The 28 weeks I spent at Barnabas Center for the purpose of finding healing from the affects of my former husband's addiction to pornography was only the beginning of the healing journey. One of the most important things I discovered was my propensity to live as a victim of my past. Trapped in habitual negative thinking and a victim mentality, I was in for a rude awakening.
Learning to “be present” was terminology used frequently in the group sessions I experienced with seven other hurting women. I have to admit I was clueless of the meaning of this word for more than half of my time at Barnabas. Living in the moment was something I'd never done, having been held captive by my past for so many years. Living with a victim mentality was so comfortable for me, I had no idea it was stealing my present and my future.
Hearing the leaders of our group repeatedly ask women “Are you present with us?” seemed a foolish and almost laughable question in the beginning. I confess blatantly sarcastic thoughts like, “well, she's sitting right there in front of you.” This might be a clue to the condition of my heart at the time as well. Just as pointed as this question was to others in the group, came the personal and painful comments of the other women as they shared their observations of me during group sessions. You see, at Barnabas, we were not allowed the luxury of hiding behind the facades and walls we'd allowed to be built up in our lives to this point. I am forever grateful to the women who had the courage to confront the truth of what they saw in my life. It was in this setting, the chipping away at wrong patterns of thinking began. It would be weeks before the stronghold of a 'victim mentality' began to come down in my life. Today I thank God for those who initiated the process by speaking the truth in love and showing me my choice to address or ignore the fall out that had occurred in my life as a result of this stronghold (habitual pattern of wrong thinking).
It's been quite some time since my time at Barnabas. I'd like to tell you that 28 weeks took care of the brick wall I'd erected around my heart in hopes I'd be protected from further pain. I guess I was experiencing something like a “leaky heart” when it comes to healing from past emotional and sexual abuse. As my father's doctor described the other day, the valves of the heart are designed to work in tandem, one bringing in the blood and one pumping it out of the heart. With long usage, for example 86 years of life, the valves can stiffen and no longer close properly creating this leaky heart issue. After years of entertaining a victim mind set, I'd come to accept and allow the lies in my heart even in light of all the words of truth I'd studied and heard as a Christian. It was almost as if my heart was leaking out the promises of God while allowing the lies to be pumped into my mind poisoning my life.
Recently, I received a link to a teaching on trauma followed by a prayer for any trauma one has experienced in life. As I was listening, one phrase jumped out at me and tears ran down my face. This simple phrase sounded louder than every other part of the prayer.
“Waiting for the other shoe to drop”
I realized immediately this was a mindset I was still entertaining on a daily basis. It seems I'd always been waiting for the “next bad thing” to happen in my life. The fear that I will always make wrong choices has sometimes kept me frozen in the present. I'm always the victim so what will the victim experience next?
I'd like to share how God has used these two phrases in my healing.
”Are you present with us tonight?”
“Waiting for the other shoe to drop,”
These two phrases have been separated by quite some time, several years in fact. I've had time and opportunity to move forward, leaving behind the idea that my future is determined by my past or even my present circumstances. As I look back on the first revelation now, I understand that it was necessary for me to first learn that I was frozen in the past. Allowing myself to feel the pain of the past abuse and bring it before God and other women at Barnabas was one of the first steps on the healing path for me.
It was a thawing out of sorts. For those who've ever built a snowman, only to watch it melt away, leaving behind only traces of what once was, perhaps you can understand and even share my ensuing confusion and feelings of discouragement as I continued to struggle with habitual thinking, wondering if I could ever become a different person.
God's Word promises a surpassing victory to those who are in Christ Jesus. When the heat and pressure of circumstances have come in the years since that first step, I've felt myself melting under the pressure, leaving behind the remnants of what once was a feeling of promised victory unfulfilled. Like the joy and beauty of making a snowman standing erect in the sunlight, there've been days I felt I had nothing to show for my time there.
Continuing to erect my walls of protection, waiting for the other shoe to drop, I seemed to know where I came from but not where I was going. It was as God gave me this second phrase as a new revelation, I began to understand where the battle was being waged. A real war was happening right between my ears, this war could consume the remainder of my days on earth, stealing my present and robbing me of hope for any future. The belief that my future would always be marred by my past was a stronghold in my mind that would have to come down. Thoughts about what happened in my past have been holding me hostage in my present and making it impossible for me to walk into my future. I recognized my need to have a whole new mindset.
When we become the new creation in Christ spoken about in II Corinthians 5:17, we are born again in our spirit man. Our minds are up for grabs, if you will, and I've known for some time we must make a choice as to the renewal of our minds. It has been in this step I've faltered, see-sawing between the choice to renew my mind and allowing myself to be conformed to this world. Preferring the comfort of what seems to be normal after years of living a victim mentality can prevent one from taking the necessary steps to let go of the past completely. Change is uncomfortable and requires effort on our parts if we are to see results.
It wasn't many days after I heard the expression “waiting for the other shoe to drop” that I came across a prayer in Stormie Omartian's book that gave me another confirmation that I was on the right track.
“Father,
Enable me to let go of the past completely. Deliver me from the hold it has on me. Help me put off the former conduct and habitual ways of thinking and help me be renewed in my mind. (Ephesians 4:22-23) Enlarge my understanding of the scripture in Revelations 21:5, “You make all things new.”
Show me a fresh, Holy Spirit inspired way of relating to negative things that have happened to me. Give me the mind of Christ so I can clearly discern Your voice from voices of the past. When I hear the old voices, enable me to rise up and shut them down with the truth of your Word.”
As 2012 began, God opened my eyes to see that I had a responsibility to renew my mind with His Word. While I can attest to His faithfulness to help me in this effort, I am finally recognizing I must take the initiative in this battle. In this prayer words like “enable and show me,” “deliver me,” and “enlarge my understanding,” are cries for his help. His faithfulness cannot be denied. Soon after this I found a scripture to refute the lie that I could always expect the other shoe to drop and remain a victim of my past forever.
“And therefore the Lord [earnestly] waits [expecting, looking and longing] to be gracious to you; and therefore He lifts himself up, that He may have mercy on you and show loving-kindness to you. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) are all those who [earnestly] wait for Him, who expect and look and long for Him [for His victory, His favor, His love, His peace, His joy, and His matchless, unbroken companionship]!
Did you see it there? The victory is not only in what He does but in my earnest waiting and expectation of all the good things He has promised. I play a part in my own healing. I am reminded of some words in a scripture that jumped off the page as I was reading in early January.
“...because My word has no entrance (makes no progress, does not find any place) in you.”
These words of Jesus pierced my heart that day. These words followed the familiar words in John 8:32, ”and you will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free.” That day I was faced with a choice. That's what it boils down to, a choice, to accept the lies or shut them down with the truth. God has given me His Word as a weapon to shut down the old voices of the past or trust the truth of His Word and gain the victory over my enemy.
I am reminded of my renewed vision to write that came in 2008 and the discouragement I've felt in following through over the last four years. Today my eyes fell on the original scripture God gave me in September 2008. The second part of this verse brings peace to my heart as I realize He's been moving me in the right direction all along.
“The things God plans won't happen right away. Slowly, steadily, surely, the time approaches when the vision will be fulfilled. If it seems slow, I do not despair, for these things will surely come to pass. I will just be patient! They will not be overdue a single day!” (Habakkuk 2:3)
Surely God opened my eyes to see that I have made progress... slow and steady progress as I've walked this healing path. I will accept the responsibility He has presented me in the present to take part in the renewal of my mind and wait with expectation for what He is going to do next to fulfill the vision He has for my life.
As we continue, I'd like to share with you some ways I first learned to renew my mind in my early days of healing at Barnabas. The first practical tool will take commitment to daily quiet time and prayer. Now that I have been practicing this in my own life, I am gaining the surpassing victory as I become more Word-minded and shut down habitual thinking and refute the lies of the enemy. Even if you've failed before, join me in expectation that God will be gracious and extend His loving-kindness to you in every effort you make to renew your mind with His Word.
So don't just wait for the other shoe to drop, expecting much of the same for your life. Join me in expecting God to bring transformation to your life as you make the choice to try the following practices in the next couple of weeks. Like myself you may need longer or you may find yourself coming back to this practice in months or years to come. Just know that God is slowly, steadily, surely bringing His vision to pass in your life as you partner with Him.
Buy a journal for recording the following daily...
Today I am feeling______________________.
When I have these feelings I have these thoughts______________.
When I have these thoughts I want to________________________.
The lie I am believing is__________________________________.
Ask God to show you something in His Word that refutes this lie of the enemy.
Today my prayer is______________________________________.
Don't allow yourself to become discouraged. In the beginning, I was very unsure of my feelings. Having been in an abusive situation for quite some time, I had been accustomed to getting caught up in the emotions of someone else. Allow God to show you one emotion and thought at the time. Go with Him, He will lead you gently as you make the choice to follow Him.
Friday, February 3, 2012
Friday, January 20, 2012
PRESS!!!
The first week of January God began to speak to me through the phrase, “It's words (the Word) that matters most.” You can read the archived post with this title here on the blog. There were several key scriptures I was led to read and jot down in my journal. Among those were Ephesians 4:29, Deutoronomy 30:14, I Thessalonians 5:23 and especially the following scripture....
“Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in thy sight, oh Lord, my strength and my Redeemer.”
After viewing 8 messages on DVD about the brain, which focused on the concept of renewing the mind, I was then led to pull out the book Battlefield of the Mind by Joyce Meyer. As I look back on the first three weeks of January 2012, I can see God's leading each and every step of the way. As Joyce shares in her book, “you must think about what you are thinking.” I was becoming more focused on just how powerfully our thinking influences our attitudes and beliefs, influencing our actions and behaviors and ultimately becoming the framework of our lives. So many problems in our lives are rooted in wrong thinking patterns. Satan offers us wrong thinking but we don't have to accept the offer.
This morning God took me one step further in my own journey as I listened to a teaching by Creflo Dollar titled NO MORE FEAR. I was getting my coffee in the kitchen when the teaching began. I heard him say, “Turn to Psalm 78:1-10.” It was at that moment... his first words... I knew God was about to take me to a new level of healing. For quite some time now I've been attempting to write a book and one of the scriptures that was the basis for my writing was Psalm 78:1-10. You can read this passage in several translations at http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=As the teaching began, I soon discovered the focus was going to be “letting go of the past and pressing forward to your future.” In verse 9 it says, the children of Ephraim were armed and carrying bows, yet they turned back in the day of battle. Before the thirty minute message was over, I was certain the battle for myself and many others is in these two words...
“Turning Back”
I'd like to share my notes and thoughts so that we can all defeat FEAR in our lives and PRESS forward to God's high calling.
Panic or fear is unrealistic ground...no support for it... no reason.
How do we allow ourselves to walk in groundless fear?
Satan HAS to get you in your past to move you into fear.
Look where you have been …
a failure
hurt and wounded
abused
cheated
You will start thinking about these things and begin to expect the same. Fear of the future is based on what happened in the past. But with God, failure in the past does not mean failure in the future!
Philippians 3:7-17 (the whole thing is so amazing but let's focus on verse 13)
“....but one thing I do [it is my one aspiration] forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead.”
How many times have I read this scripture and even made an attempt to put it into practice. But this morning, I saw for the first time how deeply our thinking is involved in the PRESS as Satan opposes us in our thoughts about the past.
Thoughts of ….
Guilt
Shame
Condemnation
Failure
Unforgiveness
Bitterness
Resentment...
These are all rooted in the past. I cannot doubt if I don't even consider past.
I can't be envious, jealous, unforgiving, afraid to have relationship..... if I don't consider the past.
Faith is based on Future but
Fear is based on the Past....
In Luke 9:62 Jesus says, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back [to the things behind]
is fit for the kingdom of God.” (I'd like to add a note from the message I listened to... “doesn't mean not fit for heaven.. but now fit for kingdom, victorious living.)
Isaiah 43:18 “Remember not the former things, consider not....God is doing a NEW thing.”
Genesis 41:51 Manasseh meaning “forget the toils”
Ephraim meaning “fruitful”
Had to be a Manasseh before there was an Ephraim
So you've failed, been abused, wounded and hurt, cheated...
Get Up!
Micah 7:8 “Rejoice not against me, O my enemy! When I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the Lord shall be a light to me.”
Let go of the crutches, the story of abuse, the wounds, the wrongs done to you...
It almost killed you but PRESS! Tell the story in Victory...
God has new things, new mercy, new victories...
PRESS FORWARD!
Genesis 19:17
Don't become a pillar of salt... stuck, stranded, paralyzed in the past.. Escape for your life..
Do Not Look Behind You....
Ten years can come and go and you will be in the same place.
Paul got it and he wants us to get it too...
He'd persecuted Christians but he said these words...
“I've wronged no man.”
This was his statement of faith and it can be ours too...
FORGETTING THE PAST... PRESSING FORWARD... NO REAR VIEW MIRRORS... ALWAYS FORWARD...GOD IS DOING A NEW THING...
PRESS!!!!
Monday, January 9, 2012
Show Up and Love out Loud
I remember a smile coming to my lips as our pastor started his message yesterday. "What the World Needs Now is Love Sweet Love," in the familiar voice of Dionne Warwick. The smile came so quickly not just because this was popular in my youth but because I've been hearing this tune in my head for some months now. I've even thought of the words while observing certain circumstances around me in schools, shopping malls and restaurants. There are so many hurting people and its not difficult to see how they take their hurts out on others. Before you think I have some issues and find this funny or amusing, let me assure you my smile had nothing to do with pleasure in observing others' pain. Quite the opposite. I was simply feeling the connection yesterday as our pastor ministered the message to Love out Loud. My smile was like my signal back to God. "I hear you." God speaks so often if we tune our ears to listen. He might even use an old familiar tune to get our attention.
The message I heard yesterday would have had little impact if I'd been a hearer only. God's Word instructs us to be "doers" of the Word. I always know the Word will be challenged in my life and usually pretty quickly. The three main points of the message were:
Be present physically
Be present emotionally
Be present spiritually
A quick summary of these three points
Jesus (The Word) became flesh... He became deeply involved in the lives of those he ministered to.
He was present physically and had face to face contact with others.
Jesus (The Word) made His dwelling among us...His ministry brought revelation by fileting the hearts of those he spoke with...He settled in with those who needed to understand like Nicodemus and gave them time to understand who He really was...no guesswork...
Jesus (The Word) was full of grace and truth...He spoke the truth in love and His message was seasoned with grace and the assurance that He makes all things NEW.
This is my paraphrase of the message and how it played out in my heart and life within hours.
