Forgetting

There's one kind of forgetting we should never engage in though it seems to be the one we do the most often. This forgetting is about ALL the things the Lord has done for us. These should never be put away in a treasure chest of memories but should be our constant evidences of when and how the Lord showed Himself strong on our behalf. Our remembering and rejoicing in and rehearsing provides us with a context and mindset for the day. Scripture tells us to forget not [Psalm 103]... And yet we do forget, mores the pity. 

   "Bless and affectionately praise the Lord, O my soul, ...

     Who forgives all your sins, ...

     Who heals all your diseases; .... 

     Who redeems your life from the pit, ...

     Who crowns you [lavishly] with lovingkindness and tender mercy; ...

     Who satisfies your years with good things, ...

    The Lord is merciful and gracious, Slow to anger and abounding in compassion

    and lovingkindness. ...

    For as the heavens are high above the earth, So great is His lovingkindness

    toward those who fear and worship Him [with awe-filled respect and deepest

    reverence].

    As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions

    from us. "

Though Psalm 103 isn't the only source from the Word of what the Lord has already done, it does provide us with a wealth of what the Lord did and continually does for us: forgives, heals, redeems, crowns, satisfies. We should never forget that the Lord is intimately involved in our day-to-day lives... when we let Him. False modesty is never a reason to not accept all the gifts the Lord gives. Re-read what He does: forgives... heals... redeems... crowns... satisfies - precisely, what more do we need (and/or want)?

Do we just expect the Lord to be at our beck and call? All that He's already done, is that not enough? Where is our thanks? Where is our gratitude? Do we not esteem what He's done - and continues to do on our behalf? Forgetting is typically displayed in our behavior and/or when we realize an 'oops' occurred that didn't need to. I'm beginning to wonder that unless we begin our day with the Lord and beginning that time thanking Him for all He's done, that we won't remember all He does. Too often it's when we think/feel we have just experience some lack that we realize His hand is not all we should seek.

Bottom line ix that the Lord is always with us and available to help us. He understands and provides a way back into relationship when we go down rabbit trails. However, we really can defy the odds of forgetting when we start our day in praise. I would suggest that if we have the time for a cup of coffee/tea, we have time to forget not all that the Lord does for us and to thank Him for His blessings.

 

Celebrate ... YOU!!

Do you? No, you're not perfect - that's a process. Do you feel that if you were to celebrate you, it flies in the face of who we are supposed to be as Christians? Prideless? Unprideful? Don't think prideless or unprideful are words?  According to ...? Granted we are not to esteem ourselves higher that others (Romans 12:3), but that's not what celebrating you is all about.  

Luke 15 relates two parables over the joy when something lost is found - a coin is found, a lost sheep is found but the significant point is :

   "I tell you, in the same way there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner

    who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of

    repentance." [v. 7]

When you accepted Jesus as your Lord, there was rejoicing in heaven that you had repented! This is cause for celebration and I bet that it had to be some celebration! Accepting the Lordship of Jesus is no little thing! Besides, you're one of a kind. The Father doesn't do duplicates... even with twins. We are each unique, special. And that should be celebrated. Yes it's our similarities, commonalities that bring us together but it is our differences that bring out our uniqueness. All should be celebrated.

In that vein, since we are talking about ourselves, do you make, take time ... for you? This is a question I often ask some of my friends. Mostly they just shrug it off, that it really isn't all that important. Wrong!  Having, or more precisely taking, time for self is critical. If it weren't, why did Jesus go off by Himself? To be refreshed, to bring petitions to the Father are 2 reasons. Not so much about the what you do in that time as it is taking that time. (Now to seemingly contradict that last statement) for many who 'think' they are taking time, is it filled with things to do, people to see, places to go rather than that time just to reacquaint yourself with... you. And, more importantly - spend quality time with the Lord and in developing this relationship.

The 'I'm too busy' for that luxury is not a valid or viable argument. I've discovered that often it's in those me-times that creativity seems to flourish, uninhibited by the restraints of 'to do's'. I've discovered more about who I am in the place that I am, what I can be or do, get refreshed in order to be or do. And all of that is part of my building blocks of me. If I don't take the time to know, to understand me then I am building on an unknown and on shifting sands. Not particularly a solid foundation. 

In both cases - celebrating and taking time - are important components in your life, in your day. When we don't take time to acknowledge who we are that can be celebrated, then what's our knowledge foundation? And if we don't take time to assess, reassess, refine who we are then are we only half conscious of what we do and how we do it? How can we grow? How can we improve? How can we become the best we can if we don't first take time? I would strongly suggest, we don't. 

