
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: inherit;">When we hear this sort of question, I believe it would do us well... in fidelity to the Gospel... to answer in faith. To counter this blaspheme, not just in our own hearts, but in our opportunities to persuade the lost.</span><br />
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: inherit;">So then, is it true that mankind is made in God's image? Of course. There is no denying that God set mankind apart from the rest of creation to be uniquely His... to look like Him, reason like Him, talk with Him. From the very beginning God intended mankind for a purpose more particular and engaging than the purpose of any other living creature. A special relationship to the Creator. A means of communication and identity. Mankind, out of all creation, has <b>the privilege of identity</b> with the Lord.</span><br />
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: inherit;">But - who could escape this fact? - we, who have the privilege of association with God, have done wrong. We have issues. We have sinned and rebelled against the one we should have been eager to know and worship. </span><br />
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: inherit;">Needless to say, the choices of those who were made to know God do not change <b>who God is</b>. The fact that we have contradicted Him does not change His image in any way. He is the Creator. We are the creation. Which is subject to change again? The creation. We are fickle and imperfect; and though in the beginning God created us to embrace the glory of His character (image) and goodness, we did not. All of us, like Adam and Eve, reasoned around His perfection... found fault with Him... turned to an <i>images</i> that we thought would be easier and more convenient for us to worship. </span><br />
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: inherit;">"For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures. Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them. For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen." (Romans 1:21-25) </span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: inherit;">"This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God." </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: inherit;">(John 3:19-21)</span><br />
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #660000;">All of us have loved darkness. We are in no position to speak for ourselves... to vi for our rights, as if there really could be injustice with God. (Romans 9) Our condemnation is just, and a fair God would condemn us all. Outright. For all eternity. But He is not only holy and just, but astonishingly merciful and loving. He gave us a way of redemption through Christ, The Light of the world, the Son of God... our only hope of restoration to our Maker. </span></div>
</div>
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: inherit;">Do not be deceived... All people are made in God's image, but all people have willingly corrupted themselves with the figment that through independence and self-will they "can be like God, knowing good and evil"(Gen. 3:5). Contrary to popular belief, we may be like God, not by embracing ourselves or finding divinity in our nature, but by <b>conforming to Him</b>! And this only by God's mercy and grace in redeeming us... children of wrath (Eph. 2:3)... and conforming us to the image of His Son (Rom. 8:29), that we would become the children of God.</span><br />
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: inherit;">"As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, 'YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY.'"</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: inherit;">(1 Peter 1:14-16)</span></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12934949793528399544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2298161335343357739.post-79401676170586996032014-01-27T18:31:00.000-05:002014-01-27T18:39:49.274-05:00The glorious privilege of everyday suffering<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<div lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: JasmineUPC, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15pt;">Aye,
the benefits of trials. Who wants to hear the <i>benefits</i> of a
trial when they are going through it? What human wants to know the
upside to their troubles? There may come a point where we want to
hear something positive, but most often, when we are hurting... when
we are sad, all we want is for someone to come along and join us in
our self-pity. </span></span></span>
</div>
<div lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: JasmineUPC, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15pt;">Sometimes
we just want to see the downside of the situation, and sometimes we
want to see the downside of a situation because the part of us that
hurts is searching desperately for a way out of our trials. </span></span></span>
</div>
<div lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: JasmineUPC, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15pt;">But
that is human nature... to want to avoid discomfort and hardships.
It's normal. Healthy even. </span></span></span>
</div>
<div lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: JasmineUPC, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15pt;">The
paradox we find in Scripture though... is that It constantly sheds a
positive light on trials! Even the random ones throughout our day...
the various ones, not just the spiritual. </span></span></span>
</div>
<div lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: JasmineUPC, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15pt;">From
the perspective of faith, there is an upside to trials. There's
actually a purpose- many purposes -for them. </span></span></span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: JasmineUPC, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15pt;">Trials
<span lang="en-US">work together for good,</span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: JasmineUPC, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15pt;">conforming
us to the image of His Son. _ Rom. 8</span></span></span></div>
<div lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: JasmineUPC, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15pt;">They
producing endurance for making us complete lacking in nothing _ James
1</span></span></span></div>
<div lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: JasmineUPC, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15pt;">And
are producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all
comparison. _ 2 Co. 4</span></span></span></div>
<div lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: JasmineUPC, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15pt;">They
prove our faith, which results in praise and glory and honor at the
revelation of Jesus Christ _ 1 Peter 1</span></span></span></div>
<div lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: JasmineUPC, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15pt;">Trials
give us the ability to even share the sufferings of Christ! _ 1 Peter
4</span></span></span></div>
<div lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: JasmineUPC, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15pt;">To
us... ("those who love God, to those who are the called
according to his purpose")... what a waste it would be if we
succeeded in getting out of a trial. If we actually succeeded in
getting out of such a privilege... an eternal glory! How many people
actually have the opportunity to go through a hardship and respond in
a way that glorifies God? How many people in this world have the
ability <u>by faith</u> to know that their everyday struggles may
actually be <i>worth</i> something! We could go through life and just
pretend that every trial is just an offense against me, and that,
really when it comes down to it, I
Deserve Better. We could pretend that everything that hurts me
is evil and that everything that comforts me is good. But that is
humanism, not faith. </span></span></span>
</div>
<div lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: JasmineUPC, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15pt;">Instead,
the thinking of faith says, </span></span></span>
</div>
<div lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: JasmineUPC, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15pt;">Leave
me the sufferings! </span></span></span>
</div>
<div lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: JasmineUPC, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15pt;">For
I know that God does not sanctify me most when I am comfortable and
loved by others.</span></span></span></div>
<div lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: JasmineUPC, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15pt;">My
Lord didn't live a life of ease, and He certainly was not loved of
men. </span></span></span>
</div>
<div lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: JasmineUPC, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15pt;">He
