Jul 25 2012
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Jesus

PASSIONATELY PURSUE A RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS – THE WITH PART

Why I ask all that will listen to, “Passionately Pursue a Relationship with Jesus”

The With part.

As you know, I tend to be a man of extremes. When I am goofy, I am really goofy, and when I am funny, I go at it with all I have and am focused on that. Of course, when I am serious, I am all business and will tend to get loud with my intensity and go on and on to make my point. My challenge usually has been to be ale to move from one to the other and back or to only be a 7 instead of a 10 on the scale.

This translates into my walk with God as well. I will lag behind Him and just be obedient to the easy stuff, but not walking in step with Jesus necessarily. I will then become motivated and will (metaphorically) zoom past God and be real passionate about Him, but running around doing what I THINK He wants me to do, or what I would want me to do if I were Him, which has really caused me to “step in it” a few times.

What I have done far to little of is walking WITH Him day by day and depending on Him to lead me moment by moment. You see, this takes patience and dependence to walk WITH Him instead of for Him.

Patience – This Fruit of the Spirit has been a key ingredient in many of the lives of those listed in the Hall of Faith (Hebrews 11)
* Noah had to wait for 120 years after God told him to build the Ark before it started to rain.
* Abraham had to wait over 20 years for God to provide the son that was promised.
* Joseph was given dreams and then was sold into slavery and put into prison for a decade before he saw God fulfill His promise.
* Moses spent 40 years as a shepherd while God prepared him for the job of freeing the Israelites, and then had to spend another 40 years wandering and leading a large and fickle nation of people.
* David was anointed King by Samuel and then had to run and hide from Saul for years.
* Samson had to wait in prison, blind, for his hair to grow out and for God’s Spirit to return before he could fulfill his calling as a Judge of Israel.
* Paul had to spend years after being called by Jesus before he was able to start his ministry.

From this list and my own experiences, it is not uncommon for God to ask you to walk with Him in obedience for a time before he provides you the opportunity to have an impact for Him. We must take God at His word when He tells us through Paul that “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Phil 1:6

Do not grow weary or tired of walking with Him when you don’t see those things that you want to see accomplished. God works on a different time-table than we do and He wants you “with” Him far more than He wants you off doing things you think He wants you to do.

Dependence – I know nothing about this part from personal experience, except for how to NOT be dependent. This is an area where God is currently teaching me about my failures. I am a capable, talented and resourceful person, and have always been able to figure things out and get things done so I have not been dependent on anyone during my life, not God, Mother, or friends for help and assistance and guidance … all to my own peril.

This is the epic battle between Pride vs Humility and it is a fight for control of our lives. The imagery in Psalm 40 is what I need to remember, “I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the Lord.

There is nothing in these verses that speak of what David had done, except to understand his neediness and cry to God for deliverance. The idea that without God, I am nothing but stuck in a mud pit crying for help is one of dependence. I can accomplish many things in this life, make a lot of money, teach a lot of lessons and help a lot of people, but as long as they are done by my strength and my talents, they are only for my glory and not God’s. That is independence, and it is the ultimate arrogance.  God wants us dependent on Him so that He gets the glory when something of worth is accomplished. See yourself accurately through the eyes of David and Psalms 40.

To sum this letter up, let me provide a recent, though rare, example of success.  Through your growing years, I was not intentional in some areas as I should have been, so in these areas, I was walking behind/without God.  Earlier this year, I felt Him challenging me to do something with/for you guys to that would impact your spiritual development.  At this point, I am walking with Him.  I set out my plan, but it does not go as I thought it might have, and my thoughts turned to, “What can I do to make this happen, since I know it would be pleasing to God.”  This is the point where I run out in front of God and am not practicing patience nor dependence.  While on a walk, I start to think about this post and God intervenes and says “Why don’t you pray for them that I would put it on their hearts, instead of you trying to make them want it.” I almost stopped right there and then as I was afraid I might step on my jaw, since it had just dropped to the sidewalk.  THAT would be walking WITH God!!

Philippians 1:27, “Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. (Bold and Italics added)

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Jul 01 2012
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I Love You … Period

While walking the other morning, I was reminded that I have done a lousy job lately of something I communicated to you when all of you were much smaller. I am grieved that I started something so important and then quit at some point. But here I wanted to put it down in “writing” for you to see and remember now that you are all so grown up.

This is really something so simple, but so important for you to know.

1 – I Love You. Notice that there is no”if” or condition attached to this. I don’t love you because you are like me, or even because you are not like me. I don’t love you because you agree with me or obey me. I don’t love you because you believe what I believe. I don’t love you because you are nice, or pretty, or handsome, or are musical, or are smart, or make me look good, or any other of a million conditions that I could list.

2 – I love you because you are my child.

3 – Can you ever stop being my child? (rhetorical question with the obvious answer being “no.”