If you are placing yourself above others... you know this and you can control it. But if your heart is to be pleasing to the Lord then you need to take time to discover how you do this. Never buy into the lie that says you can never accept a compliment... if you don't, how can you accept a correction? You think I'm mistaken? If so, how do you explain Matthew 10:29-31, 1 John 4:19 and especially... how do you explain what Jesus said is the second commandment:

   "This is the second: ‘You shall [unselfishly] love your neighbor as yourself.’

    There is no other commandment greater than these." [Mark 12:31, AMP]

See... it starts with you. If you don't love and celebrate you, are you really loving and celebration others?

Righteous

Do you know what this word means in relation to you? Do you appreciate just how being 'righteous' impacts your relationship? To begin with, it's important to know the scriptural definition of the word -[KJV dictionary):

   "Just; accordant to the divine law. Applied to persons, it denotes one who is

    holy in heart, and observant of the divine commands in practice; as a righteous

    man. Applied to things, it denotes consonant to the divine will or to justice; as

    a righteous act. It is used chiefly in theology, and applied to God, to His

    testimonies and to his saints.

    The righteous, in Scripture, denote the servants of God, the saints." 

Why am I even talking about righteous? You did see what the last sentence said - denotes the servants of God. And too often we don't consider the 'big words' in scripture like righteous or justified or sanctified when we consider relationship. AND, everything, as in EVERYHING, is based in our relationship with God so being righteous is important! Attainable? Hardly. Isaiah [64:6] tells us that OUR righteousness: 

   "For we all have become like one who is [ceremonially] unclean [like a 

    leper], And all our deeds of righteousness are like filthy rags;" 

So now what do we do? Obviously we can't rely on our own righteousness. However, the Father has prepared ahead of time for this situation. He and the Son had a plan... our answer is in 2 Corinthians 5:17-21 which describes and defines who we are when we accept the free gift of salvation.

   "He made Christ who knew no sin to [judicially] be sin on our behalf, so that in

    Him we would become the righteousness of God [that is, we would be made

    acceptable to Him and placed in a right relationship with Him by His gracious

    lovingkindness]." [v. 21]

Because of His lovingkindness we are made acceptable and in right relationship. We ARE righteous. something we never could have attained. HE places us in right standing, which apart from what the Father and Son did for us, would never have happened. We would still be estranged from our creator and savior. But it doesn't stop there. One of the benefits/blessings is that we can now come Boldly to the throne to find help in times of need (Hebrews 4:14-16). We have a High Priest who understands and intercedes for us.  

What if we mess up? Firstly, we can easily assume that this will occur. Since we have taken ourselves out of the status of righteous, we should rush to change this into being back in relationship. Again, because of Jesus' sacrifice we can once again return because 1 John says in 1:9 AMP

   "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 and

    cleanse us continually from all unrighteousness [our wrongdoing, everything

    not in conformity with His will and purpose]."

Quite honestly, it doesn't make any significant difference if we intentionally or unintentionally do something that interferes with our relationship... the point is that when we become aware, we run to the Lord and seek His forgiveness and cleansing. One source says that this restores us and our relationship. I especially like that we are restored. Being separated is not a place I want to inhabit.

The point in all this is that righteousness is a crucial part that defines our relationship and we need to be intentional and aware in order to continue this. But that we don't have to fear that we are undone when we do sin - the Father and Son have already provided for this.

Who is the Jesus You know?

Can you describe Jesus in such a way that it would make your listener want to meet Him? For me, this is both incredibly difficult and unquestionably simple. And yes, it can be both. I can always use an unending list of adjectives to describe Jesus... but that really doesn't get to the essence. Part of the reason, I believe, is that Jesus is an experience as well as a person. By this I mean - we can describe who He was as shown in scripture. We can share our experiences with Him as He has touched our lives. But... are we sharing by our words and life the Jesus we know?

Quite honestly, I think we all crave a bit of a solid foundation. So this is one of the first points in the Jesus I know. We can speak of His unchangingness (yes, this should be a word) in our overly change based world. Jesus is who He says He is and if He says it - it is an 'is' [Hebrews 13:8]. We can trust in what He says. But the only real way to KNOW is to find Him in the Word and this starts in Genesis and ends in Revelation. 