<i>emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and</i><span style="color: black;"><i>
being made in the likeness of men. </i></span></span></span></span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: JasmineUPC, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15pt;"><i>Being
found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient
to the point of death, </i></span></span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: JasmineUPC, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15pt;"><i>even
death on a cross. _ Php. 2</i></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: JasmineUPC, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15pt;">Being
only flesh, surely I deserve no less humiliation.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: JasmineUPC, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15pt;">How
could I seek to escape the obedience that even my Lord did not?</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: JasmineUPC, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15pt;">A
slave is not greater than his Master. _ John 13</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: JasmineUPC, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15pt;">~</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: JasmineUPC, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15pt;">Leave
me the trials!</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: JasmineUPC, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15pt;">For
I know that my faith is not tried when all my expectations are met.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: JasmineUPC, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15pt;">The
precious value of faith is only proved when steeped in the fire of
God's mysterious providence.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: JasmineUPC, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15pt;">Not
seeing, do you love Him?</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: JasmineUPC, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15pt;">Not
seeing, do you believe in Him?</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: JasmineUPC, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15pt;"><span style="color: black;">For
only believing can </span><span style="color: black;"><i>you</i></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: JasmineUPC;"><span lang="en-US"><i>
greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,</i></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: JasmineUPC;"><span style="font-size: 15pt;"><i>obtaining
as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls. _ 1 Peter 1</i></span></span></span></div>
<div lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: JasmineUPC;"><span style="font-size: 15pt;"><i>~</i></span></span></span></div>
<div lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: JasmineUPC, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15pt;">Leave
me the afflictions!</span></span></span></div>
<div lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: JasmineUPC;"><span style="font-size: 15pt;"><i>For
I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to
be compared </i></span></span></span>
</div>
<div lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: JasmineUPC;"><span style="font-size: 15pt;"><i>with
the glory that is to be revealed to us. _ Romans 8</i></span></span></span></div>
<div lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: JasmineUPC, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15pt;"><i>But
though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed
day by day.</i></span></span></span></div>
<div lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: JasmineUPC, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15pt;">"Consider
it all joy"! </span></span></span>
</div>
<div lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: JasmineUPC, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15pt;"><i>For
momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of
glory far beyond all comparison,</i></span></span></span></div>
<div lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: JasmineUPC, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15pt;"><i>while
we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are
not seen; </i></span></span></span>
</div>
<div lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: JasmineUPC, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15pt;"><i>for
the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not
seen are eternal. _ 2 Cor. 4</i></span></span></span></div>
<div lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: JasmineUPC, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15pt;"><i>Beloved,
do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon
you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to
you; but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep
on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may
rejoice with exultation. _</i>1
Peter 4:12-13</span></span></span></div>
<div lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: JasmineUPC, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15pt;">Trials
are not meant to be enjoyable... by definition they are not, but what
an advantage we may have to realize what follows endurance is more
precious that gold... And what contentment we may have knowing that
even our present distress will <span style="font-family: JasmineUPC;"><i>result
in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ! _ </i></span><span style="font-family: JasmineUPC;"><i>1
Peter 1:6-7</i></span></span></span></span></div>
<div lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
</div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12934949793528399544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2298161335343357739.post-5383856701247066652013-10-23T12:31:00.001-04:002013-10-23T12:31:55.652-04:00Our Faithless Baskets<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Sometimes
I wonder how different things would be if we actually lived like the
Truth was real. We get out of bed and go about our lives, just like
the rest of the world does. We interact with people and distribute
our time on whatever we find most important. But imagine how
different our priorities and words would be if we actually believed
God.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;">"But
the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will
pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense
heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up. Since all these
things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you
to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the
coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be
destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat!" </span>(2
Peter 3:10-12)</span></div>
<div lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">We
live in an age where it is rare - very rare - to see an example of
faith. Christianity has come to be defined by whatever society finds
easy to swallow. It is not based on the Word of God but on, quite
often, what best complements human self-pity and self-esteem. Many
claim to "have faith": that they believe God. And yet they
are satisfied with being ignorant of what God says and continue to
live by the standard of their own comfort.
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">But
honestly, this issue hits closer to home. We all know of people who
disregard the Word of God in obvious ways, but a thought that often
grates at my mind is that... so often even we ourselves disregard the
Truth because courtesy toward the world has outranked our
responsibility to share the Gospel.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;">"You
are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden;
nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the
lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your
light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good
works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven." </span>(Matthew
5:14-16)</span></div>
<div lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;"><span lang="en-US">It
is my opinion that the most effective "basket" in the
church is the pressure to be politically correct. We get sucked into
the delusion that our purpose as Christians is peace with the world.
That it's best to not rock to the boat. That it's more loving to hide
the light of the Truth than to offend people. But life is not about
relationships. Life is not about having everybody love us. Life is
about God, and if we love Him, we could not be so absorbed in the
fear of man. </span></span>
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The
thing is, if we do not <i>know</i> the Truth, we have no Truth to
<i>believe</i>. And if we do not <i>believe</i> the Truth, we cannot
<i>live</i> it. And if we do not <i>live</i> it, what makes us think
we're going to be able to <i>share</i> it? It is no wonder so few
professing Christians are able to even talk about the Truth.