At the end of the sermon we were asked
"Who do you need to be "present" with this week?" Physically, emotionally, spiritually...
My mind went first to my father who is going to be 86 on Saturday and then to some ladies I've visited at the nursing home.. and before I could get too far I was in my car headed to my daddy's with a sack lunch from a local fast food.
I arrived at daddy's and unpacked my lunch. He'd had a small lunch and was watching football. He's not a big talker so I became my "chatty self." In all honesty, I think I congratulated myself on being present physically knowing I need to be there more than I have been in past weeks. But, the thoughts of being present emotionally are a little more hazy with most of us. Where would God want to filet my heart today in this relationship? How might I settle down into this visit and see where God might want me to grow?
When my daddy said he was going to go to the grocery store later, it came to me that I should ask my daddy to accompany me to the grocery store to get himself some groceries. Being an independent sort, I expected the usual, "I'll just go later." But instead after a slight, and I mean very slight hesitation, he agreed to go with me.
It was one of the quickest visits to the grocery store I've experienced in my life. Obviously, he has his list in his head and makes his visits one of short order so I was forced to keep up with him, even leaving behind one item I couldn't quickly find that was on my list. I could certainly pick this up sometime later at another store. Daddy was obviously tired by the 15 minute trip down two aisles and ready to get back home.
As I drove away from my dad's house, I remembered the pastors definition of "slacktivism." He mentioned those who post their interests in ministries to human trafficking (which by the way I'd just posted yesterday morning) and the wearing of t-shirts and armbands that tout your allegiance to some cause. He didn't mince words when he said "Show up." Love shows up. Today, I could be missing a frozen pie crust but I made time to get to another store. I confess I don't always show up physically, emotionally or spiritually but the Word was given yesterday and I learned by showing up my daddy would accept my offer and I could learn some patience and put my needs aside.
It's one thing to hear a love song inside my head, it's quite another to sing it out loud over others as we make the effort to show up in their lives. I know that one day I'll wear a smile when I remember our visit to the grocery store. I'll remember my daddy chuckling as a little Hispanic girl opened the freezer container to get something in front of him instead of being annoyed. I'll remember his determination to take the cart back and carry his own things inside his things in the house. I'll remember his concern that I get on home with my things. I'll remember my struggle to keep up with him as he grabbed the essentials and sped down the aisle while I was still trying to make my choices.
There's still so much I need to learn about loving others. Today I'm thinking of how much my daddy is ahead of me in this thing called life. His loving concern for my mother when she was ill and his determination in life in the face of difficult circumstances have been an inspiration. I imagine he could tell me alot about what real love means if he were a big conversationalist, but he's not. He has chosen to "show up" in the lives of his family members and has done it without complaining or seeming annoyed that we are taking his time. God help me get the love essentials on my list and stop wasting time with the unessentials. Let me show up and love out loud....there's a world out there that needs my daddy's character in me.
The message I heard yesterday would have had little impact if I'd been a hearer only. God's Word instructs us to be "doers" of the Word. I always know the Word will be challenged in my life and usually pretty quickly. The three main points of the message were:
Be present physically
Be present emotionally
Be present spiritually
A quick summary of these three points
Jesus (The Word) became flesh... He became deeply involved in the lives of those he ministered to.
He was present physically and had face to face contact with others.
Jesus (The Word) made His dwelling among us...His ministry brought revelation by fileting the hearts of those he spoke with...He settled in with those who needed to understand like Nicodemus and gave them time to understand who He really was...no guesswork...
Jesus (The Word) was full of grace and truth...He spoke the truth in love and His message was seasoned with grace and the assurance that He makes all things NEW.
This is my paraphrase of the message and how it played out in my heart and life within hours.
At the end of the sermon we were asked
"Who do you need to be "present" with this week?" Physically, emotionally, spiritually...
My mind went first to my father who is going to be 86 on Saturday and then to some ladies I've visited at the nursing home.. and before I could get too far I was in my car headed to my daddy's with a sack lunch from a local fast food.
I arrived at daddy's and unpacked my lunch. He'd had a small lunch and was watching football. He's not a big talker so I became my "chatty self." In all honesty, I think I congratulated myself on being present physically knowing I need to be there more than I have been in past weeks. But, the thoughts of being present emotionally are a little more hazy with most of us. Where would God want to filet my heart today in this relationship? How might I settle down into this visit and see where God might want me to grow?
When my daddy said he was going to go to the grocery store later, it came to me that I should ask my daddy to accompany me to the grocery store to get himself some groceries. Being an independent sort, I expected the usual, "I'll just go later." But instead after a slight, and I mean very slight hesitation, he agreed to go with me.
It was one of the quickest visits to the grocery store I've experienced in my life. Obviously, he has his list in his head and makes his visits one of short order so I was forced to keep up with him, even leaving behind one item I couldn't quickly find that was on my list. I could certainly pick this up sometime later at another store. Daddy was obviously tired by the 15 minute trip down two aisles and ready to get back home.
As I drove away from my dad's house, I remembered the pastors definition of "slacktivism." He mentioned those who post their interests in ministries to human trafficking (which by the way I'd just posted yesterday morning) and the wearing of t-shirts and armbands that tout your allegiance to some cause. He didn't mince words when he said "Show up." Love shows up. Today, I could be missing a frozen pie crust but I made time to get to another store. I confess I don't always show up physically, emotionally or spiritually but the Word was given yesterday and I learned by showing up my daddy would accept my offer and I could learn some patience and put my needs aside.
It's one thing to hear a love song inside my head, it's quite another to sing it out loud over others as we make the effort to show up in their lives. I know that one day I'll wear a smile when I remember our visit to the grocery store. I'll remember my daddy chuckling as a little Hispanic girl opened the freezer container to get something in front of him instead of being annoyed. I'll remember his determination to take the cart back and carry his own things inside his things in the house. I'll remember his concern that I get on home with my things. I'll remember my struggle to keep up with him as he grabbed the essentials and sped down the aisle while I was still trying to make my choices.
There's still so much I need to learn about loving others. Today I'm thinking of how much my daddy is ahead of me in this thing called life. His loving concern for my mother when she was ill and his determination in life in the face of difficult circumstances have been an inspiration. I imagine he could tell me alot about what real love means if he were a big conversationalist, but he's not. He has chosen to "show up" in the lives of his family members and has done it without complaining or seeming annoyed that we are taking his time. God help me get the love essentials on my list and stop wasting time with the unessentials. Let me show up and love out loud....there's a world out there that needs my daddy's character in me.
Friday, October 7, 2011
I find myself constantly jotting notes on index cards and scraps of paper. Sometimes they sit in my Bible for weeks and I come back to them to meditate on my original interest or expand my thinking as the Holy Spirit reveals more to me about why He drew me to these words. Today I'd like to share some one liners and questions that have found their way onto my radar screen. Perhaps the Holy Spirit will use them to touch you in some way or draw out your thinking to unveil something in your heart. So often I find myself explaining why I loved a scripture or thought, hoping it will minister life to someone. I am impressed today that the Holy Spirit was sent to do this in and for us. I invite you to allow Him to do what He does best--reveal Christ's finished work and God's love to each of us when we allow Him access. I would love to have your feedback on which, if any, of these touched you in some way. My email is robin.lys@hotmail.com .
"Either sin is with you, lying on your shoulders, or it is lying on Christ, the Lamb of God, 'Now if it is lying on your back; you are lost; but if it is resting on Christ, you are free, and you will be saved. Now choose what you want."
"Sin is not cancelled by lawful living."
(Both of these are from Martin Luther)
"He found me on my walk of shame."
"No one tells you that the shields you carry to keep you safe, they become the steel cages that keep you alone."
"Truth--I thought an open door made it too easy for someone to shoot an arrow through my hard and quaking heart."
"Why do I allow the past to rob me of the present possibility?"
"Why don't I se the price of being safe is the cost of being solitary?"
"Why haven't I seen that distrust can destroy a life?"
"Why do I have trouble being patient with friendship... listening long?"
"Do people find themselves waiting to hear my flight?"
"The dark's never bothered me much.
Its women who have scared me.
Women can haunt with shadows of their own."
"No one wants anything of anyone but to be honest and real and trust enough to take off the mask."
"In a refuge of grace, who has anything to prove or protect... anything to hide."
"In the space of grace--who needs to live for something when they can live with someone."
"When we breathe in grace, we finally believe we can be real--and be changed into the realest versions of Holy Grace Himself."
"If you don't know what He looks like, then you cannot do the one thing He has called you to do: LOVE"
"Falling away is when you walk out on the only thing that can set you free."
And finally I'd like to add this song... Embracing Accusations by Shane and Shane...
"Either sin is with you, lying on your shoulders, or it is lying on Christ, the Lamb of God, 'Now if it is lying on your back; you are lost; but if it is resting on Christ, you are free, and you will be saved. Now choose what you want."
"Sin is not cancelled by lawful living."
(Both of these are from Martin Luther)
"He found me on my walk of shame."
"No one tells you that the shields you carry to keep you safe, they become the steel cages that keep you alone."
"Truth--I thought an open door made it too easy for someone to shoot an arrow through my hard and quaking heart."
"Why do I allow the past to rob me of the present possibility?"
"Why don't I se the price of being safe is the cost of being solitary?"
"Why haven't I seen that distrust can destroy a life?"
"Why do I have trouble being patient with friendship... listening long?"
"Do people find themselves waiting to hear my flight?"
"The dark's never bothered me much.
Its women who have scared me.
Women can haunt with shadows of their own."
"No one wants anything of anyone but to be honest and real and trust enough to take off the mask."
"In a refuge of grace, who has anything to prove or protect... anything to hide."
"In the space of grace--who needs to live for something when they can live with someone."
"When we breathe in grace, we finally believe we can be real--and be changed into the realest versions of Holy Grace Himself."
"If you don't know what He looks like, then you cannot do the one thing He has called you to do: LOVE"
"Falling away is when you walk out on the only thing that can set you free."
And finally I'd like to add this song... Embracing Accusations by Shane and Shane...
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Face to Face
The last several weeks I've been going through a new season in my life. Cleaning, purging, moving and removing are some of the words that might describe the activities that have filled my days. I mentioned to a friend recently my distaste or could I even be so bold as to suggest 'fear' of change as I embarked on several of the tasks I have completed. The satisfaction following the completion of some very physical activities has also given me a new perspective on some very real struggles in my life such as goal setting, motivation and even going deeper, thoughts about my identity and how I do relationships.
Recently, with the help of a friend, I undertook the task of pressure washing and staining my deck and rocking chairs. A few days later we tackled the porch furniture which had a dull and quite weathered appearance after ten years of sun, wind and rain. For some time now, I'd had no real motivation to do outside projects as I daily confronted the more apparent needs inside. The most pressing needs of vacuuming, cleaning and laundry also took precedent over the many desires I have had to reorganize and purge drawers and closets of items no longer necessary or meaningful in my life. The staining and painting were like a facelift for my personal property but the experience itself was more of a facelift for my spirit. Learning how much I enjoy physical tasks and being outdoors was like finding a part of myself tucked away in the corner of an uncleaned closet or unkempt desk drawer.
The internal boost I received has given me a new found interest in discovering more of what makes me tick or just what sort of person God had in mind for me to be. It also gave me the incentive to continue on this path of change as I moved my efforts inside. The room where I once used my computer for research and writing had become a place I rarely visited. Some of this took place when I purchased a new laptop and acquired a wireless connection with the ability to connect anytime, anywhere. For quite some time now, I've found myself at the kitchen table when using my computer. Since the deep connection I felt between my prayer life and writing were somehow broken, I found it difficult to find the motivation for writing and other pleasureable activities that God has shown me are a part of my core identity.
In many ways I was also trying to escape the harsh and judgmental words from someone in my past. “Are you going to go back in your sanctuary again?” Taking these words into my heart without examining the damage they 'd done made me question my identity and fear relationship with others in a way I'd never imagined. After retiring from teaching, the discovery of my love for solitude, writing and my family history seemed so natural. The cruelty with which this part of my identity was attacked left me feeling the old emotions of my childhood...”something must be really wrong with you at the core... you are wrong, incomplete, unsatisfactory....” The death of my “all in one printer” seemed to be the last straw, making it almost impossible for me to find the motivation to continue on my journey to the dreams and desires God has planted in my heart. I just couldn't seem to climb out of the dismal pit of discouragement and make the changes necessary to revitalize my dreams of writing.
Tossing the printer into the garbage was not an easy decision for me to make. I am indebted to a friend, who helped me investigate the problems and realize it was time for a new printer. In just a couple of weeks, this same friend gifted me with another “all in one” printer, giving me the ability to return to activities that bring joy to my life. Now, I can return to writing in a comfortable space and have the tools I need close at hand. My task is not yet complete in this room but today I am sitting with sunlight from the window pouring over my shoulder and feel a lightness in my spirit and a new sense of direction. As I look over the other shoulder I see a closet purged of the unnecessary and remember the ambivalence and inner struggle of emptying two file cabinets filled with documents and information from a past season of life. Getting unstuck from a former season and letting go of the old to grab hold of the new can be a grueling process. In retrospect, I can now say with confidence it was in taking the first steps to remove and purge I found the ability to trust it was the right course of action.
Motivation to change and move forward must come from within. For many of us the well of motivation needs to be primed. Some heartbreak or failure has led us to a place of what seems to be a real drought in our spirit. Healing from the inside out is largely done in private with God as our Counselor and motivator. He knows our hearts and sees every obstruction limiting and preventing the release of His gifts in our lives. However, He knows our need for relationship and connection to those who will get down in the muck and mud with us and wrestle with the demons that have kept us frozen in time.
It is this kind of relationship I would like to celebrate in my writing today.
As I observed a writing lesson at an elementary school last week, I was reminded of the analogy of deposits and withdrawals. While the instructor was using these terms to indicate ways of finding topics for writing, my mind drifted to relationships. Some relationships seem to largely involve withdrawals, while God in His goodness brings others into our lives to deposit into our accounts.
We are all aware of the work necessary to deposit large sums of money into a bank account. It is much the same in relationships. When individuals who have been wounded or broken by painful life circumstances (and that includes ALL of us), we can find ourselves stranded in the pain as if we were left on a highway in the dark with no way home. The light necessary for finding our way may be coming around the curve in a relationship with another individual with their own file cabinet filled with failures and painful memories. Purging the pain in relationship requires that both individuals roll up their sleeves and get down and dirty in the process of change. I love the effects of a pressure washer as it seems to miraculously remove the dirt, grime, mold and mildew, leaving a clean surface with which to work. It gives such a feeling of satisfaction to see the new nature of the wood, wall or walkway. Sometimes we are called to feel the sting of pressure another is facing in their lives which can become a pruning of both hearts if each individual will look deep as if in a mirror to see God's purpose in relationship.