And speaking of scripture, the next point in the Jesus I know is that He understands! Being understood is a great and wonderful attribute. Do you feel you are understood? The scripture that confirms Jesus is understanding is:

   "...we [believers] have a great High Priest who has [already ascended and]

    passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our

    confession [of faith and cling tenaciously to our absolute trust in Him as

    Savior]. For we do not have a High Priest who is unable to sympathize and

    understand our weaknesses and temptations, but One who has been tempted

    [knowing exactly how it feels to be human] in every respect as we are, yet

    without [committing any] sin." [Hebrews 4:14b-15, AMP]

Understood. You did see this? Jesus "... (who) understands our weaknesses and temptations.. " He didn't sin. We tend to give in to the temptation but Jesus will strength us and stand with us in these times so that WE can stand. There's another verse that even seems to go a step beyond...

   "No temptation [regardless of its source] has overtaken or enticed you that is

    not common to human experience [nor is any temptation unusual or beyond

    human resistance]; but God is faithful [to His word—He is compassionate and

    trustworthy], and He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability [to resist],

    but along with the temptation He [has in the past and is now and] will [always]

    provide the way out as well, so that you will be able to endure it [without

    yielding, and will overcome temptation with joy]." [1 Corinthians 10:13, AMP]

I'm NOT alone in this world. I DO have someone who understands (the Father and the Son) and is ALWAYS with me [Hebrews 13:5]. And the Lord promises a way out of the mess I got myself into or the attack that the devil has aimed at me. Personally, I have experienced this many times. I may not have completely understood at the moment, but later I did see the hand of the Lord helping me.

The Jesus I know also provided an exchange. I was born into sin - we all are. But we don't have to stay there. And, even better, those sins that tripped us up, we can conquer. And Jesus' exchange is the reason. Turn to 2 Corinthians 5:17-21 and see the provision that has been made for those of us who accept the Lordship of Jesus.

   "Therefore if anyone is in Christ [that is, grafted in, joined to Him by faith in

    Him as Savior], he is a new creature [reborn and renewed by the Holy

    Spirit]; the old things [the previous moral and spiritual condition] have passed

    away. Behold, new things have come [because spiritual awakening brings a

    new life]" [v, 17]

New creature. That's who we become and then we can act on who we are, the call on our lives. This new reality is expanded upon in v. 21

   "He made Christ who knew no sin to [judicially] be sin on our behalf, so that in

    Him we would become the righteousness of God "

We ARE the righteousness because Jesus took upon Himself the sins of the world -  all the world for all time. All the sins we have and do commit are not only forgiven when we come to Him and repent [1 John 1:9] but we are cleansed from them and restored - we come into right standing. In my world, this 'and' is huge.

Those were the beginnings of my discovery of who the Jesus is I know. But it doesn't stop... then again, in a relationship it neve should. We should always grow in our understanding and appreciation. Though your journey, the development of your relationship. will vary from others, I am confident they will include these same discoveries I've made. I do believe... that once we begin developing our relationship with the Lord that it never ends - it simply grows, line upon line.

The only real question is... do you share the Jesus you know?

   

WHO and WHOSE we are

[... and what's available because of those two qualifiers]

   "Listen carefully: I have given you authority [that you now possess] to tread on

    serpents and scorpions, and [the ability to exercise authority] over all the

    power of the enemy (Satan); and nothing will [in any way] harm you.

    Nevertheless do not rejoice at this, that the spirits are subject to you, but

    rejoice that your names are recorded in heaven.” [Luke 10;19-20, AMP]

Do you believe this for yourself? If not, why? Were these words and authority only available to the disciples? Does it say that? I know Jesus was speaking to His disciples... but... aren't we also His disciples? Is this not for us as well? If not so... then how do we fight against the devil and all he tries to be and do? Has anything replaced this ability? Besides, exactly how can anyone live in this world if they are defenseless? I really don't read in the Word a command to live defenseless. How can we be about our Father's business if we aren't prepared for warfare - not against people but against those lies - deceits, temptations, seductions - the devil has planted in people? After talking about our armor in Ephesians 6, it says:

   "...so that you may be able to [successfully] stand up against all the schemes

    and the strategies and the deceits of the devil. For our struggle is not against

    flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the

    rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this [present] darkness,

    against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) places.

    Therefore, put on the complete armor of God, so that you will be able to 

    [successfully] resist and stand your ground in the evil day [of danger], and

    having done everything [that the crisis demands], to stand firm [in your place,

    fully prepared, immovable, victorious]. So stand firm and hold your ground..."