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Really,
there is no "famine in the land". It's not that the Truth
is absent. The Truth is hidden. And it's hidden by the many "baskets"
churches have weaved in the name of peace. But it's so sad to think
of how many people have willingly traded peace with God for
friendship with the world. And it doesn't often sound that bad
either. Often it come in the form of avoiding real conversations with
coworkers or shoving the Truth out of the way so so it's possible to
spend tension-free family time. What an unfortunate sacrifice; and
yet they are made all the time.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;">"Do
not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to
bring peace, but a sword. For I came to SET A MAN AGAINST HIS FATHER,
AND A DAUGHTER AGAINST HER MOTHER, AND A DAUGHTER-IN-LAW AGAINST HER
MOTHER-IN-LAW; and A MAN'S ENEMIES WILL BE THE MEMBERS OF HIS
HOUSEHOLD. He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy
of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of
Me. And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not
worthy of Me. "He who has found his life will lose it, and he
who has lost his life for My sake will find it. </span>(Matthew
10:34-39)</span></div>
<div lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;"><span lang="en-US">We
know that </span></span>the wrath of God is
revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of
men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness (Romans 1:18).<span style="color: black;"><span lang="en-US">
But it is just as dangerous to suppress the Truth in our
"righteousness". It is not righteous to agree with
everybody. It is not loving to make everybody feel comfortable in
their sin. And it is not faith to live as if the Word of God isn't
worth losing everything for.</span></span></span></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12934949793528399544noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2298161335343357739.post-70471620451981979712013-05-31T11:29:00.000-04:002013-05-31T11:29:56.835-04:00Used of God<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Yesterday, while cleaning up the laundry room it fascinated me that often the dirtiest places in the house tend to be where the cleaning happens. (not unlike how the house manages to somehow look the filthiest on cleaning day) Even though laundry bins (as well as soap caddies, sponges, etc.) exist to play a role in getting our clothes clean, even they get dirty. Laundry bins are just tools that contribute to a cause. We don't make a big fuss over them- we accept that they don't need to be pristine. Because they serve a relevant purpose. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Tools, in general, don't ever seem to be a point of focus, do they? My grandpa is retiring now, but all his life he has been a carpenter. His shop was always cluttered with hundreds of tools that suited the various jobs he had done for people. Some of them were shiny and impressive, but most of them were, we would say, "worse for wear." Generally, tools are expected to be that way. Used. Maybe dented, scratched, or chipped. Maybe rusty or stained. And we know why: they are "utility." </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Tools are built to take pressure; and tools are meant to be scarred. They might need some wiping off or sharpening on occasion, but we don't baby them. If a tool gets dirty in use, we aren't too surprised. We expect that tools will absorb the shock and endure resistance and take the wear. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">It just struck me that, so often, those who claim to be in Christ... don't see themselves in that light. And that so often I don't see myself in that light. In Christ, we are certainly children of God; but we cannot forget that we are also His tools... His slaves... His vessels. We humans are so quick to complain about our scars. So quick to use various abuses as a sort of justification. We're always hearing talk of physical abuse, mental scars, emotion scars... but that doesn't belong in the church. That "victim" attitude does not make sense among those who claim to be at God's dispense. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Paul, as slave for Christ's sake, made his willingness in utility clear when he wrote, "But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves; we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So death works in us, but life in you." (2 Co. 4:7-12) He was ready to be used- even to be used up- for God's agenda. Did Paul have physical, mental, emotional scars? To be sure, he had many. But the tool is never the point. By definition, a tool contributes to a specific cause, and it is no different with us.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">One significant thing about tools though is that... not only are they made to be used, but they are made for a use. A hammer is made for impact. A wheelbarrow is made for bearing loads. And, in turn, we are made for our work. "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them." (Eph. 2:10) In our old self, we could not do good; we could not obey God and we could not love others. But the new self- the product of God's grace- "has been created in righteousness and holiness and truth." (Eph. 4:24) On our own, we would never be fit for the work God has given us, yet through the new self we are not only useful to the Master, but prepared for every good work. (2 Ti. 2:21) </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">So it's not just that we should expect the be used (I even dare say abused) in our service to God. We do anticipate that. But one of the most fulfilling truths we could know is that we were made for this very purpose- to face this very pressure and to bear this very load. With that knowledge, how could we complain about the scars or signs of wear? Even our society recognizes, at least to some degree, the privilege of sacrificing for a cause. Paul continued to the Corinthians, "For all things are for your sakes, so that the grace which is spreading to more and more people may cause the giving of thanks to abound to the glory of God. Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal." (2 Co. 4:15-18) The apostles had a cause far more glorious than any of the world's agendas- that being the cause of the Lord God- and it is one that all Christians can hold to. We can even rejoice through our work and affliction because all this is for God's glory, not ours. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">It's not about the tool- it is about the cause. Or, in this case, the Causer. He is the reason for the work. He is the One who commissioned us to the work. He is the One who prepares us for the work. And we are so fortunate to be invested in His cause!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">"Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation." (1 Pe. 4:12-13)</span><br />
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12934949793528399544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2298161335343357739.post-72125324193109823472013-05-15T21:18:00.000-04:002013-05-15T21:18:26.507-04:00Holy, Holy, Holy<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div align="CENTER" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;">Out
from the throne come flashes of lightning and sounds and peals of
thunder. And there were seven lamps of fire burning before the
throne, which are the seven Spirits of God; and before the throne
there was something like a sea of glass, like crystal; and in the
center and around the throne, four living creatures full of eyes in
front and behind. The first creature was like a lion, and the second
creature like a calf, and the third creature had a face like that of
a man, and the fourth creature was like a flying eagle. And the four
living creatures, each one of them having six wings, are full of eyes
around and within; and day and night they do not cease to say, "HOLY,
HOLY, HOLY is THE LORD GOD, THE ALMIGHTY, WHO WAS AND WHO IS AND WHO
IS TO COME." </span>
</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Revelation
4:5-8</span></span></div>
<div align="CENTER" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Qj31XGXk_kA/UZQzcBfTwnI/AAAAAAAAAgw/ORLj1AJ9cDo/s1600/007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Qj31XGXk_kA/UZQzcBfTwnI/AAAAAAAAAgw/ORLj1AJ9cDo/s320/007.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">An error on my part (one that has been
weeded out recently) is the subconscious thought that... this kind of
constant praise would somehow get to be common-place... so normal in
Heaven that we would start getting used to the praise of God, or that
the creatures who are saying these things might question at some
point why this has to go on forever? <br />But, in truth, there...