On my desk in front of me, my eyes go to a picture of my grandson and granddaughter, nose to nose, arms about each other in an embrace as if they were giving each other an Eskimo kiss. Their eyes are crinkled, lips smiling and joy is apparent on their faces. This photo screams of intimacy in relationship, with no division and hindrances as they look at one another face to face accepting one another fully.
Yesterday while working on a project with my granddaughter that involved the use of my new printer, she took her place by my side. She touched the photo of she and her brother affectionately and said, “I love this picture!” How uncanny that she would draw attention to this particular picture on the same day my eyes had found inspiration from the same photo.
Suddenly, my mind went to another picture of the two of them in the back seat on the way home from school. Listening in on a disagreement they were having, I adjusted my rear view mirror just in time to see my granddaughter's eyes, not crinkled in love and joyful adoration but a look of frustration and painful displeasure as her brother begged to disagree with her on the subject at hand. I couldn't help but feel her disappointed resolution when she backed away from the fray and said something like, “well, I don't understand what you are saying...” and stared in another direction as if contemplating her surrender.
We cannot escape the painful withdrawals that come from relationship in this fallen world. We can, however, make choices to go face to face with our Creator and ask Him for help in getting unstuck from the effects of offenses in life and relationship. If we listen, He will speak to us through those around us to bring recognition of how and why we have found ourselves mired in discouragement or depression. There will be those he brings into our lives who will sharpen us and walk with us, making deposits instead of withdrawals and lighting the fire for change and motivation if we will open our hearts to the risk of being known by others. God does seem to work in mysterious ways to bring people into our lives. Like that grain of sand necessary to bring forth a beautiful pearl, they enter the comfort zone of our lives and give that little push we need to take that first step
I would be remiss if I failed to mention the fear of face to face interaction with others in the wake of difficult and failed relationships of the past. Sitting at my kitchen table scrolling for an hour or more through Facebook postings became my substitute for real face to face relationships for a time, simply because it seemed easier than doing the hard work of real and authentic relationship. Purging, cleaning and reorganizing my physical surroundings has been much easier than coming face to face with old thought patterns and file folders filled with wrong thoughts about my identity. This kind of change cannot be done in isolation. It requires others around us who are willing to give that little boost, the encouragement we need to get started.
There will be moments when what we experience feels like the Eskimo kiss of intimate encounters with others and other times we will want to surrender to the voice inside that says, “I just don't know what you are trying to do here, God... I don't know what you are talking about!” It's living in the tension of relationship we find healing and renewal in our lives.
As the day ended with my grandchildren, I heard their laughter coming from another room. I looked to see my grandson lifting my granddaughter and toting her around as she laughed out loud in the obvious joy of the moment.
The closet in my room is still incomplete in its reorganization and my garage is the next thing to be tackled. My lesson for today, however, seems clear. Motivation and change are more easily accomplished in the daily workings of relationship. These will have their ebb and flow and times of withdrawal and deposits. Taking the first step will require those face to face encounters with a God who wraps His arms around us and gently encourages us to trust Him even when we want to say, “I don't understand what you are saying.”
Today I am thankful for those who have stepped into my life with encouragement and gentle pushes inviting change in my life. I want to experience the joy of being carried by a brother or sister even if it means I must also experience painful times of misunderstanding and disillusionment. As I contemplate the revelation that came to me about the assault on my identity, I must admit that all relationships can be turned to His good in our lives if we remain committed to a face to face relationship with God and others.
Last week the writing instructor at school instructed the third graders to get “eye to eye and knee to knee” on the carpet to tell each other stories they heard or wanted to write about. This seems a perfect picture for me of a face to face relationship encouraging one another to continue living out our stories and committing ourselves to intimate relationship no matter how uncomfortable it might become. Our stories get messy and sometimes we seem to reach an impasse in the plot. We can make deposits in others' lives and motivate one another to be all they were meant to be if we commit to take a step forward and get eye to eye and face to face with another who has gotten stuck. Stories are filled with surprises as I've recently learned in my purging, cleaning and reorganizing experience. I can't help but wonder... “What are you doing God? And … What is waiting for me out in the garage?”
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Embracing the Seasons
“So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life---your sleeping, eating, going to work, and walking-around life---and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don't become so well---adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.” (Romans 12:1-2)
Some days my life feels very ordinary. Since my retirement from teaching ten years ago, I've settled into a pace of life that I'm sure would seem quite peculiar to those in the working world. When I felt God call me to retire early to go back to school, I envisioned a new position, new horizons and new challenges. I did not, however, envision days of solitude and a walking-around the house doing ordinary, run of the mill kinds of activities. Certainly, a life centered in prayer and quiet days of solitude would not have been at the top of my choices for the future. After all, I've always been a people person and love interaction with others.
From days in a classroom filled with the noisy activity of five year olds to days of quiet reflection with only the sounds of my AC, frig and an occasional trash truck or lawnmower has been quite an adjustment. Ten years and how swiftly they have passed. It's been a journey, perhaps I could say its a bit like the one Abraham was invited to take... a journey to a land he did not know. Kindergarten, ordinary? There is absolutely nothing ordinary about any day filled with the life and vitality of young children. Gone are the days of switching gears every ten minutes due to their short attention spans. Instead, God is vying for my attention as I continually ask Him when is recess? When can I go outside with the others?
So how has God been teaching me to embrace what He has for me and learn how to fix my attention on Him? It's in the ordinariness of life He seems to speak with most clarity to my heart. Let me give you an example from this morning.
I'm showering and getting cleaned up for my day. While drying my hair, I realize the new deodorant I'd just purchased has a wonderful scent. Immediately, I thought of the treks I've taken to over a dozen dollar, drug and grocery stores looking for my old standby, my favorite scented deodorant. Of course, none can compare to this one so I spend weeks looking as I watch my favorite slowly dwindling away. I was surprised to find myself feeling angry as I “settled for” a new scent. What I'd come to accept as the best for me, the thing that pleased me most, was now unavailable.
Call this an object lesson or the quiet whisper of His voice, nonetheless, I knew He was speaking. I have been feeling as if I've had to “settle for” less. As the years have gone by I've felt less willing to accept this season as God's best for me. At times I've even felt anger and wrestled like Jacob for an identity change. How long will this identity crisis last? How in the world can I have any impact on the world if I'm not an active part of what is happening “out there?” Certainly I've seen answered prayers and touched lives along the way but when can I get back out there with the rest of the world? And by the way, don't you see my bank account? What am I going to do about that if I don't get a new career?
First, He reminded me He ordained this time for bringing healing to my life. This was a healing that needed to happen from the inside out. It's been a time when time constraints and deadlines were removed so there was plenty of time for soul searching and heart surgery. As I've opened my heart before Him in the quietness of my ordinary days, I've experienced His love in ways I'd never thought possible. Old mindsets, favored ways of living, my opinions, dreams and visions have been put to death on the altar.
Today I've been reminded some things no longer work for us and no matter how hard we search them out and try to make them fit, they just need to die.
In the Message translation it says we are to recognize what He wants from us. In verse17 it says,”We get what we say straight from God and say it as honestly as we can.” So here it is straight from the scent of the deodorant bottle to you, as clear as I heard it from Him. “Be content in the season in which you are living.” He wants my attention, my love and my heart.
The following verse came to mind as I placed my new scented deodorant back in the cabinet and tossed perhaps my last bottle of favorite scent into the trash can....
“But thanks be to God, Who in Christ always leads us to triumph and through us spreads and makes evident the fragrance of the knowledge of God everywhere.
For we are the sweet fragrance of Christ [which exhales] unto God, among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing.” (II Corinthians 2:14-15)
This message is not about the struggles of those who have retired from or no longer propelled daily into the culture of the working world. It is about all of our hearts and our propensity to believe the “grass is greener.” We are not so far removed from our brother and sister, Adam and Eve, in feeling God is holding out on us. Some of us are searching high and low (preaching to self here) for the things of the last season or the position we have chosen for self, when all He asks is that we readily recognize He knows the end from the beginning and everything in between. He wants what's best for us.
When we begin to recognize the season of life in which we are involved and quickly respond to what He is doing in us and for us, with thankfulness and gratitude, the fragrant scent of Christ within us can touch our culture for Christ. I ask myself, “Isn't that what we are called to do in every season of life?”
Thanking Him today for an ordinary day with an extraordinary lesson...
Letting go of the old, embracing the new, so that I can be that sweet fragrance when I go out into the world.
“Through us, he brings the knowledge of Christ. Everywhere we go, people breathe in the exquisite fragrance. Because of Christ, we give off a sweet scent rising to God....”
Some days my life feels very ordinary. Since my retirement from teaching ten years ago, I've settled into a pace of life that I'm sure would seem quite peculiar to those in the working world. When I felt God call me to retire early to go back to school, I envisioned a new position, new horizons and new challenges. I did not, however, envision days of solitude and a walking-around the house doing ordinary, run of the mill kinds of activities. Certainly, a life centered in prayer and quiet days of solitude would not have been at the top of my choices for the future. After all, I've always been a people person and love interaction with others.
From days in a classroom filled with the noisy activity of five year olds to days of quiet reflection with only the sounds of my AC, frig and an occasional trash truck or lawnmower has been quite an adjustment. Ten years and how swiftly they have passed. It's been a journey, perhaps I could say its a bit like the one Abraham was invited to take... a journey to a land he did not know. Kindergarten, ordinary? There is absolutely nothing ordinary about any day filled with the life and vitality of young children. Gone are the days of switching gears every ten minutes due to their short attention spans. Instead, God is vying for my attention as I continually ask Him when is recess? When can I go outside with the others?
So how has God been teaching me to embrace what He has for me and learn how to fix my attention on Him? It's in the ordinariness of life He seems to speak with most clarity to my heart. Let me give you an example from this morning.
I'm showering and getting cleaned up for my day. While drying my hair, I realize the new deodorant I'd just purchased has a wonderful scent. Immediately, I thought of the treks I've taken to over a dozen dollar, drug and grocery stores looking for my old standby, my favorite scented deodorant. Of course, none can compare to this one so I spend weeks looking as I watch my favorite slowly dwindling away. I was surprised to find myself feeling angry as I “settled for” a new scent. What I'd come to accept as the best for me, the thing that pleased me most, was now unavailable.
Call this an object lesson or the quiet whisper of His voice, nonetheless, I knew He was speaking. I have been feeling as if I've had to “settle for” less. As the years have gone by I've felt less willing to accept this season as God's best for me. At times I've even felt anger and wrestled like Jacob for an identity change. How long will this identity crisis last? How in the world can I have any impact on the world if I'm not an active part of what is happening “out there?” Certainly I've seen answered prayers and touched lives along the way but when can I get back out there with the rest of the world? And by the way, don't you see my bank account? What am I going to do about that if I don't get a new career?
First, He reminded me He ordained this time for bringing healing to my life. This was a healing that needed to happen from the inside out. It's been a time when time constraints and deadlines were removed so there was plenty of time for soul searching and heart surgery. As I've opened my heart before Him in the quietness of my ordinary days, I've experienced His love in ways I'd never thought possible. Old mindsets, favored ways of living, my opinions, dreams and visions have been put to death on the altar.
Today I've been reminded some things no longer work for us and no matter how hard we search them out and try to make them fit, they just need to die.
In the Message translation it says we are to recognize what He wants from us. In verse17 it says,”We get what we say straight from God and say it as honestly as we can.” So here it is straight from the scent of the deodorant bottle to you, as clear as I heard it from Him. “Be content in the season in which you are living.” He wants my attention, my love and my heart.
The following verse came to mind as I placed my new scented deodorant back in the cabinet and tossed perhaps my last bottle of favorite scent into the trash can....
“But thanks be to God, Who in Christ always leads us to triumph and through us spreads and makes evident the fragrance of the knowledge of God everywhere.
For we are the sweet fragrance of Christ [which exhales] unto God, among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing.” (II Corinthians 2:14-15)
This message is not about the struggles of those who have retired from or no longer propelled daily into the culture of the working world. It is about all of our hearts and our propensity to believe the “grass is greener.” We are not so far removed from our brother and sister, Adam and Eve, in feeling God is holding out on us. Some of us are searching high and low (preaching to self here) for the things of the last season or the position we have chosen for self, when all He asks is that we readily recognize He knows the end from the beginning and everything in between. He wants what's best for us.
When we begin to recognize the season of life in which we are involved and quickly respond to what He is doing in us and for us, with thankfulness and gratitude, the fragrant scent of Christ within us can touch our culture for Christ. I ask myself, “Isn't that what we are called to do in every season of life?”
Thanking Him today for an ordinary day with an extraordinary lesson...
Letting go of the old, embracing the new, so that I can be that sweet fragrance when I go out into the world.
“Through us, he brings the knowledge of Christ. Everywhere we go, people breathe in the exquisite fragrance. Because of Christ, we give off a sweet scent rising to God....”
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Ripples of Love
On Sunday the pastor spoke about skipping stones on water and the ripple effect of things in our lives. Both yesterday and this morning, I feel the ripples of something happening within my heart I'd like to express and hopefully send the ripples even further and on into the lives of others.
Almost the first thing I read this morning was the very REAL and heart rending account of something that touched the life of one of my dearest sisters in Christ. I immediately felt the ripple of pain as it touched something deep inside my heart. While the descriptions she used to relay the painful experiences of her life are quite personal and tell her individual story, I was made acutely aware how I have been similarly broken by the fallen world in which we find ourselves living. It was almost as if the words of her painful discovery were ripping my heart and I bled out of the same kind of wound from my past. One of the first questions I asked myself was "What should my response be to this wounding of my sister's heart?"
I only have to look back about twelve hours to find the answer. Just last evening, I found myself grabbing a boxed pizza from a man at Pizza Hut, eyes down and heading for the exit as quickly as possible to avoid the stares of those who might witness I was breaking down right before their eyes. A text just moments earlier read, "Can I call you now?" to which I replied a desperately typed, "Yes." By the time I found myself behind the steering wheel, there was a simultaneous opening of a floodgate of tears and the ring of my cellphone. God's perfect timing. His ripples of grace!