    [Ephesians 6: 11b-14a, AMP]

Why would God provide us His armor and then expect us to not utilize it? These verse go on to tell us who our enemy is, what our struggle is against. Then it tells us to put on the armor so we will be able to resist and stand! Actually... when considering what we do, how we fight against (the devil) part of our answer is in Ephesians 6 - Stand! That's what we do - STAND. James [4:7] also tells us - RESIST. In our lives, these are 2 mindsets, actions we do, but we can do them otherwise we wouldn't be asked to stand, to resist.

Who we are... Who we are becoming... Whose we are. Those answers tell us everything. If you are breathing in and out then you were called to this time... no mistake, and it you are called to this time, then the Lord equips His own - He would never expect us to fight, to occupy without preparation. He has also demonstrated one of the most critical pieces of our defense that is also an offensive weapon - it was how Jesus defeated the devil... reminding the devil that  'it is written'. The sword of the Spirit in Ephesians is the Word. We have the Word as our defense and offense.

If we hide the Word in our heart [Psalms 119:11] then when we are in a battle all we need do is to bring forth from this treasury and say, boldly - It Is Written. I tend to think that Whose we are tells us Who we are. And Whose we are has all the answers to all our questions, will always equip and train us, and who cares for us and loves us unconditionally.

  

Toothless

You do realize that this is the description of our arch enemy? The ONLY power he has is what we give him. WHEN we resist him, he flees [James 4:7]. If you aren't binding/barring/banning him from you, your life, your day... daily, why not? The following verses indicate our defense against the wiles of the devil and how we can stand against all his temptations, seductions, and assignments against us.

   "I assure you and most solemnly say to you, whatever you bind [forbid, declare

    to be improper and unlawful] on earth shall have [already] been bound in

    heaven, and whatever you loose [permit, declare lawful] on earth shall have

    [already] been loosed in heaven." [Matthew 18:18, AMP]

   "No weapon that is formed against you will succeed; And every tongue that

    rises against you in judgment you will condemn. This [peace , righteousness,

    security, and triumph over opposition] is the heritage of the servants of the

    Lord, And this is their vindication from Me,” says the Lord." [Isaiah 54:17, AMP]

    "Be sober [well balanced and self-disciplined], be alert and cautious at all

     times. That enemy of yours, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion     

     [fiercely hungry], seeking someone to devour." [1 Peter 5:8, AMP]

   "The weapons of our warfare are not physical [weapons of flesh and blood].

    Our weapons are divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses." 

    [2 Corinthians 10:4, AMP]

Those are 4 powerful scriptures we all should pray at the start of our day. Starting the day equipped makes far more sense than scrambling once you sense his wiles aimed at you to defeat you. It is our protection, but don't ever forget your armor [Ephesian 6]- to put it on as well. Using our weapon of the Word of God, we have all we need to defeat, thoroughly, the devil.

   "In conclusion, be strong in the Lord [draw your strength from Him and be empowered through your union with Him] and in the power of His [boundless] might. ...  With all prayer and petition pray [with specific requests] at all times [on every occasion and in every season] in the Spirit, and with this in view, stay alert with all perseverance and petition [interceding in prayer] for all God’s people." [Ephesians 6: 10-18. AMP]

As you can see. We have powerful weapons to defeat the devil, DAILY, in our lives. But the scriptures can't do it if we don't stand on them and use them effectively and appropriately (meaning: not against people, against our enemy - Ephesians 6;12). I realize I may be hitting you over the head with these verses but you are important and you need to know and believe you CAN defeat this toothless enemy. 

From Faith or From ???

   "Your personal convictions [on such matters]—exercise [them] as in God’s

    presence, keeping them to yourself [striving only to know the truth and obey

    His will]. Blessed (happy, to be envied) is he who has no reason to judge

    himself for what he approves [who does not convict himself by what he

    chooses to do]. But the man who has doubts (misgivings, an uneasy

    conscience) about eating, and then eats [perhaps because of you], stands

    condemned [before God], because he is not true to his convictions and he does

    not act from faith. For whatever does not originate and proceed from

    faith is sin [whatever is done without a conviction of its approval by God is

    sinful]." (Romans 14:22-23, AMPC)

   "Cultivate your own relationship with God, but don’t impose it on others. You’re

    fortunate if your behavior and your belief are coherent. But if you’re not sure, if

    you notice that you are acting in ways inconsistent with what you believe—

    some days trying to impose your opinions on others, other days just trying to

    please them—then you know that you’re out of line. If the way you live isn’t

    consistent with what you believe, then it’s wrong." (MSG)

Wrong. Sin. First, Paul is not talking about losing one's salvation. He's talking about how we live and act in our day. What example [witness] do we present? How are we modeling Who we believe? And I also don't believe that Paul is talking only about eating - this is the example he gives. But the principle applies across all of our words and actions. Our question: did we know we were sinning? Only if you had never read these verses. However, I suspect we intuitively knew. We always know if 'something's not right'.