would be no questioning of "why." I have understood Heaven
as centered around God, yes, but whether I understood the glory of it
is questionable- and truly, none of us could understand it fully. Yet
a thought struck me this morning while I was watching the sunrise...
<br />Those creatures aren't saying that over and over just out of
obligation. They aren't praising God as thoughtless beings who could
care less about whether or not the one they're worshiping is actually
holy. They praise God in the constant overpowering awe of His
presence. And it will be the same with us.
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">As of now, we think of God and His
power as described in His Word, but it's so... easy, in our
forgetfulness, to stop praising Him. His invisible attributes, His
eternal power and divine nature become... some how stale in our
thinking until God is only a concept, not our Creator.
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Nonetheless, it will not be long until
we will see Him in all His glory. His greatness, right before our
eyes. Not a dream- a gripping and spectacular reality, suddenly
revealed. The I Am Himself made manifest to us all.
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">At that point, there would be no wonder
as to why there would be beings specially given to the unceasing
declaration of His holiness. His presence doesn't just demand this
response- it could draw nothing less from us. The only sense of
obligation here is a natural response to His greatness. To behold Him
would strike us to the core.
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">If these beings in Revelation could
stand before God and never for all eternity stop proclaiming His
attributes, what does that indicate to us about His glory? One day we
will behold Him just like these creatures and be taken with His
majesty. But this same Lord is with us every moment of our lives. Do
we acknowledge Him in all our ways? And when we acknowledge Him, do
we remember His greatness? Are we stunned by His sovereignty? Do we
truly fear Him? If we could grasp what Scripture says... that He is
in every way holy... that all will be constrained to bow to His
splendor... then it would not be so difficult a thing.</span></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12934949793528399544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2298161335343357739.post-77404225173040208512013-05-04T11:45:00.001-04:002013-05-04T11:45:48.741-04:00The Pre-eminent Gospel<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Thesis_ It is the common belief that there are various ways to get to heaven- more specifically, that there are various ways to gain the favor of God. I propose here that there is only one way- faith in the Lord Jesus Christ- which is clearly defined in Scripture.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> So often we have heard in our society the expectant voices of many when they speak of heaven and the joys they anticipate for their own souls or for the soul of another, regardless of what faith is held to. There are many people in this world who are clinging to a false hope as they are assured again and again that what they hold to is genuine. But how are we to know the truth? Some will say that it is enough for a person to simply believe in any god, as if they are all the same deity in varied forms. Others believe God loves all people and would sooner overlook sin than condemn anyone. More prevalent, there is the understanding that if one is a "good person", that God could not reject him. And a view that has gained much popularity in the church is that God forgives believers but leaves them in their sins. But what has God Himself said? If it is His favor that mankind is in need of, certainly we should look into what He has told us. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> If we wish to know what is pleasing to God, we must know who He is- that, in every way, God is holy. As the almighty Creator, He is both set apart and set above all else. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Remember the former things long past, For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is no one like Me, Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things which have not been done, Saying, 'My purpose will be established, And I will accomplish all My good pleasure' _ Isaiah 46:9-10</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">His nature is supreme; His acts are right; His perspective is flawless; and His ways are far above our own. Who is man to find fault in Him? The Lord God has created all that is, and all that is exists for His sake. All is under His dominion and subject to His decree. Therefore only He defines good and, in turn, evil. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> When God created the first of mankind (i.e. Adam and Eve), they were indeed good. In the Garden of Eden, they knew God and talked with Him directly. There was precious harmony and unhindered Divine favor toward the human race. Alas, sin severed that fellowship and estranged man from God. From then on, the ones God had created in His image fell short of His glory and became slaves to their own desires. The world of men has since been to God an object of judgment and patience, far from affection and peace.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> It was sin that wreaked havoc in Eden, and turned man against God. The wrong was not on God's part, but on man's. Finding a way around what God had established, Adam and Eve ate the fruit of the one forbidden tree; but it was not the fruit that condemned them. The convicting fault was elevating their own desires above God's: the very root of sin. It essentially freed them from the Divine will and enslaved them to themselves. As a result, every child is born a slave to sin and, by instinct, an enemy of God. But sin has defiled mankind further than an inherited curse. Each man's heart would defy the Lord and, in turn, earn his own condemnation. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">ALL HAVE TURNED ASIDE, TOGETHER THEY HAVE BECOME USELESS; THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD, THERE IS NOT EVEN ONE. _ Romans 3:12</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> In setting man against God, sin had turned God against man. Clearly, it is no light thing in His eyes. We find that sin isn't something God simply does not prefer. It is, in fact, something He hates; and not only does He hate it, but He does not accept it in any form. As evidenced in Eden, God is not tolerant of sin, because its very cause is set against Him. It is, by definition, the very opposite and alternative to Himself; thus those who serve sin have not only rejected Him, but have identified themselves as His enemies. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Consequently, sin doesn't just oppose what God has established but sets up its own righteousness- a righteousness apart from God's. It is both worthless and detestable before Him because it is only truly the next level of rebellion against His goodness. Personal morals that are independent of God may very well seem acceptable and virtuous to us, but the truth of the matter is that God will judge based on His standard, not ours. Nonetheless, people have rejected His perspective and have set up gods that fluctuate with their own lusts and self-defined merits. It is an idolatry of varying forms.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Tainted by sin and enslaved to his own flesh, mankind stands condemned before his Creator. Anything man could offer God is perverted before Him, and nothing man might do could please Him; "because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, and those who are in the flesh cannot please God." (Romans 8:7-8) As a result, nothing man could do is able to justify him.