On the other end was a REAL friend going through REAL trauma in her own life. The 46 min and 01 second she sacrificed for me to allow God's love to ripple through her life into mine...I pray they are written down in God's book and she will find a great reward for sitting with me in a time of REAL suffering. Having had similar experiences in life and knowing the brokenness that sometimes seem to overwhelm, she made herself available to listen and comfort. Words like, "I've been there and I understand"came long before words of scripture or calls to pray and seek God's answers. Her words came only after much listening and caring and compassionate questions about how I was feeling.
When I finished reading the painfully REAL heart crushing experience of my friend this morning, there was a ripple effect immediately. I desired to be the one on the other end of the phone with solace and comfort for a sorrowful, hurting heart. If I had not found comfort from a friend last evening, certainly I might have found myself feeling more discouraged... seeing one more casualty of the enemy's attack on one more sister. However, God's love had rippled into and through my life so I might hear His heart concerning our calling to others who are experiencing painful circumstances.
The challenge for me as I write this is in being as open and honest with my struggles as this brave and courageous sister was this morning as she shared her current heartbreak. As I thought about it, I realized how deeply wounded many of us feel by those we have needed to "have our backs." It is only in relationships where I have felt another open up and authentically share their own personal struggle I've been willing to share my fears and failures. All others only see the mask and never come to know the REAL ME.
When I started this blog, I remember one night listening to Natalie Grant's song, REAL ME for over 2 hours. I listened to every Youtube composition of this song... some repeatedly. I wept and cried out to God to make me a REAL person, one others would find approachable. My heart's desire was that I would be like Jesus and be willing to sit with others in their painful emotions. I have failed miserably at times to follow through and other times have found it happened quite naturally. Today I have become aware again of my need to be REAL so that I can be Jesus for others. It really is like a ripple effect on the water when skipping stones. But unlike the boundaries of the bank of a river or pond, God's love and it's ripples of mercy and grace have no bounds.
So what does all this mean for me and you today? For me, God has opened my eyes to see how critical it is for me to be available to those who are hurting. He has also spoken to my heart about taking the mask off and sharing my real fears and failures. Obviously, there might be those who will judge my life and even laugh at my fears and failures. Having lived through and come out of an abusive relationship, I have sought to run as far as possible from the judgment and condemnation of others. Running has taken me out of the conflict for a time, but perhaps it has seriously affected my very REAL calling in life. The Bible says, "Jesus was numbered with the transgressors." This and other scriptures tells me He was friends with the broken and wounded.... those who "hadn't gotten it all right yet."
We are living in the fallen world and we are called to a ministry of reconciliation and redemption. In the book of James, we are called to confess our faults one to another that we might find healing.Unfortunately, for many of us, the idea of confessing our fears and failures only resurrects painful memories of those who were unavailable or unequipped to sit with us in our painful moments.Sometimes we have even experienced the judgment and condemnation of others. For many, like myself, it was at this point we grew to know the ever faithful love of Christ.However, this doesn't allow us to jump ship or run in fear to a place of anonymity in the body of Christ. In fact, it has been through this experiential knowledge of Christ's love that we have been called to also number ourselves with the broken and wounded,.
I would like to end with a few thoughts from the book Numbered with the Transgressors by Larry Jackson (purchased at the church where I heard the author speak... and also met the two sisters mentioned in this blog post. Coincidental? I think not... just more ripples of His love that began some years ago when He placed these sisters in my life that His love might continue to ripple through mine and theirs.)
From the book....
We jump from the "number of the transgressors, even in family situations when God wants to use us to minister salvation, healing and deliverance to family members.
Unfortunately, the modern church is not so willing to be found by the very people who need it the most.
The underlying root of "jumping from the number of the transgressors" is pride.
I ask myself today... What causes me to run or "jump," if you will, from being numbered with Jesus among the transgressors?
Would you ask yourself, how am I doing at being REAL with others?
Would you thank God for the ripple effects of His love in your life and show you where to skip the rock so His love can ripple out affecting others with His love for them?
Almost the first thing I read this morning was the very REAL and heart rending account of something that touched the life of one of my dearest sisters in Christ. I immediately felt the ripple of pain as it touched something deep inside my heart. While the descriptions she used to relay the painful experiences of her life are quite personal and tell her individual story, I was made acutely aware how I have been similarly broken by the fallen world in which we find ourselves living. It was almost as if the words of her painful discovery were ripping my heart and I bled out of the same kind of wound from my past. One of the first questions I asked myself was "What should my response be to this wounding of my sister's heart?"
I only have to look back about twelve hours to find the answer. Just last evening, I found myself grabbing a boxed pizza from a man at Pizza Hut, eyes down and heading for the exit as quickly as possible to avoid the stares of those who might witness I was breaking down right before their eyes. A text just moments earlier read, "Can I call you now?" to which I replied a desperately typed, "Yes." By the time I found myself behind the steering wheel, there was a simultaneous opening of a floodgate of tears and the ring of my cellphone. God's perfect timing. His ripples of grace!
On the other end was a REAL friend going through REAL trauma in her own life. The 46 min and 01 second she sacrificed for me to allow God's love to ripple through her life into mine...I pray they are written down in God's book and she will find a great reward for sitting with me in a time of REAL suffering. Having had similar experiences in life and knowing the brokenness that sometimes seem to overwhelm, she made herself available to listen and comfort. Words like, "I've been there and I understand"came long before words of scripture or calls to pray and seek God's answers. Her words came only after much listening and caring and compassionate questions about how I was feeling.
When I finished reading the painfully REAL heart crushing experience of my friend this morning, there was a ripple effect immediately. I desired to be the one on the other end of the phone with solace and comfort for a sorrowful, hurting heart. If I had not found comfort from a friend last evening, certainly I might have found myself feeling more discouraged... seeing one more casualty of the enemy's attack on one more sister. However, God's love had rippled into and through my life so I might hear His heart concerning our calling to others who are experiencing painful circumstances.
The challenge for me as I write this is in being as open and honest with my struggles as this brave and courageous sister was this morning as she shared her current heartbreak. As I thought about it, I realized how deeply wounded many of us feel by those we have needed to "have our backs." It is only in relationships where I have felt another open up and authentically share their own personal struggle I've been willing to share my fears and failures. All others only see the mask and never come to know the REAL ME.
When I started this blog, I remember one night listening to Natalie Grant's song, REAL ME for over 2 hours. I listened to every Youtube composition of this song... some repeatedly. I wept and cried out to God to make me a REAL person, one others would find approachable. My heart's desire was that I would be like Jesus and be willing to sit with others in their painful emotions. I have failed miserably at times to follow through and other times have found it happened quite naturally. Today I have become aware again of my need to be REAL so that I can be Jesus for others. It really is like a ripple effect on the water when skipping stones. But unlike the boundaries of the bank of a river or pond, God's love and it's ripples of mercy and grace have no bounds.
So what does all this mean for me and you today? For me, God has opened my eyes to see how critical it is for me to be available to those who are hurting. He has also spoken to my heart about taking the mask off and sharing my real fears and failures. Obviously, there might be those who will judge my life and even laugh at my fears and failures. Having lived through and come out of an abusive relationship, I have sought to run as far as possible from the judgment and condemnation of others. Running has taken me out of the conflict for a time, but perhaps it has seriously affected my very REAL calling in life. The Bible says, "Jesus was numbered with the transgressors." This and other scriptures tells me He was friends with the broken and wounded.... those who "hadn't gotten it all right yet."
We are living in the fallen world and we are called to a ministry of reconciliation and redemption. In the book of James, we are called to confess our faults one to another that we might find healing.Unfortunately, for many of us, the idea of confessing our fears and failures only resurrects painful memories of those who were unavailable or unequipped to sit with us in our painful moments.Sometimes we have even experienced the judgment and condemnation of others. For many, like myself, it was at this point we grew to know the ever faithful love of Christ.However, this doesn't allow us to jump ship or run in fear to a place of anonymity in the body of Christ. In fact, it has been through this experiential knowledge of Christ's love that we have been called to also number ourselves with the broken and wounded,.
I would like to end with a few thoughts from the book Numbered with the Transgressors by Larry Jackson (purchased at the church where I heard the author speak... and also met the two sisters mentioned in this blog post. Coincidental? I think not... just more ripples of His love that began some years ago when He placed these sisters in my life that His love might continue to ripple through mine and theirs.)
From the book....
We jump from the "number of the transgressors, even in family situations when God wants to use us to minister salvation, healing and deliverance to family members.
Unfortunately, the modern church is not so willing to be found by the very people who need it the most.
The underlying root of "jumping from the number of the transgressors" is pride.
I ask myself today... What causes me to run or "jump," if you will, from being numbered with Jesus among the transgressors?
Would you ask yourself, how am I doing at being REAL with others?
Would you thank God for the ripple effects of His love in your life and show you where to skip the rock so His love can ripple out affecting others with His love for them?
Monday, November 15, 2010
I woke this morning to a very grey sky and deep purplish blue clouds promising a soaking rain that would soon eclipse the sun and settle into my neighborhood. A feeling much like that has settled down in my heart the last few weeks. The effects of seeing my father struggle with physical illness after his radiation treatments in September have left me with emotions feeling something like a gloomy weather forecast. "When will the sky grow brighter again and the promise of sunshine and outdoor pursuits be coming?" we sometimes ask when the weather grows rainy or stormclouds gather to infringe on our days. My heart keeps asking questions about the emotional forecast that sound the same. When will life as we knew it be possible again? When will our strong and dependable father be back to normal?
When my days are filled with busyness, I can evade the whispering of my heart's queries, but this morning without any scheduled plans, my emotions seemed to mirror the impending weather outside. As always I try to include some physical exercise in my day. Walking inside to a tape seemed the more reasonable choice, but I felt a real need to get outside and breathe fresh air in spite of the coming rain. I grabbed my rain coat and umbrella and drove to the Greenway. Usually teeming with people this time of day, I was happy to see there were very few people walking the Connector to downtown.
As I rounded the circle to enter the gentle climb upward to downtown on the Connector I made a determination that I would listen for anything God might like to speak to me while I made my way to the top. It's a pretty steep incline from the beginning to the end. Most days I am focused on my breathing, the time it takes me to get to the top or how warm or cold I am feeling. Today I knew it was needful that I divert my attention from temporal things like my heart rate or how many calories I might burn to the voice of my Creator.
Quieting the chatter in my mind is something I have been practicing as I walk and pray. Making a deliberate choice to silence my thoughts, I began to focus on the songs of the birds and the many and varied songs they sing. I noticed several small birds finding refuge under a bush and wondered if they were preparing for the coming rain and finding a shelter there. As I ascended the first half mile, I found my mind more focused on the foliage and taking in the sights around me. I must confess there was still a wrestling match going on for the thoughts that would inhabit my mind as I slowly made my way to the bridge that leads to the steepest part of the climb. However, just before I crossed the bridge, I spotted the most brilliant red holly berries intertwined with limbs filled with some blackened berries devoid of color. Making a choice to stop and enjoy the beauty of the bright green holly leaves and the Christmas red berries, I felt a twinge of something hopeful ignite inside of me.
It wasn't until I finished my ascent and started descending and retracing my steps that I heard God speak to me. "Even in this season when all things seem to be dying, there is life." At that very moment, I saw a dead log, perhaps there for many years in that same position, dry and disintegrating, wrapped in the most verdant green ivy. A few steps later I became aware of all the giant fallen timber lying across the creek that winds its way along the Greenway. By each of these fallen ones were many evergreens standing like sentinels standing guard over the trickling water gurgling on its way to bring life to many plants along the way. At the base of a tree, amid a pile fallen leaves, slipped a green shoot of new life in shark contrast to the dead leaves surrounding. As I came to my finishing point, I glanced up to see one small crimson oak, shining like the sun from side of the hill. All around it were barren trees stripped of all their glory but this one stood as a testimony of the brilliance of this season. And finally, as I walked to the parking lot, one last picture grabbed my attention. It was a small elm, recently planted, and bearing only one or two leaves.
My eyes focused on one small yellow leaf clinging to the limb from which it had emerged in the spring. I found myself wondering how some leaves fall so soon and others seem to cling to the life they find in the tree they've called their home. Then I saw what He had prepared for me. Our journey through this life is like a steep climb and many times we are too busy to see or hear the eternal message in our surroundings. As we descend, as we grow older or find our physical bodies in decline... we are as one of my favorite authors so beautifully put it... "taking that slow determined walk back to our Creator." It is our human nature to cling to this life and the physical body in which we have found our home for many years. Perhaps some of us cling more stubbornly to this life than others. No matter our determination, there will come that appointed time for all of us to let go of life as we have known it for something more precious and glorious.
Its hours later and the rain has not yet begun. Our journey with our father still holds days of questioning and letting go. My heart still feels I am losing my father one day at a time, much like the trees whose leaves are shed gradually until all are swept away by the wind and rains of fall. I can't imagine a season without the familiarity of all that has been family and home. Letting go of the familiar is so difficult. Some days feel like the struggle of ascending the hills of the Greenway this morning. Personally, I am still wrestling with my own fears. However, today God wants me to know He stubbornly clings to my sister and I as we walk through this season of changes as a family.
As I walked back to my car, I saw these words on the mile marker sign... "YOU ARE HERE." I heard His quiet whisper...."I AM HERE too. See ME in the crimson oak. See ME like the verdant ivy, the brilliant red berries, the clinging leaf. I am in the changing of the seasons. I will be with you in yours.
When my days are filled with busyness, I can evade the whispering of my heart's queries, but this morning without any scheduled plans, my emotions seemed to mirror the impending weather outside. As always I try to include some physical exercise in my day. Walking inside to a tape seemed the more reasonable choice, but I felt a real need to get outside and breathe fresh air in spite of the coming rain. I grabbed my rain coat and umbrella and drove to the Greenway. Usually teeming with people this time of day, I was happy to see there were very few people walking the Connector to downtown.
As I rounded the circle to enter the gentle climb upward to downtown on the Connector I made a determination that I would listen for anything God might like to speak to me while I made my way to the top. It's a pretty steep incline from the beginning to the end. Most days I am focused on my breathing, the time it takes me to get to the top or how warm or cold I am feeling. Today I knew it was needful that I divert my attention from temporal things like my heart rate or how many calories I might burn to the voice of my Creator.
Quieting the chatter in my mind is something I have been practicing as I walk and pray. Making a deliberate choice to silence my thoughts, I began to focus on the songs of the birds and the many and varied songs they sing. I noticed several small birds finding refuge under a bush and wondered if they were preparing for the coming rain and finding a shelter there. As I ascended the first half mile, I found my mind more focused on the foliage and taking in the sights around me. I must confess there was still a wrestling match going on for the thoughts that would inhabit my mind as I slowly made my way to the bridge that leads to the steepest part of the climb. However, just before I crossed the bridge, I spotted the most brilliant red holly berries intertwined with limbs filled with some blackened berries devoid of color. Making a choice to stop and enjoy the beauty of the bright green holly leaves and the Christmas red berries, I felt a twinge of something hopeful ignite inside of me.
