What God Has Been Teaching Me Lately III…
Greetings My Friends~
As a humble pilgrim following Jesus through the rainforests and deserts of this earthly life, I would like to humbly share some of what God has been bubbling up in my mind/heart lately.
I pray that these thoughts are cushions in your shoes, balm to your burns, umbrellas for the rain, and shade to the scorching heat as you too follow the Lord Jesus each day.
SoulSpartan
(please click on the bible passages below to read the full text)
(June 1st–October 22nd, 2012)
Being IN the World But Not OF the World
A natural, unforced and subconscious eccentricity can be a very good thing, for it is only when we are out of step with the ways of this world that we can march to the beat of the God of heaven…
Preaching
Some loathe the practice of preachers including in sermons quotes from outside of the Bible, believing that such a practice mixes the dirty in with the pure and teaches us to value the thoughts of humans over the thoughts of God. There seems to be some cautionary wisdom here on the one hand. On the other hand, an insightful thought can help us to understand a Biblical Truth more completely, just as in a darkened room, sometimes you need to light a match in order to find the lamp switch on the wall…
Who Is Jesus?
Jesus is the Key that can unlock the door to the Realm that our souls involuntarily yearn for;
Jesus is the Lock that can bar the way to that Place that our minds are unconsciously scared of;
Jesus is the Aloe that can soothe the burns of this life;
Jesus is the initial Sting that can help us to avoid even worse pain thereafter;
Jesus is the Hope that can carry us through our suffering;
Jesus is the Guide that can lead us into suffering;
Jesus is the Savior that can pay for all of our sins;
Jesus is the Judge that will render our final verdict;
Jesus is the Defense Attorney that can get us acquitted;
Jesus is the Prosecutor that can get us convicted;
Jesus is the Relief that can forgive us of our sins;
Jesus is the Warning that cautions us to “sin no more”;
Jesus is…whether or not we trust in Him;
Jesus can…only if we trust in Him…
Sanctification (Becoming More Like Jesus)
The most unique aspect of our sanctification (i.e. growing to be more like Jesus) is that we are “living sacrifices”; at any moment we are able (free will) to get up off the operating table. Ah, but the healing that awaits those who don’t…
1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 The Message
Perspective—Half-Full or Half-Empty?
It’s amazing
How many people
Despair
Over being of limited means
When they ought to
Rejoice
Over existing
in unlimited
Potential.
Death
Earthly death often seems “unreal,” as if the person might appear around the corner at any moment. This “unrealness” of death is a sign that we truly loved someone deeply—their aroma clings to our mind/heart as to a favorite oft-worn article of clothing.
Fall/Autumn
Leaves are skating down to the ground on rinks of wind outside of my second story window, doing tight triple-axles the entire distance…God is amazing!
Prayer
One of my daily struggles is doing domestic chores while multitudes languish in the midst of global suffering. LORD God Almighty, please do through my faithful prayers what could never happen through my physical presence…
Thanksgiving
As the floods of life threaten to surround and submerge us, daily thanksgiving to God is one of the prime sump-pumps keeping our heads above water…
God Loves Variety
Such a unique blessing to hear so many different languages being spoken last week at Disney. God delights in the variety of humans He has made!
Other People Are Not The Enemy
I’m on the verge of tears whenever a defensive football player makes a great play and then helps up & pats on the butt the player on the opposing team that he just tackled.
Loving God and Loving Others
To love God is to make His dreams more important than your own (and to do all that you can to make His dreams a reality); to love others is to make their needs more important than your own (and to do all that you can to appropriately meet those needs). Let’s roll!
God’s Presence In Nature
I can’t tell that it’s raining this morning by looking at the sky or at the rain…but only by looking at the splashes in the puddles. Similarly, if we stare at the clouds (e.g. our problems) to see God’s face He is often hidden from us, but if we look at what He is doing through His people around the world, we see His foot/fingerprints everywhere…
The Holy Spirit
A. Holy Spirit, please help me to take off the burlap of despair/worry and put on Your cashmere of praising/worshiping/thanking You, regardless of what is happening in my life…
B. Holy Spirit, please help me to walk with you each day as Enoch did. Help me not just to accomplish for You; help me to walk with You, savoring You as a blooming lilac, sipping You as a warm mug of tea, listening to You as wind through trees. Help me not to gulp You on the run…
Love,