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> With man and his works condemned of God, his only hope could be found outside of himself. Peace with God could only be found apart from his sin and, in the same way, apart from even his supposed merit. But who could be a mediator? Who is there who could possibly reconcile uncompromising guile with uncompromising holiness? It is impossible. Yet God, in wisdom and profound grace, prepared a way of salvation for man- the reconciliation of man to Himself.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"> God has not compromised His holiness. What God has offered man is not mere pardon; He did not overlook sin in the name of love, but conquered it. As the nation of Israel, suffering the consequence of their stubbornness, looked upon the bronze serpent and were preserved, so God has offered salvation to all.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up; so that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. _ John 3:14-16</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> God has provided salvation through the Messiah, being man's only hope since the day Adam and Eve were cast out of Eden. (Gen. 3:15) This Messiah is both the Son of Man and the Son of God, meaning that He was fully man (being born in the flesh) yet fully God (being the Lord Himself). The Lord, Jesus Christ, suffered the very condemnation that men had reaped and took it fully. Through this astounding sacrifice, God has offered forgiveness to those who believe, "having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross." (Col. 2:14) It is through the Lord Jesus Christ alone that sin may ever be eternally erased from our account; it is only this Messiah who provides justification for the sinner.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. _ Romans 5:6-8</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Through death on the cross, Christ the Lord was cursed on behalf of those He would save so that they would be free from God's righteous judgment. But it is not enough to be free from the curse alone. Christ did not come to merely take the punishment for sins; He came to please God. Yet in pleasing Him, the requirement was not just that we avoid sin, but that we serve Him in perfect submission. In our sin, we are unable to do this; but where we utterly failed, He is found victorious. All people have sinned and come short of the glory of God; yet only Christ lived a flawless life, pleasing God in perfect subjection to His will. Having ascended into heaven, Christ sat down at the right hand of God (the pinnacle of Divine favor) and remains the only mediator between God and man- our only hope of reconciliation.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Finding the spectacular reality of God's grace offered through Christ, how do we lay hold of it? It is not as if anyone could earn it. If man could deserve God's grace, it would no longer be grace, and Christ would not have been needed. But God has revealed a means of salvation that is in no way dependent on human merit. It is faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">To have faith in Christ is to rely on His work completely. But, unlike many assume, faith is not itself a saving virtue. Rather it is the God-given ability to receive the saving virtue of Christ. God has required one thing of man: utter dependence on Him. It is the only condition that is placed on the man who seeks His favor; because faith sets aside any personal merit or ability or worth in order to find that merit, ability, and worth in Christ. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> In truth, faith requires entire death to self. We must die to our own works, just as Christ died. To have faith in Christ is to be "crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin; for he who has died is freed from sin." (Rom 6:6-7) Our own works, both wicked and moral, are perverted. They are doomed to condemn us. There is nothing to boast about in ourselves because we realize that it our self-promoting desires... our sins... are the very things that alienated us from the God we long to please, and we must first die to ourselves before being reconciled to God. It was through death that Christ took the punishment for sins and through death to self that we are associate with His sacrifice. But it is not enough, in reconciliation, to be simply free from punishment. Man must be freed from the very source of his doom- that is, sin- else man be found just as defiled as ever. (1 Co. 15:14) This is the significance of the resurrection.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Faith involves the degradation of personal ability, but that is only the basis for the dependency it directs the sinner into! Just as the believer dies in parallel with Christ, in the same way, he is raised. Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, is never to die again; death no longer is master over Him. For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus. (Romans 6:8-11) Apart from the resurrection, there is no salvation. It is the threshold of the Christ righteousness, on which God's favor depends. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> To be raised with Christ is to be a new creature. Therefore, anyone who has genuine faith in Christ is no longer a sinner but a saint. What had defined him before defines him no longer, else he is still condemned. Aside from common belief, the Gospel does not proclaim that God now accepts sinners. The Gospel proclaims that God changes sinners. By His work, the heart that was once controlled by sin is now controlled by the Spirit, the Enabler given to all who have faith in Christ. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh-- for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. _ Romans 8:10-14</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> The only true saving faith does not leave the sinner unaffected. Those who confess that they have faith yet live in sin are still enslaved to their desires. They have not died to self, nor do they live by the Spirit, but their faith is an empty confession. "For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead." (Jas. 2:26) Saving faith always results in newness of life and the fruit of righteousness toward God. It is through this Spirit-driven faith that God has freely offered eternal favor and life.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> The way of reconciliation that God offers mankind is very specific from its initial purpose to its end result. Despite what the world has promoted, God has not compromised His holiness nor does salvation come through pardon. Amid the churches of today, Satan has sown a lie, and it has sold very well: that God is gracious toward sin. On the contrary, "God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." (Rom. 5:8) God is just, and justice was done. Yet it was Christ who took the punishment for those who believe in Him. God does not look on the human race with adoration, but in patient wrath in light of their raw, sinful impurities. All man's piety, all his creativity, all his good intentions are all for naught because of sin. The only way the God of Righteousness is pleased with man is by faith and into faith in Christ alone. Only by faith in Him could a man be free of his own sin and gain the merit of Christ because only God could justify; only God could reconcile; and only God could transform a sinner into a saint.</span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12934949793528399544noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2298161335343357739.post-41916175785966977562013-03-20T14:43:00.000-04:002013-03-20T14:43:26.353-04:00The Good Life<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: left;">In
our society, it is not uncommon to hear someone say "Life is
good!" or "Now this is living!" Most of us realize
that the people of this age are quite blessed through convenience and
entertainment. Even Christians, though fully expecting a difficult
life, are able to enjoy a surprising amount of comfort on this earth.