It wasn't until I finished my ascent and started descending and retracing my steps that I heard God speak to me. "Even in this season when all things seem to be dying, there is life." At that very moment, I saw a dead log, perhaps there for many years in that same position, dry and disintegrating, wrapped in the most verdant green ivy. A few steps later I became aware of all the giant fallen timber lying across the creek that winds its way along the Greenway. By each of these fallen ones were many evergreens standing like sentinels standing guard over the trickling water gurgling on its way to bring life to many plants along the way. At the base of a tree, amid a pile fallen leaves, slipped a green shoot of new life in shark contrast to the dead leaves surrounding. As I came to my finishing point, I glanced up to see one small crimson oak, shining like the sun from side of the hill. All around it were barren trees stripped of all their glory but this one stood as a testimony of the brilliance of this season. And finally, as I walked to the parking lot, one last picture grabbed my attention. It was a small elm, recently planted, and bearing only one or two leaves.
My eyes focused on one small yellow leaf clinging to the limb from which it had emerged in the spring. I found myself wondering how some leaves fall so soon and others seem to cling to the life they find in the tree they've called their home. Then I saw what He had prepared for me. Our journey through this life is like a steep climb and many times we are too busy to see or hear the eternal message in our surroundings. As we descend, as we grow older or find our physical bodies in decline... we are as one of my favorite authors so beautifully put it... "taking that slow determined walk back to our Creator." It is our human nature to cling to this life and the physical body in which we have found our home for many years. Perhaps some of us cling more stubbornly to this life than others. No matter our determination, there will come that appointed time for all of us to let go of life as we have known it for something more precious and glorious.
Its hours later and the rain has not yet begun. Our journey with our father still holds days of questioning and letting go. My heart still feels I am losing my father one day at a time, much like the trees whose leaves are shed gradually until all are swept away by the wind and rains of fall. I can't imagine a season without the familiarity of all that has been family and home. Letting go of the familiar is so difficult. Some days feel like the struggle of ascending the hills of the Greenway this morning. Personally, I am still wrestling with my own fears. However, today God wants me to know He stubbornly clings to my sister and I as we walk through this season of changes as a family.
As I walked back to my car, I saw these words on the mile marker sign... "YOU ARE HERE." I heard His quiet whisper...."I AM HERE too. See ME in the crimson oak. See ME like the verdant ivy, the brilliant red berries, the clinging leaf. I am in the changing of the seasons. I will be with you in yours.
Monday, September 27, 2010
Lesson 12 Our Inheritance
“In Him we also were made [God's] heritage (portion) and we obtained an inheritance; for we had been foreordained (chosen and appointed beforehand) in accordance with His purpose, who works out everything in agreement with the counsel and design of His [own] will.” (Ephesians 1:11)
Reading carefully, we see the past tense of the verbs 'obtained' and 'foreordained' indicating God's action took place as we learned in verse 5 before the foundation of the world. It was for His purpose and plan in our lives and in agreement with His own will He planned a future for us. His plan to make us His children was for His own pleasure and is part of our predestination package. Nothing has ever caught God our Father by surprise, neither has he ever had his arm twisted to take action in our lives. He has known us since before we were in our mother's womb. (Psalm 139) The inheritance we have in Christ, cannot be gotten by any efforts of our own. It is based on family ties to Jesus.
“And if we are [His] children, then we are [His] heirs also: heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ [sharing His inheritance with Him].” (Romans 8:17)
Now, let's go to Hebrews chapter nine to see our connection into the family of God.
“[Christ the Messiah] is therefore the Negotiator and Mediator of an [entirely] new agreement [testament, covenant] so that those who are called and offered it may receive the fulfillment of the promised everlasting inheritance—since a death hath taken place which rescues and delivers and redeems them from the transgressions committed under the [old] first agreement.
For where there is a [last] will and testament involved, the death of the one who made it must be established.
For a will and testament is valid and takes effect only at death, since it has no force or legal power as long as the one who made it is alive. “ (Hebrews 9:15-17)
When Christ died for us, He fulfilled the plan of God as the Originator of the plan to make us His children and ratified the old agreement (Old Covenant) through the shedding of His blood. His last will and testament not only rescues, delivers and redeems us from our transgressions, it provides for our future an eternal home in heaven and everlasting life with the family of God for eternity.
I am reminded of our study of the Old and New Covenants today and encourage you to continue your own personal study of the blessings of the New Covenant in Christ's blood. It is through Christ's blood the old agreement was done away with and the New Covenant was able to take effect in our lives. I leave you with the words we sing at Homecoming each year at my father's church.
“I'm so glad I'm a part of the family of God
Washed in the fountain, cleansed by His blood,
Joint heirs with Jesus, as we travel this sod,
I'm so glad I'm a part of the family of God.”
We will continue on Wednesday, September 29 with the concluding verses of chapter 1 of Ephesians as we learn how all of these blessings are sealed by the precious Holy Spirit of promise.
Reading carefully, we see the past tense of the verbs 'obtained' and 'foreordained' indicating God's action took place as we learned in verse 5 before the foundation of the world. It was for His purpose and plan in our lives and in agreement with His own will He planned a future for us. His plan to make us His children was for His own pleasure and is part of our predestination package. Nothing has ever caught God our Father by surprise, neither has he ever had his arm twisted to take action in our lives. He has known us since before we were in our mother's womb. (Psalm 139) The inheritance we have in Christ, cannot be gotten by any efforts of our own. It is based on family ties to Jesus.
“And if we are [His] children, then we are [His] heirs also: heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ [sharing His inheritance with Him].” (Romans 8:17)
Now, let's go to Hebrews chapter nine to see our connection into the family of God.
“[Christ the Messiah] is therefore the Negotiator and Mediator of an [entirely] new agreement [testament, covenant] so that those who are called and offered it may receive the fulfillment of the promised everlasting inheritance—since a death hath taken place which rescues and delivers and redeems them from the transgressions committed under the [old] first agreement.
For where there is a [last] will and testament involved, the death of the one who made it must be established.
For a will and testament is valid and takes effect only at death, since it has no force or legal power as long as the one who made it is alive. “ (Hebrews 9:15-17)
When Christ died for us, He fulfilled the plan of God as the Originator of the plan to make us His children and ratified the old agreement (Old Covenant) through the shedding of His blood. His last will and testament not only rescues, delivers and redeems us from our transgressions, it provides for our future an eternal home in heaven and everlasting life with the family of God for eternity.
I am reminded of our study of the Old and New Covenants today and encourage you to continue your own personal study of the blessings of the New Covenant in Christ's blood. It is through Christ's blood the old agreement was done away with and the New Covenant was able to take effect in our lives. I leave you with the words we sing at Homecoming each year at my father's church.
“I'm so glad I'm a part of the family of God
Washed in the fountain, cleansed by His blood,
Joint heirs with Jesus, as we travel this sod,
I'm so glad I'm a part of the family of God.”
We will continue on Wednesday, September 29 with the concluding verses of chapter 1 of Ephesians as we learn how all of these blessings are sealed by the precious Holy Spirit of promise.
Monday, September 20, 2010
My Identity in Christ (Study of Ephesians 1)
A MESSAGE FOR THOSE WHO ARE FOLLOWING THE BIBLE STUDY FROM MY WEB SITE....
http://www.aredeemedheart.com/ !!!
THE LESSONS ARE IN DESCENDING ORDER WITH THE LAST LESSON OCCURRING FIRST ON THE BLOG. AS YOU SCROLL DOWN YOU WILL FIND THE INTRODUCTION AND LESSON 1. I HOPE YOU WILL CONTINUE TO FOLLOW THE STUDY AND SEND ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS TO ME AT robin.lys@hotmail.com. THANKS FOR VISITING MY BLOG AND MY WEB SITE!
http://www.aredeemedheart.com/ !!!
THE LESSONS ARE IN DESCENDING ORDER WITH THE LAST LESSON OCCURRING FIRST ON THE BLOG. AS YOU SCROLL DOWN YOU WILL FIND THE INTRODUCTION AND LESSON 1. I HOPE YOU WILL CONTINUE TO FOLLOW THE STUDY AND SEND ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS TO ME AT robin.lys@hotmail.com. THANKS FOR VISITING MY BLOG AND MY WEB SITE!
Transition from Old to New
We have taken this digression from Ephesians 1to take a look at the Old and New Covenants. They existed in Old Testament times and New Testament times and are still present in individual believers and churches today. These two covenants represent the spirit of bondage and the spirit of liberty. They existed in the home of Abraham and they existed in God's home, the temple.
First, let's review the scripture about Abraham's home from a New Testament scripture. “It is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman. But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise. Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants. Abraham and Sara's choice to have a child through Sara's bondservant was a decision made in the flesh, while God brought them the promised child Isaac as they came to wait on God in faith.
It is important for us to recognize that one great cause of weakness in Christians is the Old Covenant spirit of bondage still rules their lives. Nothing but spiritual insight and understanding of the spirit of liberty and wholehearted acceptance and experience of the spirit of liberty of the New Covenant will bring us to that intimate relationship that God desires with each person He created. In Romans, Galatians and Hebrews we repeatedly see how believers were held fast in the bondage of the Old Covenant. In order to come to a full acceptance of our identity in Jesus Christ, we must first understand the implications of living in the freedom of the New Covenant promises. If we live after the flesh and the will of man, we are living in the spirit of bondage. If we choose to live by faith in the promises of God and His power, we live in the spirit of liberty.
This transition can also be seen in the Old Testament teachings of the temple. The priests could enter into the Holy Place to draw near to God. They were not allowed to go into the Most Holy Place because a veil separated these two areas and this veil kept them at a distance. Once a year the High Priest was allowed access into the Most Holy Place to be in God's presence. But we read in the New Testament that at Christ's death this veil was torn, and we are told His blood on the cross gives us full access to enter into His holy presence.
We have been given full access to the presence and throne of God. As it states in Ephesians 1, we are seated with Him in heavenly places. We have a choice to live a double life, living half flesh and half spirit. We can choose to live by our own fleshly self efforts or by the grace of God and the promises which Christ purchased for us with His own blood. As we continue to take a look at Ephesians 1 and the identity we have been given in Christ, let's ask God to help us understand and fully experience deliverance from sin and how to walk in the full power and blessings of the New Covenant promises. The veil has been torn and we have been invited into God's Holy presence. We need the Holy Spirit to reveal to us the mystery of this new birth experience and all we have gained in coming to know Jesus Christ. We truly “belong” to the God of this universe and the security of that is sealed by the Holy Spirit. The spirit of the life that is in Christ Jesus has made us FREE from the spirit of sin and death.
We will continue on Wednesday with our study of Ephesians 1. For more understanding about the two covenants, I recommend E.W. Kenyon's The Blood Covenant and Andrew Murray's Covenants and Blessings.
First, let's review the scripture about Abraham's home from a New Testament scripture. “It is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman. But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise. Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants. Abraham and Sara's choice to have a child through Sara's bondservant was a decision made in the flesh, while God brought them the promised child Isaac as they came to wait on God in faith.
It is important for us to recognize that one great cause of weakness in Christians is the Old Covenant spirit of bondage still rules their lives. Nothing but spiritual insight and understanding of the spirit of liberty and wholehearted acceptance and experience of the spirit of liberty of the New Covenant will bring us to that intimate relationship that God desires with each person He created. In Romans, Galatians and Hebrews we repeatedly see how believers were held fast in the bondage of the Old Covenant. In order to come to a full acceptance of our identity in Jesus Christ, we must first understand the implications of living in the freedom of the New Covenant promises. If we live after the flesh and the will of man, we are living in the spirit of bondage. If we choose to live by faith in the promises of God and His power, we live in the spirit of liberty.
This transition can also be seen in the Old Testament teachings of the temple. The priests could enter into the Holy Place to draw near to God. They were not allowed to go into the Most Holy Place because a veil separated these two areas and this veil kept them at a distance. Once a year the High Priest was allowed access into the Most Holy Place to be in God's presence. But we read in the New Testament that at Christ's death this veil was torn, and we are told His blood on the cross gives us full access to enter into His holy presence.
We have been given full access to the presence and throne of God. As it states in Ephesians 1, we are seated with Him in heavenly places. We have a choice to live a double life, living half flesh and half spirit. We can choose to live by our own fleshly self efforts or by the grace of God and the promises which Christ purchased for us with His own blood. As we continue to take a look at Ephesians 1 and the identity we have been given in Christ, let's ask God to help us understand and fully experience deliverance from sin and how to walk in the full power and blessings of the New Covenant promises. The veil has been torn and we have been invited into God's Holy presence. We need the Holy Spirit to reveal to us the mystery of this new birth experience and all we have gained in coming to know Jesus Christ. We truly “belong” to the God of this universe and the security of that is sealed by the Holy Spirit. The spirit of the life that is in Christ Jesus has made us FREE from the spirit of sin and death.
We will continue on Wednesday with our study of Ephesians 1. For more understanding about the two covenants, I recommend E.W. Kenyon's The Blood Covenant and Andrew Murray's Covenants and Blessings.
Lesson 10 The Old and the New Covenant
First, I will start by including information about “cutting covenant.” According to E.W. Kenyon there are three reasons men have cut covenant with one another.
1)A weaker tribe would cut covenant with a stronger tribe living in close proximity that they might be preserved.
2)Two businessmen might cut covenant when entering into a partnership to insure that neither would be taken advantage of.
3)If two men who loved each other as David and Jonathan in the Bible did, they would cut covenant for love's sake.
For more information about the method of cutting covenant, you might be interested in reading The Blood Covenant by Kenyon.
For now, we will relate the cutting of covenant to the terms Old and New Covenant in the Bible.
Let's look at the following scriptures
“It is written, that Abraham had two sons,the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman. But he who was born of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise. Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants.” (Galatians 4: 22-24)
“Behold, the days come...that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel... not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers.” (Jeremiah 31:31-32) This passage is also quoted in Hebrews 8:13, “In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old.”
Jesus spoke of the New Covenant in His blood. It is important for every Christian to understand the two covenants. They indicate two stages of dealing with man. In the fellowship with God and man, there are two parties. With these two covenants, both God and man are given opportunity to demonstrate their part in the covenant. In the Old Testament, we find that man was given every opportunity to prove what he could do. As man proved unfaithful and weak, even with all the grace God bestowed upon him.