4 – then there is nothing that you can do, or not do, be or not be, become or not become, that would make me stop loving you.

Now, there are times when I may not like what you do, or not like what you are, or  not like what you become, but my love (and the commitment to you that comes with it) will always be there.

Now I am sure that you are thinking to yourself, “hmmm, I can certainly recall a lot of times when it sure didn’t feel like you loved me!!” I understand that and would put those times into 2 different categories.

First, there have been many, many, many times my sin and selfishness has prevented me from accomplishing the kind of unconditional (Agape) love that my Jesus calls for me to give to you. I am sure there are both some scars and some future counseling sessions because of my sin, selfishness, and failures. For these times, I can only say, “I am sorry” and continue to live in the Hope of God continuing His work in me. Forgive me if you can.

Second, I would tell you, that things are not always as they appear (refer to my June 9 post). The Fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23 are “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” Goodness is why it may seem like I don’t act in a loving way. Now you may say, “those times I remember didn’t seem like they were good to, or for, me either, they just hurt me or made me mad.” This Goodness that is from the Holy Spirit as I yield over my selfish ways to Jesus, has a long view of goodness, as in what is best or good for you in the long run. There were many things I made you do, or would not allow you to do in order to teach you or develop in you characteristics that I believe you need as an adult to be “successful.”

Perhaps you notice a pattern developing. As a Father, Christ is my head and he is working on me and bringing happy and sad things into my life for my “good.” As children, I was/am your head and I sometimes bring happy and sad things into your life for your good, because Goodness is a fruit of the Spirit that God calls me to, and the Spirit empowers me with, that the Grace of Jesus provides for.

And lest we get distracted … I Love You (period).

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Jun 30 2012
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Living in the Container Store

 

There are those that LOVE the Container Store. This place has basket, drawer, cubby, shelf, or rack that will transform any space into an organized and efficient space. Those that flock to this store either are desperate for more space or organization, or both. The miracle of the Container Store products is that it provides, “a place for everything and everything in it’s place.”  When done, everything is put away and everything is in it’s own separate space.
 
In my life, I tend to live life like I have shopped at the Container Store since I tend to put different areas of my life into it’s own space. The problem is that this also tends to separate the different areas of life and allows us to “compartmentalize” and we end up living and acting differently in our different “compartments.” I will act differently while at a sporting event than I would at church which is different than when I am at work with co-workers. 
 
Now some of this is only natural, as the preacher would probably not appreciate me standing up before his 2nd point and yell, “come on Eddie, knock this one out of the park, you are due!!!” Where I really tend to “compartmentalize” my life is in worship.  I love, and fully engage in the singing at church, even though some may not appreciate the tone, but I love that kind of worship. That is the easy one. Where I find it harder to worship is while doing the dishes or taking out the trash, or exercising. However, I think that is exactly what God is asking of us when Paul wrote, “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” 1 Corinthians 10:31
 
Lets take a closer look at what God is wanting to empower us to do in Romans 12:1.  Paul starts with the motivation, “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy”. What He wants us to do is not always pleasant or fun, although some times it is, but Paul is asking us to respond because we have escaped what we deserve, because Christ suffered for us and took our punishment instead of it being done to us. This is at the heart of why we follow Jesus and we are willing to deny ourselves in that following.

Now Paul states what he is calling is to do,  “to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.” He  does not say to come and sing as your act of worship, nor to give money as your worship, Paul tells us that we need to present our bodies, and I can only assume that he also means everything your body does. Worship in your eating, worship in doing the laundry, worship while playing ultimate frisbee, worship while sending text messages, worship while taking tests at school, “whatever you do” do it as worship unto the Lord Most High because he loved you so much and poured Mercy all over you. 

This concept hit home for me when I was walking on a treadmill one day. I always have a plan for my workouts (when I do them) and so one day I did 20 minutes on a stair climber, and then I was going to do 40 minutes on a treadmill. This was my normal plan, but I never made the full 40 minutes. There was always a reason to quit early. One day God planted a thought that I could worship God by working out, but that would mean not quitting. I made the full workout and have done much better since then as I see that working out “well” is a way to worship. 

Now you all know me well enough to know that clearly I have a long way to go before I can say that I do “all things well.” I am grateful that God continues to mold and make me more like Him a bit more each week and month. Because of this, I try to worship God with all my activity and all I do out of the gratitude I have for what He saved me from. 

Lets make sure we don’t limit our concept of worship to the container of church singing. Rather lets be unorganized and have our worship all over our lives like our stuff is all over our rooms!!!  😉

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Jun 26 2012
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Uncategorized Aside

For a very excellent parallel message from Steve Stroope at Lake Pointe, to my June 9 post, check out this link.

http://www.lakepointe.org/Message/OnMission/091811.aspx

For a very exce…

Jun 20 2012
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Jesus, Passion

Passionately Pursue a Relationship with Jesus – The Jesus Part

Why I ask all that will listen to, “Passionately Pursue a Relationship with Jesus”

The Jesus part.