God has given both the righteous and the godless access to luxuries
and joys. To the righteous, these are blessings; but to the godless,
they are only short-lived and wasting pleasures.</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">On
earth, both the Christian and the lost have opportunity to wake up in
the morning, take a deep breath, smell the coffee and say "life
is good!" Yet we know the Christian's perspective is not so
limited.
</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">At
least, it shouldn't be.</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">What
do we really think about our lives? Do we think like the lost do?
They wake up in the morning, take that deep breath, smell the coffee,
and their thoughts only extend as far as their present circumstance.
At least for a moment, their life is worth living. (Ecc. 3:12) They
think of their day and how they might accomplish their own goals and
do their own will.
</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Hopefully,
this is not what our perspective is. We know our lives aren't just
"happening" - there is a purpose that overwhelms our
limited comprehension. We know that life doesn't have to be good. God
is good, and because of this, it doesn't matter whether or not we get
that coffee, that deep breath, or even that we're given life at all.
(Rom. 14:8) Contrary to what the world thinks, our lives are not good
based on personal benefit. Our lives are only ever good because of
God's work toward His benefit - His glory. Knowing that we were
created for His purpose, how could we seek our own agendas?</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Based
on that fundamental purpose, we neither expect satisfaction nor glory
in a good life. The perspective that is most often found in
professing Christians seems to be that God looks down and just can't
wait to improve our temporal lives. The focus of today's "faith"
is that God has promised us happiness and comfort on this earth; yet
He made us no such promise. On the contrary, we do better to expect a
life of hardship in our association with Christ.</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;">"We
have an altar from which those who serve the tabernacle have no right
to eat. For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into
the holy place by the high priest as an offering for sin, are burned
outside the camp. Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the
people through His own blood, suffered outside the gate. <u>So, let
us go out to Him outside the camp, bearing His reproach. For here we
do not have a lasting city, but we are seeking the city which is to
come.</u>" </span>
</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">Hebrews
13:10-14</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;"><span lang="en-US">This
life isn't "it" - we know that, but it is something that
takes constant sobriety to live by. Especially when "life is
good." When met with prosperity, that is the time, to "watch
yourself", as God warned the children of Israel. Just as they
needed to remember how God had freed them from Egypt's bondage, we
need to remember how He has rescued us from this present evil age and
made us heirs with Christ. Do we wonder then that we are commanded to
seek first His kingdom and His righteousness? Is it odd that He has
us set our minds on things above? The things of earth </span></span><span style="color: black;"><span lang="en-US"><i>should</i></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span lang="en-US">
grow strangely dim. Why would we desire to be satisfied with anything
here? Why would we settle for what will inevitably pass away?</span></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;">"But
the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will
pass away with a roar and </span>
</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;">the
elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its
works will be burned up. </span>
</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;">Since
all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people
ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and
hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which </span>
</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;">the
heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with
intense heat! </span>
</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;"><u>But
according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new
earth, in which righteousness dwells</u>." </span>
</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">2
Peter 3:10-13</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;">With
the understanding that we owe this life neither effort nor focus, our
efforts and focus are to be directed toward the life to come. Instead
of pursuing pleasure in the "few years of life" God has
given us, there should be a drive to invest our time doing His
will... pursuing His objectives. </span>
</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;">So,
as many comforts as we may be blessed with, they are not what truly
define our lives. To us, this life isn't the pursuit of happiness but
the pursuit of doing well in all God gives us to do. Are we not His
slaves? He has given us many resources, and it would do us well to
understand that He has entrusted us with responsibility. <br />(Mat.
25:13-30) This is not the time to "let go and do whatever"
but the time to make the most of our time "for the days are
evil. So then do not be foolish, but understand
what the will of the Lord is." (Eph. 5:16-17) </span>
</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;">"For
indeed while we are in this tent, we groan, being burdened, because
we do not want to be unclothed </span>
</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;">but
to be clothed, so that what is mortal will be swallowed up by life.
Now He who prepared us for this very purpose is God, who gave to us
the Spirit as a pledge. Therefore, being always of good courage, and
knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the
Lord-- for we walk by faith, not by sight-- </span>
</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;">we
are of good courage, say, and prefer rather to be absent from the
body and to be at home with the Lord. <u>Therefore we also have as
our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him. For
we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each
one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what
he has done, whether good or bad.</u>" </span>
</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">2
Corinthians 5:4-10</span></div>
<div lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;">This
is the time for work... for hardship... for pain, and we know this,
right? (Acts 14:22) Or
do we think Christ died so that we could have a better life than His
was? No, that's absurd. Christ died so that we would have eternal
life at the <i>expense</i>
of this one. </span>
</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;">In
light of that, how are we to think of the pleasures we are given? God
has given them for our enjoyment, but imagine the time that would be
wasted if we allowed them to cloud our perspective in service to God.