The New Covenant was the one promised by God would never be broken because He himself keeps it and ensures our keeping it also. It is an everlasting covenant.
God made man in His own image. The problem that was presented was man was given his own free will and the ability to choose his own way. God is always the Source and man the recipient of His grace. When man fell into sin, God's plan of salvation was already in place. He entered into the covenant of Salvation with man. There were still two sides of the relationship in this covenant... man and God. Man will always have a choice and this is the reason for the first and second covenants.
In the Old Testament, man's desires and efforts were fully awakened and he was given time and opportunity with God's help to prove His faithfulness. When his efforts and inability to conquer sin were evident, the New Covenant came. Man's true liberty from sin and recognition of who he really is in Christ would only come in his absolute dependence upon God.
There are two ways of serving and worshipping God, one in preparation and promise and the other fulfillment and possession of the blessing of God. Entering into a New Covenant relationship with God is the answer to experiencing the joy of the Spirit of Christ living in you. Your identity in Him will be sealed as you come to understand this everlasting covenant and all the blessings and promise of this more intimate relationship with Christ.
In the next lesson we will talk about the transition from Old Covenant to New Covenant.
1)A weaker tribe would cut covenant with a stronger tribe living in close proximity that they might be preserved.
2)Two businessmen might cut covenant when entering into a partnership to insure that neither would be taken advantage of.
3)If two men who loved each other as David and Jonathan in the Bible did, they would cut covenant for love's sake.
For more information about the method of cutting covenant, you might be interested in reading The Blood Covenant by Kenyon.
For now, we will relate the cutting of covenant to the terms Old and New Covenant in the Bible.
Let's look at the following scriptures
“It is written, that Abraham had two sons,the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman. But he who was born of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise. Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants.” (Galatians 4: 22-24)
“Behold, the days come...that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel... not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers.” (Jeremiah 31:31-32) This passage is also quoted in Hebrews 8:13, “In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old.”
Jesus spoke of the New Covenant in His blood. It is important for every Christian to understand the two covenants. They indicate two stages of dealing with man. In the fellowship with God and man, there are two parties. With these two covenants, both God and man are given opportunity to demonstrate their part in the covenant. In the Old Testament, we find that man was given every opportunity to prove what he could do. As man proved unfaithful and weak, even with all the grace God bestowed upon him.
The New Covenant was the one promised by God would never be broken because He himself keeps it and ensures our keeping it also. It is an everlasting covenant.
God made man in His own image. The problem that was presented was man was given his own free will and the ability to choose his own way. God is always the Source and man the recipient of His grace. When man fell into sin, God's plan of salvation was already in place. He entered into the covenant of Salvation with man. There were still two sides of the relationship in this covenant... man and God. Man will always have a choice and this is the reason for the first and second covenants.
In the Old Testament, man's desires and efforts were fully awakened and he was given time and opportunity with God's help to prove His faithfulness. When his efforts and inability to conquer sin were evident, the New Covenant came. Man's true liberty from sin and recognition of who he really is in Christ would only come in his absolute dependence upon God.
There are two ways of serving and worshipping God, one in preparation and promise and the other fulfillment and possession of the blessing of God. Entering into a New Covenant relationship with God is the answer to experiencing the joy of the Spirit of Christ living in you. Your identity in Him will be sealed as you come to understand this everlasting covenant and all the blessings and promise of this more intimate relationship with Christ.
In the next lesson we will talk about the transition from Old Covenant to New Covenant.
Lesson 9 Forgiveness
From the Message Bible----
“Because of the sacrifice of the Messiah, his blood poured out on the altar of the Cross, we're a free people—free of penalties and punishments chalked up by all our misdeeds. And not just barely free either. Abundantly free! Ephesians 1:7
How many times do we live as if we are totally and abundantly free? I don't know about you or your friends and family but as I have walked through this life, I have found we are a people often burdened by our fears, doubt and unbelief. What of this freedom that is spoken about in Ephesians 1? At this point I would like to digress to spend some time looking at both the Old and the New Covenant. Understanding the covenant blessings in Christ Jesus secured in the New Covenant of Christ's blood is essential to walking and living in the freedom for which Christ died.
“For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts.... For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities (habitual sin) will I remember no more.” (Hebrews 8:8-12)
We are granted a clean slate at our new birth. Living under a burden of guilt from sin should no longer be our way of life. We cheapen the blood of Christ when we refuse to receive this absolution of our sins. Perhaps you have found this freedom in your walk with Christ. Or perhaps you find yourself , along with most Christians still living in the Old Covenant mindset, doing penance and continually looking for some form of sacrifice for your latest indiscretion. One of our greatest obstacles to living in the freedom of the New Covenant is misunderstanding God's total forgiveness of our sin.
“Now where there is absolute remission (forgiveness and cancellation of the penalty) of these [sins and lawbreaking], there is no longer any offering to be made to atone for sins. “ (Hebrews 10:18)
“I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: (return unto me; for I have redeemed thee.”) (Isaiah 44:22)
“I, even, I am He Who blots out and cancels your transgressions, for My own sake, and I will not remember your sins.” (Isaiah 43:25)
“Every benefit and blessing we possess in our redemption including complete and total victory over Satan, is based on Jesus and His triumph over Satan at the Cross. We have victory over Satan because of Jesus' shed blood. The oldtimers in Pentecost understood a truth about the blood of Jesus.” (Hagin, The Triumphant Church, p.187) As we close today, let us remember to make much of the blood of Jesus, our purchase price and receive and trust that our sins have been completely blotted out to be remembered no more. I leave you with this verse and a question....
“Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of the Dear Son; In whom we have redemption THROUGH HIS BLOOD, even the forgiveness of sins.” (Colossians 1:13, 14)
In our next lesson we will go beyond Ephesians chapter one to learn more about the Old and New Covenants. This teaching is essential in our understanding of our covenant blessings and our identity in Christ.
“Because of the sacrifice of the Messiah, his blood poured out on the altar of the Cross, we're a free people—free of penalties and punishments chalked up by all our misdeeds. And not just barely free either. Abundantly free! Ephesians 1:7
How many times do we live as if we are totally and abundantly free? I don't know about you or your friends and family but as I have walked through this life, I have found we are a people often burdened by our fears, doubt and unbelief. What of this freedom that is spoken about in Ephesians 1? At this point I would like to digress to spend some time looking at both the Old and the New Covenant. Understanding the covenant blessings in Christ Jesus secured in the New Covenant of Christ's blood is essential to walking and living in the freedom for which Christ died.
“For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts.... For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities (habitual sin) will I remember no more.” (Hebrews 8:8-12)
We are granted a clean slate at our new birth. Living under a burden of guilt from sin should no longer be our way of life. We cheapen the blood of Christ when we refuse to receive this absolution of our sins. Perhaps you have found this freedom in your walk with Christ. Or perhaps you find yourself , along with most Christians still living in the Old Covenant mindset, doing penance and continually looking for some form of sacrifice for your latest indiscretion. One of our greatest obstacles to living in the freedom of the New Covenant is misunderstanding God's total forgiveness of our sin.
“Now where there is absolute remission (forgiveness and cancellation of the penalty) of these [sins and lawbreaking], there is no longer any offering to be made to atone for sins. “ (Hebrews 10:18)
“I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: (return unto me; for I have redeemed thee.”) (Isaiah 44:22)
“I, even, I am He Who blots out and cancels your transgressions, for My own sake, and I will not remember your sins.” (Isaiah 43:25)
“Every benefit and blessing we possess in our redemption including complete and total victory over Satan, is based on Jesus and His triumph over Satan at the Cross. We have victory over Satan because of Jesus' shed blood. The oldtimers in Pentecost understood a truth about the blood of Jesus.” (Hagin, The Triumphant Church, p.187) As we close today, let us remember to make much of the blood of Jesus, our purchase price and receive and trust that our sins have been completely blotted out to be remembered no more. I leave you with this verse and a question....
“Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of the Dear Son; In whom we have redemption THROUGH HIS BLOOD, even the forgiveness of sins.” (Colossians 1:13, 14)
In our next lesson we will go beyond Ephesians chapter one to learn more about the Old and New Covenants. This teaching is essential in our understanding of our covenant blessings and our identity in Christ.
Redemption (continued)
It is only in Christ that we have all the spiritual blessing we have read about in Ephesians 1 including redemption and forgiveness. When Adam and Eve disobeyed God, they lost their position with God and threw all of mankind into slavery. Every man and woman born to natural parents is born a slave and slaves beget slaves. We are unable to free ourselves, just as slaves are unable to free themselves from their captors. It was necessary that we be “bought back,” or “ransomed,” in order that we might be free from the penalty of sin.
In Romans we read, “For the wages which sin pays is death, but the {bountiful} free gift of God is eternal life through (in union with) Jesus Christ our Lord.” ( Romans 6:23) At one time we belonged to the Lord but through Adam's transgression we were lost to Him thus requiring a Redeemer, someone to buy us back for the Lord.
Jesus' blood represents His life. We find that life is in the blood in these words of Leviticus...
Jesus came into this world through the virgin birth to give his life as a ransom for our sin and redeem us from the penalty of sin which is death. He was the only one qualified to “buy us back” because he was free from the nature and penalty of sin. When we receive Him as our Redeemer, he forgives us of the original sin in Adam, “according to the riches of His grace.” In Ephesians 1:8 we read “Wherein {in grace} he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence.” There is no sin too great that it will exhaust his grace to redeem and forgive. God abounds in grace towards man. God does everything, while man simply believes and receives.
“Fear not, for I have redeemed you (ransomed you by paying a price instead of leaving you captives) I have called you by your name; you are Mine.” (Isaiah 43:1)
In Strong's concordance, #1350 the word gaal (gaw-al'), from a primitive root, to redeem (according to the Oriental law of kinship,i.e. to be the next of kin (and as such to buy back a relatives property, marry his widow, etc...) : avenger, deliver (do, perform the part of near, next) kinsfolk (kinsman) purchase, ransom, redeem (er), revenger. He is our Kinsman Redeemer.
We are purchased with the blood of Jesus.
We are justified (just as if we had not sinned) and have right standing with God through the redemptive blood of Christ. (Romans 3:24)
He has provided the ransom from the eternal penalty of sin by His blood. I Corinthians 1:30
You may want to take some time to meditate on the book of Ruth, a beautiful foreshadowing, or picture of how Jesus is our Kinsman Redeemer.
I finish our thoughts today with the following scripture which you can declare with me if you have received Jesus as your Lord and Savior.
“For I know that my Redeemer and Vindicator lives, and at last He (the last One) will stand upon the earth.” (Job 19:25)
In Romans we read, “For the wages which sin pays is death, but the {bountiful} free gift of God is eternal life through (in union with) Jesus Christ our Lord.” ( Romans 6:23) At one time we belonged to the Lord but through Adam's transgression we were lost to Him thus requiring a Redeemer, someone to buy us back for the Lord.
Jesus' blood represents His life. We find that life is in the blood in these words of Leviticus...
Jesus came into this world through the virgin birth to give his life as a ransom for our sin and redeem us from the penalty of sin which is death. He was the only one qualified to “buy us back” because he was free from the nature and penalty of sin. When we receive Him as our Redeemer, he forgives us of the original sin in Adam, “according to the riches of His grace.” In Ephesians 1:8 we read “Wherein {in grace} he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence.” There is no sin too great that it will exhaust his grace to redeem and forgive. God abounds in grace towards man. God does everything, while man simply believes and receives.
“Fear not, for I have redeemed you (ransomed you by paying a price instead of leaving you captives) I have called you by your name; you are Mine.” (Isaiah 43:1)
In Strong's concordance, #1350 the word gaal (gaw-al'), from a primitive root, to redeem (according to the Oriental law of kinship,i.e. to be the next of kin (and as such to buy back a relatives property, marry his widow, etc...) : avenger, deliver (do, perform the part of near, next) kinsfolk (kinsman) purchase, ransom, redeem (er), revenger. He is our Kinsman Redeemer.
We are purchased with the blood of Jesus.
We are justified (just as if we had not sinned) and have right standing with God through the redemptive blood of Christ. (Romans 3:24)
He has provided the ransom from the eternal penalty of sin by His blood. I Corinthians 1:30
You may want to take some time to meditate on the book of Ruth, a beautiful foreshadowing, or picture of how Jesus is our Kinsman Redeemer.
I finish our thoughts today with the following scripture which you can declare with me if you have received Jesus as your Lord and Savior.
“For I know that my Redeemer and Vindicator lives, and at last He (the last One) will stand upon the earth.” (Job 19:25)
Monday, September 13, 2010
Redemption (Part one)
“In Him we have redemption (deliverance and salvation) through His blood, the remission (forgiveness) of our offenses (shortcomings and trespasses), in accordance with the riches and the generosity of His gracious favor.” (Ephesians 1:7)
The subject of redemption is at the heart of the gospel message. God, the Father, sent Jesus to be our Redeemer. As God opened my eyes to my identity in Jesus Christ, the subject of redemption became clearer to me than ever before. One morning as I was reading in Isaiah, I came across the following scripture. “Fear not, for I have redeemed you {ransomed you by paying a price instead of leaving you captives}; I have called you by name, you are Mine.” (Isaiah 43:1 Amp.) For several weeks I meditated on this scripture, asking God to show me the full meaning of redemption. For that reason, I am sharing some personal revelation that came to me during those weeks. Jesus came to redeem our hearts. Follow me through some of the personal revelation.
“The heart is deceitful above all things, and it is exceedingly perverse and corrupt and severely, mortally sick! Who can know it [perceive, understand, be acquainted with his own heart and mind? I the Lord search the mind; I try the heart, even to give to every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings.” (Jeremiah17:9-10)
A friend and I were doing the Breaking Free Bible study by Beth Moore. One morning, I saw these words beside a bullet point on the page...
‘Christ’s ministry is a ministry of the heart’.
She pointed out in the following statement that after hearing Jesus teach (Luke 4) “the people spoke well of Jesus and were amazed at his works” (v.22). Then she shared the following statement.
“I am touched again by the realization that speaking well of Christ, and even being amazed by His works or words, does not equal belief.”
This reminded me of a discussion we had in our connect group just the day before about the passage in Proverbs 6: 16-19 about the seven sins God hates. We all came to the conclusion these sins had to do with the ‘heart’. I asked God to continue to make this clear to me. He is always faithful when we ask Him to reveal His word to us. All we must do is ask.
The next morning, I woke to find an email from a dear friend with the following word-picture.