Because we need Jesus!!! We as people are selfish, cruel, and evil without the influence of Jesus on our lives.  We need Jesus for Salvation, Sanctification, and Sustenance.

Salvation – Psalm 40:1-2″ I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.” Before Jesus called to us and redeemed us, we were stuck in a stinky ugly pit and covered with the mud of our own filth and sin. It is an important image that we need to keep being reminded of, lest we start to think of ourselves as something on our own. This is our starting point and we must always remember where we come from. Jeremiah 17:9 “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?” Fundamentally, and at our core, we are evil and need of someone to save us from ourselves. This cannot be overstated and is something I often lose site of, because it is our nature to want to think of ourselves as better than we really are. But because of our sin nature, we are dirty and filthy and selfish and in need of the salvation that Jesus provided for us at such a great cost.

Sanctification – Philippians 1:6 “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” The same Gospel (good news) that saves us, will sanctify us, that is, making us into the image of Christ. Because we are still trapped in our sinful selves, this will not ultimately be finished until we are with Jesus, but when He called us, He started the process of sanctifying us. He promised and He will do it. Now this is sometimes a pleasant process, but I have found that it is more often a painful one of having more of me chipped away, to reveal more of Him. While I am not sure why, it has been my experience that we never have more of ourselves stripped away on the mountain top, but rather it often happens in the valley.  Sadly, some of these valleys are deep and dark. But hope in this, I can assure you, it is ALWAYS worthwhile. Pain is for a while, but sin we hang onto can hurt yourself and others for a lifetime (1 Peter 1:6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials).

Sustenance – John 4:13-14 “Jesus answered, ‘Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.'” While the focus of this verse speaks to salvation, it is the redemptive work of Christ that also sustains us day to day. We need Jesus to provide us our daily needs of Grace, Love, and Mercy that only He can provide. While Colossians one says He keeps the universe in motion, he also provides me the strength each day to live, not only  for Him, but AS Him, when my poor, pitiful, and embarrassing efforts are not enough (2 Corinthians 12:9 “But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. ” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me”). I stand here to testify that His Grace, indeed, is sufficient.

Jesus Saves us, Sanctifies us, and Sustains us, because He loves us with a love that is uncomprehendable,  in order to bring Glory to Him because He is worthy above all else.

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Jun 09 2012
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Perspective

Not good and bad, but happy and sad

Many people are creatures of habit, and while I may not fall into that category, I call myself a creature of convenience. I like things to be easy and accessible. I like to set up things while leaving options, just in case I change my mind, I don’t have to start over again. Bottom line for me, is am I happy and is everyone around me happy? To my natural self, this only seems wise or prudent.

This post comes from many years of God communicating through love and discipline one very important truth that has been hard, and continues to be hard, to conform my life and thinking around as it conflicts to my natural tendency. Here it is …

God primarily is not interested in, nor does He really care about, my happiness and my convenience.

That is hard to type and read because it makes God seem like such a kill-joy, and, you may ask, “that phrase sounds kind of harsh, do you have anything to back it up with?” Well, let me state it in the positive (or opposite), and then we can look at what scripture says.

God primarily is interested in conforming your character into His likeness … by any means possible.

Now, God has promised us peace (John 14:27 – Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.) and He has promised us joy (1 Peter 1:8b – you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy), but these are very different than happiness, which is never promised.

Happiness is most often dependent on our circumstances, whereas peace and joy can be present regardless of the circumstances of life. God’s promise to us is to make us like Him (Rom 8:29a – For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son) and for those that have placed their faith in Christ promises to work on us until we all see Jesus (Phil 1:6 – being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus).

I wish God could accomplish this goal of His (my sanctification) through pleasant and happy circumstances, but is has been my experience, and my observation of others, that He also chooses to use hard, unpleasant, embarrassing, painful, and discouraging circumstances to mold me into His likeness.

Now to the heart of this letter. If I want for me what God wants for me, then I will see every event, circumstance, and person that comes into my life as God providing these as a way to be more like Him. If I can have this approach and attitude most or all of the time, then I will see events, circumstances, and people as being happy or sad, but NOT good and bad, for they are all good if they further my conformity to Christ and they are bad if they pull me away from His fellowship.

My prayer for you is that you will have this view in life. I have struggled with it, and my walk with God has been hampered by my feeling sorry for myself when things are not easy or fun. See God in every circumstance. See events as ways to become more like Him. See people as opportunities to love both the love able and the hard to love. See God as a good God when he allows hard things in your life, because he wants them to produce Him in you.

Romans 5:3-5 – We also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.

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