</span>
</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;"><br />"Instruct
those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to
fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly
supplies us with all things to enjoy. Instruct them to do good, to be
rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, storing up for
themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that
they may take hold of <i>that which is life indeed</i>." </span>
</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">1
Timothy 6:17-19, emphasis added</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">It
is in God that we find our satisfaction and joy, and that is not a
passive thing. (Php. 4:4) It sin't enough to focus on <i>not</i>
hoping in the uncertainty of riches- we fix our hope in God, whether
we pass through the valley of the shadow of death or come into peace
like a river. With the grace and peace of God, we have all we need
for not just this life but all eternity. For that reason, I dare say
life <i>is</i> good. </span>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12934949793528399544noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2298161335343357739.post-16119928400216941072013-02-05T11:06:00.001-05:002013-02-05T11:06:33.144-05:00Set Apart and Set Aside<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div align="CENTER" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">"For
you have heard of my former manner of life in Judaism, how I used to
persecute the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it;
and I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries among
my countrymen, being more extremely zealous for my ancestral
traditions. But when God, who had set me apart even from my mother's
womb and called me through His grace, was pleased to reveal His Son
in me so that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not
immediately consult with flesh and blood, nor did I go up to
Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went away to
Arabia, and returned once more to Damascus." _ Galatians 1:13-17</span></span></div>
<div align="CENTER" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;">In
his letter to the Galatians, Paul challenged them as to whether they
had more concern for man's favor than they had for God's. They had
been led astray from the Gospel of Christ and reclaimed part of the
Law in their fear of man. What Paul emphasized in chapter one is that
the Gospel had nothing to do with man in the first place; it wasn't
received by man, taught by man, nor was it even approved by man. So
what man would try to impose on it... doesn't matter. </span>
</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;">In
verse 13, Paul embellishes this point by reminding them of his past.
Paul was a Jew himself, and not only was he a Jew, he religiously
surpassed his all of his peers. He didn't simply grow up in a
Judaistic home- he had an extreme and personal zeal for the
traditions set up by his forefathers. Of all people, Paul had
reasonable excuse to react to the pressures Jews were imposing. </span>
</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;">If
he had considered man in accepting the Gospel, he would not have
accepted it at all. </span>
</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;">If
he had considered man in preaching the Gospel, he would not have
preached it at all. </span>
</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;"><span lang="en-US">But
man had nothing to do with this. God's calling far superseded </span></span><span style="color: black;"><span lang="en-US"><i>their</i></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span lang="en-US">
expectations; therefore the Gospel was preached, and here Paul
defends it. </span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;"><span lang="en-US"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;"><span lang="en-US">When
Christ appeared to him on the road to Damascus, Saul of Tarsus set
aside Jewish Law, and taking up the Gospel of Christ, he became Paul,
an apostle. As pointed out in verse 15, this wasn't a calling that
interfered with his purpose as a Jew- it </span></span><span style="color: black;"><span lang="en-US"><i>was</i></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span lang="en-US">
his purpose</span></span><span style="color: black;"><span lang="en-US">.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;"><span lang="en-US">He
was set apart for the cause of the Gospel not when God looked down
and saw that Paul would be perfect for the job. </span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">He
was set apart for the cause of the Gospel before he was born...
before Paul had done anything good or bad.</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">This
was a calling of grace. Paul was not chosen based on how much of the
Law he had kept, how well he was accepted among the people, or how
many apostles approved his ministry. The credentials he earned in
life proved worthless in light of God's calling of grace, and it was
Christ alone revealed in Paul that qualified him to preach the
message of Truth.</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;"><span lang="en-US"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;"><span lang="en-US">To
the Galatians he pointed out that following Christ was his mission
long before the duties in following man (his ancestors). He was born
to be "a bond-servant of Christ" (vs. 10) - it wasn't just
a petty conviction of his. This was who he was- the very purpose for
which the Lord God set him aside- and that purpose was made known to
him not when man deemed him ready but when </span></span><span style="color: black;"><span lang="en-US"><i>God</i></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span lang="en-US">
was pleased to reveal it. </span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;"><span lang="en-US"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;"><span lang="en-US">By
shedding light on his own background, he illustrated the folly of
seeking man's favor- that "the fear of man brings a snare."
Instead of caving under the pressure to revert back to aspects of the
Law, the Christians of Galatia were to be set apart to the purity of
the Gospel of Christ. They were to forsake their comfort zone and, as
Paul did, break away from Jews who found the cross a stumbling block.