“A closet door with a high shelf on which sat a silver-plated heart complete with valves, aorta, etc…”
My friend Sandy shared what she felt God speaking to her about her heart as she read scripture that day.
“I have redeemed your heart from destruction…. All those things you have kept hidden in your closet.”
Two scripture references were included.
“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my [firm and impenetrable] Rock and my Redeemer.” (Psalm 19:14)
“Bless (affectionately, gratefully praise) the Lord, O my soul, and forget not [one of] His benefits—Who forgives [every one of] all your iniquities, Who heals [each one of] all your diseases,Who redeems your life from the pit and corruption, Who beautifies, dignifies, and crowns you with loving-kindness and tender mercy; Who satisfies your mouth [your necessity and desire at your personal age and situation] with good so that your youth, renewed, is like the eagle’s [strong, overcoming, soaring].” (Psalm 103:2-5)
He came to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty and freedom to the captive in their hearts, to release us from the darkness in the chambers of our own hearts. He wants to comfort our hearts where there is pain and bestow upon our very hearts a crown of beauty in the place where there have been only ashes.
God sent Jesus, our Redeemer, in the fullness and power of the Holy Spirit to bring our hearts under the freeing authority of God’s word. We will only find freedom to the degree our hearts accept, rely and respond to the truth of His word. Being free has everything to do with our hearts. He came to redeem our hearts from destruction.
Our prison doors are locked from the inside and we hold the key to being set free from captivity. We have built walls around our hearts and placed a “No trespassing sign” at the gate of those chambers where our dark pain and sorrow reside. We have become skilled at compartmentalizing our pain and covering our brokenness. I would like to suggest that those of us who are Christians have become even more adept at hiding our wounds and brokenness. We speak well of Jesus in our daily conversation and even share with others the amazing things He has done in our lives, and yet there in the chambers of our heart lurks a dark secret sin we have set up on the highest shelf in our closet. In other chambers reside the lies we have believed about ourselves and the condemnation and victim mentality which has served as our life blood. We need a transfusion.
Silver in the Bible represents ‘redemption’ which makes the word picture of the silver plated heart more meaningful. In the Bible, both Joseph and Jesus were betrayed with silver. Though Joseph was sold into slavery for silver, he rose to bring release to his family and is a picture of the redemption that would come through Jesus Christ. No matter how deeply we have buried things in our hearts, He is always working to redeem us from the enemy’s plan of destruction.
Looking back to Psalm 103, it is Jesus who came to forgive ALL our iniquities and heal ALL our diseases. He came to redeem our very hearts from the pit and corruption. We have to unlock the doors from within and allow His blood which He shed to redeem us, to flow from chamber to chamber, bringing new life to those areas we feel we have safely hidden away from Him.
I challenge you to join me in allowing the Great Physician to have a look into the chambers of your heart. Allow Him to search out your mind and heart as it speaks about in Jeremiah. He wants to make our hearts His home.
Some thoughts for journaling.....
What have you hidden away in the chambers of your heart? A secret sin, the fear of failure, rejection or abandonment, pain that seems too great to expose?
What holds the highest priority in your heart and is most accessible? A victim mentality, judgment and a critical spirit, lies that protect you from confronting the truth, or a lifestyle of fear?
Where have you been deceived in your own heart?
On which chamber of your heart have you posted a “No Trespassing Sign”?
How and when did you become deceived?
Why is it difficult for you to trust His Word?
He has paid the price (past tense) for your redemption. Will you allow Him access to your whole heart so that your heart can be entirely redeemed and surrendered to Him?
Part two is posted on the web site at http://www.aredeemedheat.com/ today, Sept. 13, 2010.
The subject of redemption is at the heart of the gospel message. God, the Father, sent Jesus to be our Redeemer. As God opened my eyes to my identity in Jesus Christ, the subject of redemption became clearer to me than ever before. One morning as I was reading in Isaiah, I came across the following scripture. “Fear not, for I have redeemed you {ransomed you by paying a price instead of leaving you captives}; I have called you by name, you are Mine.” (Isaiah 43:1 Amp.) For several weeks I meditated on this scripture, asking God to show me the full meaning of redemption. For that reason, I am sharing some personal revelation that came to me during those weeks. Jesus came to redeem our hearts. Follow me through some of the personal revelation.
“The heart is deceitful above all things, and it is exceedingly perverse and corrupt and severely, mortally sick! Who can know it [perceive, understand, be acquainted with his own heart and mind? I the Lord search the mind; I try the heart, even to give to every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings.” (Jeremiah17:9-10)
A friend and I were doing the Breaking Free Bible study by Beth Moore. One morning, I saw these words beside a bullet point on the page...
‘Christ’s ministry is a ministry of the heart’.
She pointed out in the following statement that after hearing Jesus teach (Luke 4) “the people spoke well of Jesus and were amazed at his works” (v.22). Then she shared the following statement.
“I am touched again by the realization that speaking well of Christ, and even being amazed by His works or words, does not equal belief.”
This reminded me of a discussion we had in our connect group just the day before about the passage in Proverbs 6: 16-19 about the seven sins God hates. We all came to the conclusion these sins had to do with the ‘heart’. I asked God to continue to make this clear to me. He is always faithful when we ask Him to reveal His word to us. All we must do is ask.
The next morning, I woke to find an email from a dear friend with the following word-picture.
“A closet door with a high shelf on which sat a silver-plated heart complete with valves, aorta, etc…”
My friend Sandy shared what she felt God speaking to her about her heart as she read scripture that day.
“I have redeemed your heart from destruction…. All those things you have kept hidden in your closet.”
Two scripture references were included.
“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my [firm and impenetrable] Rock and my Redeemer.” (Psalm 19:14)
“Bless (affectionately, gratefully praise) the Lord, O my soul, and forget not [one of] His benefits—Who forgives [every one of] all your iniquities, Who heals [each one of] all your diseases,Who redeems your life from the pit and corruption, Who beautifies, dignifies, and crowns you with loving-kindness and tender mercy; Who satisfies your mouth [your necessity and desire at your personal age and situation] with good so that your youth, renewed, is like the eagle’s [strong, overcoming, soaring].” (Psalm 103:2-5)
He came to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty and freedom to the captive in their hearts, to release us from the darkness in the chambers of our own hearts. He wants to comfort our hearts where there is pain and bestow upon our very hearts a crown of beauty in the place where there have been only ashes.
God sent Jesus, our Redeemer, in the fullness and power of the Holy Spirit to bring our hearts under the freeing authority of God’s word. We will only find freedom to the degree our hearts accept, rely and respond to the truth of His word. Being free has everything to do with our hearts. He came to redeem our hearts from destruction.
Our prison doors are locked from the inside and we hold the key to being set free from captivity. We have built walls around our hearts and placed a “No trespassing sign” at the gate of those chambers where our dark pain and sorrow reside. We have become skilled at compartmentalizing our pain and covering our brokenness. I would like to suggest that those of us who are Christians have become even more adept at hiding our wounds and brokenness. We speak well of Jesus in our daily conversation and even share with others the amazing things He has done in our lives, and yet there in the chambers of our heart lurks a dark secret sin we have set up on the highest shelf in our closet. In other chambers reside the lies we have believed about ourselves and the condemnation and victim mentality which has served as our life blood. We need a transfusion.
Silver in the Bible represents ‘redemption’ which makes the word picture of the silver plated heart more meaningful. In the Bible, both Joseph and Jesus were betrayed with silver. Though Joseph was sold into slavery for silver, he rose to bring release to his family and is a picture of the redemption that would come through Jesus Christ. No matter how deeply we have buried things in our hearts, He is always working to redeem us from the enemy’s plan of destruction.
Looking back to Psalm 103, it is Jesus who came to forgive ALL our iniquities and heal ALL our diseases. He came to redeem our very hearts from the pit and corruption. We have to unlock the doors from within and allow His blood which He shed to redeem us, to flow from chamber to chamber, bringing new life to those areas we feel we have safely hidden away from Him.
I challenge you to join me in allowing the Great Physician to have a look into the chambers of your heart. Allow Him to search out your mind and heart as it speaks about in Jeremiah. He wants to make our hearts His home.
Some thoughts for journaling.....
What have you hidden away in the chambers of your heart? A secret sin, the fear of failure, rejection or abandonment, pain that seems too great to expose?
What holds the highest priority in your heart and is most accessible? A victim mentality, judgment and a critical spirit, lies that protect you from confronting the truth, or a lifestyle of fear?
Where have you been deceived in your own heart?
On which chamber of your heart have you posted a “No Trespassing Sign”?
How and when did you become deceived?
Why is it difficult for you to trust His Word?
He has paid the price (past tense) for your redemption. Will you allow Him access to your whole heart so that your heart can be entirely redeemed and surrendered to Him?
Part two is posted on the web site at http://www.aredeemedheat.com/ today, Sept. 13, 2010.
Lesson 6 Accepted in the Beloved
“To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. “ Ephesians 1:6
At the point of your faith and trust in Jesus Christ, you are accepted by God the Father. There is no other place of acceptance except in the Son of God. As we see in this verse, God's motivation is always His glorious grace. All the spiritual blessings we have talked about so far are free gifts of God's grace.
Charis (5485), the word grace in the original Greek, means joy, favor, acceptance , a kindness granted or desired, a benefit, thanks, gratitude, grace. A favor done without expectation of return; absolute freeness of the loving-kindness of God to men, finding its only motive in the bounty and freeheartedness of the Giver; unearned and unmerited favor. God is the Giver, we simply receive His free gift of grace by faith.
Charis stands in direct antithesis to erga (2041), which means works, the two being mutually exclusive. God's grace affects man's sinfulness and not only forgives the repentant sinner, but brings joy, thankfulness, and acceptance to him.
When you accept Christ, you are no longer under the law of the Old Covenant. You are now under the covenant of grace. “Sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under the law, but under grace.” (Romans 6:14) The New Covenant in Christ's blood, spoken of by Jesus at the Last Supper, had its origin in the wonderful grace of God. With His grace working in us, all the promises of the blessing can be fulfilled and experienced by those who believe.
Grace came by Jesus Christ to deliver us from the bondage and dominion of sin. It's work is twofold.
Full pardon and the righteousness, or right standing with God, and acceptance into God's favor and relationship with Him are first. This is the redemption spoken of in the Bible. Second, throughout our lives, grace will forever put an end to thoughts of merit, work and worthiness.
Two important points as we close our lesson today. Grace is the power that moves the heart of God in its compassion and love to accept us as sinners, it is also the power that moves our hearts and provides us as believers everything we need to love God and accept His will for our lives.
Lesson 7 and 8 on Redemption. Don't miss this vital piece of our study of your identity in Christ. Lesson 8 continues with the subject of Redemption on the web site at http://www.aredeemedheart.com/ today Sept. 13, 2010. Archived lessons here at Unveil my Heart will be in descending order... lesson 7 last one in archives, 6 before that one and so on. There are two lessons on some archives indicated by the (2) beside the date.
At the point of your faith and trust in Jesus Christ, you are accepted by God the Father. There is no other place of acceptance except in the Son of God. As we see in this verse, God's motivation is always His glorious grace. All the spiritual blessings we have talked about so far are free gifts of God's grace.
Charis (5485), the word grace in the original Greek, means joy, favor, acceptance , a kindness granted or desired, a benefit, thanks, gratitude, grace. A favor done without expectation of return; absolute freeness of the loving-kindness of God to men, finding its only motive in the bounty and freeheartedness of the Giver; unearned and unmerited favor. God is the Giver, we simply receive His free gift of grace by faith.
Charis stands in direct antithesis to erga (2041), which means works, the two being mutually exclusive. God's grace affects man's sinfulness and not only forgives the repentant sinner, but brings joy, thankfulness, and acceptance to him.
When you accept Christ, you are no longer under the law of the Old Covenant. You are now under the covenant of grace. “Sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under the law, but under grace.” (Romans 6:14) The New Covenant in Christ's blood, spoken of by Jesus at the Last Supper, had its origin in the wonderful grace of God. With His grace working in us, all the promises of the blessing can be fulfilled and experienced by those who believe.
Grace came by Jesus Christ to deliver us from the bondage and dominion of sin. It's work is twofold.
Full pardon and the righteousness, or right standing with God, and acceptance into God's favor and relationship with Him are first. This is the redemption spoken of in the Bible. Second, throughout our lives, grace will forever put an end to thoughts of merit, work and worthiness.
Two important points as we close our lesson today. Grace is the power that moves the heart of God in its compassion and love to accept us as sinners, it is also the power that moves our hearts and provides us as believers everything we need to love God and accept His will for our lives.
Lesson 7 and 8 on Redemption. Don't miss this vital piece of our study of your identity in Christ. Lesson 8 continues with the subject of Redemption on the web site at http://www.aredeemedheart.com/ today Sept. 13, 2010. Archived lessons here at Unveil my Heart will be in descending order... lesson 7 last one in archives, 6 before that one and so on. There are two lessons on some archives indicated by the (2) beside the date.
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Holy and Blameless
“ According as He hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him.”(Ephesians 1:4)
When He called out your name before the foundations of the earth, he called you holy and blameless before Him in love. You are without reproach in His eyes. He sees you as holy and without reproach or blame because you are in Jesus. Since Jesus cannot get any more holy than He is as He is seated at the right hand of His father, then neither can you become more holy in God's eyes.
If you have never learned of your position in Christ, you may feel defeat each and every time you sin or miss the mark in life. You may be striving in some way to do penance for your sin. These first verses of Ephesians clearly teach us we are seated with Him in heavenly places and God sees us as without reproach in Christ. You cannot become any more holy than you are in God's eyes at this moment.
“While we look not at the things which are seen [our mistakes and failures], but at the things which are not seen [our heavenly position]: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.” II Corinthians 4:18
When you miss the mark and commit sin, God still sees you through the blood of Jesus who became your substitute on the cross. I John 1:9 tells us, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sin and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” In the Amplified Bible, it is translated...
”If we [freely] admit that we have sinned and confess our sins, He is faithful and just (true to His own nature and promises) and will forgive our sins [dismiss our lawlessness] and [continuously] cleanse us from all unrighteousness [everything not in conformity to His will in purpose, thought, and action].”
Our position in Christ in no way gives us license to sin or live an unholy life but it does remove the attitude of being defeated by the sin in our lives. We are without reproach, holy, and without blame, before Him in love. He has accepted us in Jesus Christ long before we decided to accept Him.
You can find the following lesson, Acceptd in the Beloved, at http://www.aredeemedheart.com/. Click on the page entitled Heart Peace. The preceding 5 lessons and Introduction are archived here at Unveil My Heart.
When He called out your name before the foundations of the earth, he called you holy and blameless before Him in love. You are without reproach in His eyes. He sees you as holy and without reproach or blame because you are in Jesus. Since Jesus cannot get any more holy than He is as He is seated at the right hand of His father, then neither can you become more holy in God's eyes.
If you have never learned of your position in Christ, you may feel defeat each and every time you sin or miss the mark in life. You may be striving in some way to do penance for your sin. These first verses of Ephesians clearly teach us we are seated with Him in heavenly places and God sees us as without reproach in Christ. You cannot become any more holy than you are in God's eyes at this moment.
“While we look not at the things which are seen [our mistakes and failures], but at the things which are not seen [our heavenly position]: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.” II Corinthians 4:18
When you miss the mark and commit sin, God still sees you through the blood of Jesus who became your substitute on the cross. I John 1:9 tells us, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sin and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” In the Amplified Bible, it is translated...
”If we [freely] admit that we have sinned and confess our sins, He is faithful and just (true to His own nature and promises) and will forgive our sins [dismiss our lawlessness] and [continuously] cleanse us from all unrighteousness [everything not in conformity to His will in purpose, thought, and action].”
Our position in Christ in no way gives us license to sin or live an unholy life but it does remove the attitude of being defeated by the sin in our lives. We are without reproach, holy, and without blame, before Him in love. He has accepted us in Jesus Christ long before we decided to accept Him.
You can find the following lesson, Acceptd in the Beloved, at http://www.aredeemedheart.com/. Click on the page entitled Heart Peace. The preceding 5 lessons and Introduction are archived here at Unveil My Heart.
Friday, September 3, 2010
CHOSEN AND PREDESIGNED
As we learned in the previous two lessons, we were chosen before the foundation of the world. God is not bound by time ,as we are, so time presents no problem for Him. (these lessons are archived at http://www.unveilmyheart.blogspot.com) In His realm, time does not exist. He can see eternity to come as clearly as we see today. He has always known the problems we would face and planned an answer for every one of them. No problem we will ever face will catch God by surprise. If God in His great mercy and love saw the problem of sin and death and provided His son as a sacrifice for our sins, then certainly He has a plan for our every day situations and problems.
Just as a loving parent makes provision for his children and these plans are the result of many thoughts and much planning, the thoughts and plans which God has for us have been carefully laid out and designed before God's people or the world had a beginning. If God designed a plan for our eternal life, why would He leave us to our own defenses when it comes to other problems we will face? At this point you may want to read I Corinthians 10:13.
“Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of His will.” Ephesians 1:5
Election and predestination are the springs out of which the other spiritual blessings flow. ( Matthew Henry's Commentary)Think of election as our chosenness and predestination as being predesigned for blessing. We are “predesigned” for every spiritual blessing in Christ. It has always been God's purpose and plan that in time we would become his adopted children with all the privileges and inheritance of children. Jesus is the head of the election. He is God's Chosen and Anointed One. In the chosen Redeemer, we find the favor and plan of God for our lives. We must not fail to notice this was according to the pleasure of God's own will. It was His idea from the beginning that we would belong to Him.
In the Amplified Bible, we read verse 5, “For He foreordained us (destined us, planned in love for us) to be adopted (revealed) as His own children through Jesus Christ, in accordance with His own will [because it pleased Him and was His kind intent.]
Only those who are in Christ Jesus are pre-designed for these blessings. God looked out over time and saw each of us presented with the choice of accepting or rejecting His Son Jesus. It is our decision what we will do with Jesus Christ. By a choice of our own will we enter into the Redemption plan and every spiritual blessing.
Here I remind you of Lesson 1 where we spoke about our positional truth. It is our position “in Christ” where we find favor and every spiritual blessing mentioned in the previous lessons. I would encourage you to look into the gospels and the book of Romans for every reference to the words “in Him” or “in Christ.” One such reference is II Corinthians 5:27, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creation.” Many of us have been taught to invite Jesus into our heart but we haven't been taught that we are also grafted into Him.
In Colossians 3:3 we are told that our new and real life is hidden with Christ in God. I like to think of it as similar to a baby in the womb, that place of protection where every need is met while surrounded by the loving provision of the mother's own body. The same way the umbilical cord brings the nourishment needed for life and sustenance to a baby, we must find a place of trust and faith, dependent on God for every need. When we invite Him into our lives, He also invites us to find a place of habitation in Him. Picture yourself “hidden in Him.” See yourself resting close to His heart. That was His design and plan from eternity. If your new and real life is hidden with Christ in God, you may begin to see how you are seated with Christ in heavenly places. Christ is seated at the right hand of God the Father. He has provided the new birth experience so that we can share in all the blessings of the Son, even the divine nature. (II Peter 1:4) “Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these promises we might be partakers of the divine nature.”
Succeeding lessons will be posted at http://www.aredeemedheart.com/ on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
Just as a loving parent makes provision for his children and these plans are the result of many thoughts and much planning, the thoughts and plans which God has for us have been carefully laid out and designed before God's people or the world had a beginning. If God designed a plan for our eternal life, why would He leave us to our own defenses when it comes to other problems we will face? At this point you may want to read I Corinthians 10:13.
“Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of His will.” Ephesians 1:5
Election and predestination are the springs out of which the other spiritual blessings flow. ( Matthew Henry's Commentary)Think of election as our chosenness and predestination as being predesigned for blessing. We are “predesigned” for every spiritual blessing in Christ. It has always been God's purpose and plan that in time we would become his adopted children with all the privileges and inheritance of children. Jesus is the head of the election. He is God's Chosen and Anointed One. In the chosen Redeemer, we find the favor and plan of God for our lives. We must not fail to notice this was according to the pleasure of God's own will. It was His idea from the beginning that we would belong to Him.
In the Amplified Bible, we read verse 5, “For He foreordained us (destined us, planned in love for us) to be adopted (revealed) as His own children through Jesus Christ, in accordance with His own will [because it pleased Him and was His kind intent.]
Only those who are in Christ Jesus are pre-designed for these blessings. God looked out over time and saw each of us presented with the choice of accepting or rejecting His Son Jesus. It is our decision what we will do with Jesus Christ. By a choice of our own will we enter into the Redemption plan and every spiritual blessing.
Here I remind you of Lesson 1 where we spoke about our positional truth. It is our position “in Christ” where we find favor and every spiritual blessing mentioned in the previous lessons. I would encourage you to look into the gospels and the book of Romans for every reference to the words “in Him” or “in Christ.” One such reference is II Corinthians 5:27, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creation.” Many of us have been taught to invite Jesus into our heart but we haven't been taught that we are also grafted into Him.
In Colossians 3:3 we are told that our new and real life is hidden with Christ in God. I like to think of it as similar to a baby in the womb, that place of protection where every need is met while surrounded by the loving provision of the mother's own body. The same way the umbilical cord brings the nourishment needed for life and sustenance to a baby, we must find a place of trust and faith, dependent on God for every need. When we invite Him into our lives, He also invites us to find a place of habitation in Him. Picture yourself “hidden in Him.” See yourself resting close to His heart. That was His design and plan from eternity. If your new and real life is hidden with Christ in God, you may begin to see how you are seated with Christ in heavenly places. Christ is seated at the right hand of God the Father. He has provided the new birth experience so that we can share in all the blessings of the Son, even the divine nature. (II Peter 1:4) “Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these promises we might be partakers of the divine nature.”
Succeeding lessons will be posted at http://www.aredeemedheart.com/ on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Why Am I Chosen? (Lesson 3 of My Identity in Christ)
Let's do a quick review of the previous lesson before beginning today. In the first three verses of Ephesians 1 we learned that God has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing that is in the heavenly realm. In His love, God actually chose us, picked us out for Himself before the foundations of the earth. In verse 10, we read of God's plan in the fullness of time, when the time is ripe, to gather us to Himself where we will spend eternity with Him forever. The consummation of His great plan will be a glorious gathering of all those who belong to Him to live for eternity as His chosen ones.
Many questions may come to mind as you read the first fourteen verses of Ephesians 1. Perhaps you ask yourself when you receive these spiritual blessings. All these blessings were poured out on the Son, Jesus Christ, and held “in Him” until the day of your Redemption. On the day in which you trust in Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior, these blessings are lavished upon you. Long ago, before man or angels or any living thing was created, the Triune God settled on this plan and it was complete.
Take a look at the past tense used in verses 3-14. He “hath blessed us,” “hath chosen,” “having predestinated us,” hath made us accepted,” “we have redemption,” “hath abounded toward us,” “having made known unto us the mystery,” “have obtained an inheritance,” “were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,” and finally, “were given the earnest (down payment) of our inheritance.”
You may ask how these blessings come to you. As you read the first 14 verses, pay attention and perhaps mark the many references to our Mediator, Jesus Christ. He hath blessed us “by Jesus Christ,”
“through Jesus Christ,” “ in Christ,” and “in the Beloved.” Jesus, the God-Man, who came in human flesh made it possible for God's plan to be realized in your life.
You might ask, “Why did He choose me to be the recipient of all these spiritual blessings?” Knowing the mistakes and failures in my life and even the doubts and fears I've had in accepting His love for me, why would He choose me, a broken and struggling individual like myself? I love the Living Bible's translation of the answer to this question.
“Moreover, because of what Christ has done, we have become gifts to God that he delights in, for as part of God's sovereign plan we were chosen from the beginning to be His....” (v. 11)
Imagine for a moment a time when you received a treasured gift you'd longed to possess and the excitement you felt at that moment. I don't have to think far into the past to get a picture of that kind of experience. My grandson received a cherished gift for his ninth birthday just yesterday. His obvious pleasure was evident in the large smile and the light in his eyes. But, I'd like to focus on the words that followed. “Now, we don't have to work anymore to get this!” You see, he and his sister had spent time at home and at my house doing chores to earn enough money to buy this prized possession. While their responsibility to do chores is not over, they have realized the satisfaction of what they longed for.
Now, allow yourself to picture your person, your life as that perfect gift God has longingly waited for, gift wrapped with care and filled with all that will delight and bring pleasure to God. He actually chose you to be His gift before the foundations of the earth. ( the When) He longingly waited for you to choose His free gift of His Son Jesus Christ, the free gift of salvation. ( the How) All the beautiful attributes, gifts and blessings that are “you” were held “in Him” until your day of Redemption. You have, in a sense, been wrapped up in the package of the Lord Jesus Christ since before God created the heavens and the earth.
Picture God the Father, unwrapping a package, a long awaited gift, with excitement in His eyes and a delighted smile on His face. You are just what He wanted and planned for. You are the person He chose to lavish with all the spiritual blessings in Christ Jesus, the Son.
Now, remind yourself you no longer have to work to find the delight of His smile,the pleasure in His eyes. He chose you to be His gift because He delighted in you before you were ever born. ( the Why)
Ask God to open your heart to trust in His great plan. Choose Him. Give Him the opportunity to open the package that is “you” and show forth His glory which has been His plan for your life since before time as we know it began.
Lesson 4 can be found at http://www.aredeemedheart.com/ on the page titled Heart Peace. If you or anyone you know has been looking for help in the areas of domestic violence, addiction or struggles with pornography, child sexual abuse or just need healing of wounds from past experiences of life, check out the Links and Resources page.
Many questions may come to mind as you read the first fourteen verses of Ephesians 1. Perhaps you ask yourself when you receive these spiritual blessings. All these blessings were poured out on the Son, Jesus Christ, and held “in Him” until the day of your Redemption. On the day in which you trust in Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior, these blessings are lavished upon you. Long ago, before man or angels or any living thing was created, the Triune God settled on this plan and it was complete.
Take a look at the past tense used in verses 3-14. He “hath blessed us,” “hath chosen,” “having predestinated us,” hath made us accepted,” “we have redemption,” “hath abounded toward us,” “having made known unto us the mystery,” “have obtained an inheritance,” “were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,” and finally, “were given the earnest (down payment) of our inheritance.”
You may ask how these blessings come to you. As you read the first 14 verses, pay attention and perhaps mark the many references to our Mediator, Jesus Christ. He hath blessed us “by Jesus Christ,”
“through Jesus Christ,” “ in Christ,” and “in the Beloved.” Jesus, the God-Man, who came in human flesh made it possible for God's plan to be realized in your life.
You might ask, “Why did He choose me to be the recipient of all these spiritual blessings?” Knowing the mistakes and failures in my life and even the doubts and fears I've had in accepting His love for me, why would He choose me, a broken and struggling individual like myself? I love the Living Bible's translation of the answer to this question.
“Moreover, because of what Christ has done, we have become gifts to God that he delights in, for as part of God's sovereign plan we were chosen from the beginning to be His....” (v. 11)
Imagine for a moment a time when you received a treasured gift you'd longed to possess and the excitement you felt at that moment. I don't have to think far into the past to get a picture of that kind of experience. My grandson received a cherished gift for his ninth birthday just yesterday. His obvious pleasure was evident in the large smile and the light in his eyes. But, I'd like to focus on the words that followed. “Now, we don't have to work anymore to get this!” You see, he and his sister had spent time at home and at my house doing chores to earn enough money to buy this prized possession. While their responsibility to do chores is not over, they have realized the satisfaction of what they longed for.
Now, allow yourself to picture your person, your life as that perfect gift God has longingly waited for, gift wrapped with care and filled with all that will delight and bring pleasure to God. He actually chose you to be His gift before the foundations of the earth. ( the When) He longingly waited for you to choose His free gift of His Son Jesus Christ, the free gift of salvation. ( the How) All the beautiful attributes, gifts and blessings that are “you” were held “in Him” until your day of Redemption. You have, in a sense, been wrapped up in the package of the Lord Jesus Christ since before God created the heavens and the earth.
Picture God the Father, unwrapping a package, a long awaited gift, with excitement in His eyes and a delighted smile on His face. You are just what He wanted and planned for. You are the person He chose to lavish with all the spiritual blessings in Christ Jesus, the Son.
Now, remind yourself you no longer have to work to find the delight of His smile,the pleasure in His eyes. He chose you to be His gift because He delighted in you before you were ever born. ( the Why)
Ask God to open your heart to trust in His great plan. Choose Him. Give Him the opportunity to open the package that is “you” and show forth His glory which has been His plan for your life since before time as we know it began.
Lesson 4 can be found at http://www.aredeemedheart.com/ on the page titled Heart Peace. If you or anyone you know has been looking for help in the areas of domestic violence, addiction or struggles with pornography, child sexual abuse or just need healing of wounds from past experiences of life, check out the Links and Resources page.
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