</span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;"><span lang="en-US"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;"><span lang="en-US">Men
will reject the Gospel in a variety of ways; they will openly despise
faith in Christ or they will redefine it... subtracting from it or,
as in this case, adding to it. But when called of God, one may either
cling to Christ to the result of walking by the Spirit or be utterly
condemned by fleshly ordinance. There is no middle ground.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;"><span lang="en-US"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<img height="265" src="https://www.pcog.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/130128-Predestination-PaulCalbar-iStock.jpg" width="400" /></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><span lang="en-US"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><span lang="en-US">These
Galatians, like Paul, were called to a divine purpose. They were
chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world. They also had a
mission which far outweighed the ancestral traditions that shut them
up under the Law- that mission being to walk by the Spirit, bearing
fruit to God. They were to have left matters of flesh and blood
behind to then worship God in spirit and in truth. The fear of men
should have been discarded long ago. Yet some had come along and,
with their additions to the Gospel, had caused them to fall from the
purity of grace. So Paul continues to present a clear case to the
Galatians, reminding them of the true Gospel and what it means to be
a bond-servant of Christ. </span></span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><span lang="en-US"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
~ This is part of the Galatians study I am doing with Tim Lambert. ~</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Photo by Eric Anderson</span></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12934949793528399544noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2298161335343357739.post-82736324630076073672013-01-28T07:03:00.001-05:002013-01-28T07:03:45.800-05:00Psalm 50<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">"The Mighty One, God, the LORD, has spoken,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">And summoned the earth from the rising of the sun to its setting.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God has shone forth.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">May our God come and not keep silence;</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Fire devours before Him,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">And it is very tempestuous around Him.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">He summons the heavens above,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">And the earth, to judge His people:</span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">'Gather My godly ones to Me, </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">'Those who have made a covenant with Me by sacrifice.'</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">And the heavens declare His righteousness, </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">For God Himself is judge. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Selah.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">'Hear, O My people, and I will speak; </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">'O Israel, I will testify against you; </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">'I am God, your God. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">'I do not reprove you for your sacrifices, </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">'And your burnt offerings are continually before Me. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">'I shall take no young bull out of your house </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">'Nor male goats out of your folds. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">'For every beast of the forest is Mine, </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">'The cattle on a thousand hills. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">'I know every bird of the mountains, </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">'And everything that moves in the field is Mine. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">'If I were hungry I would not tell you, </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">'For the world is Mine, and all it contains. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">'Shall I eat the flesh of bulls Or drink the blood of male goats? </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">'Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">'And pay your vows to the Most High; </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">'Call upon Me in the day of trouble; </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">'I shall rescue you, and you will honor Me.' </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">But to the wicked God says,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">'What right have you to tell of My statutes </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">'And to take My covenant in your mouth? </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">'For you hate discipline, </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">'And you cast My words behind you. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">'When you see a thief, you are pleased with him, </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">'And you associate with adulterers. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">'You let your mouth loose in evil </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">'And your tongue frames deceit. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">'You sit and speak against your brother; </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">'You slander your own mother's son. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">'These things you have done and I kept silence; </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">'You thought that I was just like you; </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">'I will reprove you and state the case in order before your eyes. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">'Now consider this, you who forget God, </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">'Or I will tear you in pieces, and there will be none to deliver. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">'He who offers a sacrifice of thanksgiving honors Me; </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">'And to him who orders his way aright I shall show the salvation of God.'"</span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">God did not institute the system of sacrifices for Israel because the animal offerings would "appease" Him. It was a basis for the consuming sacrifice of Christ - it was Christ who would do the appeasing... the reconciling. How did the Jews have access to the reconciliation of Christ? Romans 4 proves that Abraham was not righteous before God by His works, but His faith was accounted as righteousness. He believed God and lived in light of that. The salvation of Abraham, David, and any other Old Testament saint was of faith in God, just as ours is. They did not know all we do of Christ, but they believed what God revealed to them... trusted His promises, and truly honored Him in both offering "a sacrifice of thanksgiving" and ordering their ways "aright", based on God's definition.</span></div>
<br />
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12934949793528399544noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2298161335343357739.post-32135542083332920832013-01-12T17:27:00.000-05:002013-01-12T17:29:03.639-05:00He hideth my soul...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">"The
believer may often fail in his conflict with the world, the flesh,
and the devil; but this should not blind one to the immeasurable,
divine achievements which have already united the believer to Christ
and thereby constituted him as perfect in the sight of God as his
Savior. It is this faultless standing in Christ which conditions the
believer's walk; </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">never does the believer's walk condition his
standing." </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Chafer's Systematic Theology, Volume III -
Soteriology</span></div>
<div lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;"><span lang="en-US">"For
I joyfully concur with the law of God in the inner man, but I see a
different law in the members of my body, waging war against the law
of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin which is in my
members. Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body
of this death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So
then, on the one hand I myself with my mind am serving the law of
God, but on the other, with my flesh the law of sin. Therefore there
is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law
of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law
of sin and of death. For what the Law could not do, weak as it was
through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of
sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the
flesh, so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us,
who do not walk according to the flesh </span></span>but </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">according to the Spirit." </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Romans 7:22-8:4</span></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12934949793528399544noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2298161335343357739.post-9146452310205078982013-01-09T16:47:00.002-05:002013-01-12T17:09:33.094-05:00Far, far dearer...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Far dearer than all that the world can impart</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Was the message came to my heart.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">How that Jesus alone for my sin did atone,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">And Calvary covers it all.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The stripes that He bore and the thorns that He wore</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Told His mercy and lover evermore</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">And my heart bowed in shame as I called on His name,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">And Calvary covers it all.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">How matchless the grace, when I looked in the face</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Of this Jesus, my crucified Lord;</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">My redemption complete I then found at His feet,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">And Calvary covers it all.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">How blessed the thought, that my soul by Him bought,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Shall be His in the glory on high;</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Where with gladness and song, I'll be one of the throng</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">And Calvary covers it all.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Calvary covers it all,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">My past with its sin and stain;</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">My guilt and despair</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Jesus took on Him there,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">And Calvary covers it all.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<img src="http://www.scenicreflections.com/ithumbs/Snow%20sunset%20Wallpaper__yvt2.jpg" /></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12934949793528399544noreply@blogger.com3