This passage has always been a check for me - am I acting from faith? And, if not, what is the basis of my actions? Is this important? Absolutely! Paul wouldn't be discussing this if it weren't. I do believe that if we don't understand our own WHY, then our why stands on shifting sand. Plus - look at our witness! One of the strongest criticisms Christians are charged with is hypocrisy. Those outside the church see us as speaking one way and acting another. Or they see us as acting/speaking one way in church and another way in the rest of our lives. Some of this is accurate, sadly. We need to be seen as having a basis, a foundation from which we speak and act - our 'why' - and be consistent based on our foundation.

When our foundation is the Word, then we do so from an unchanging and strong basis. Do we? Can we confirm our behavior of words and actions from scripture? And are we who we are regardless of where we are and what we face? Do people realize we are Christians? Does our faith ... act? James tells us that faith without works is dead (James 2: 14-26). But when our works are in conflict with our faith, our actions don't mirror our words, then isn't that a deception? 

If we don't act from/based on our faith... that what are our actions based in?

 

Worship

   "But a time is coming and is already here when the true worshipers will worship

    the Father in spirit [from the heart, the inner self] and in truth; for the Father

    seeks such people to be His worshipers." [John 4:23. AMP]

Have you discovered worship? To me, it's different than praise and both are critical in our relationship with the Lord, and acts we all should engage in. I believe that both lead us and provide a means for us to be together with the Lord  and a way that we can show just how much we love the Triune God and how important they are.  Both lead us into the presence of God. While there is corporate worship or praise... individual communication between you and the Father in individual worship and praise is indescribably important.

   "Therefore I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present

    your bodies [dedicating all of yourselves, set apart] as a living sacrifice, holy

    and well-pleasing to God, which is your rational (logical, intelligent) act of

    worship." 

[Have you noticed, in Paul's writings, that he rarely makes a suggestion... he always is telling us what we need to do. Point: do we listen and then act?] You did see the phrase - 'holy and well-pleasing to God' - yes? Personally, I can't think of anything I'd rather do than to be found holy and well-pleasing.

These verses continue and say:

   "And do not be conformed to this world [any longer with its superficial

    values and customs], but be transformed and progressively changed [as you

    mature spiritually] by the renewing of your mind [focusing on godly values and

    ethical attitudes], so that you prove [for yourselves] what the will of God is,

    that which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His plan and purpose for

    you].  [Romans 12: 1-2 AMP]

The 'not' is what captured me. It is something I do, that I can do or I wouldn't be asked to do it. Did you ever think that you are infused with power to overcome? That YOU really can do what's being asked of you? Granted you don't do it alone or you'll come out of this battle battered and bruised. We have One who is always with us, who understand, who will help us find our way out of every morass or attack that we find ourselves in. BUT, that we can move, grow, become - we aren't damned to be a victim.

I believe in an exchange theory. We exchange who we were for who we are and are becoming. So, in this instance, when we stand against 'not' we are also doing something in place of the not - the 'but be'. Again, something we do, we CAN do but not alone. The One who is always with us helps us to 'but be' - in this case, transformed and progressively changed. Change is not something to be feared nor take flight from. Because we know Who is helping us change and that it is a process to help us become - this is a stance of a conqueror. We even discover the methodologies of this change, such as renewing our mind. Why renew our mind... so that we 'may prove [for yourselves] what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His plan and purpose for you[.

No doubt. No worry. And worship is one way we find ourselves in tune with our Lord. Worship, in my definitions, stems from a heart of love. For me, it isn't duty or obligation... it isn't forced, it all comes from love. Worship is not separate from who we are and what we do in the day... it is the foundation from which we are and do our day. When our mindset is to be in constant worship of/to the God of the universe, to honor Him, to demonstrate our love for Him then we do live the blessed life.

Believed, Persuaded, Entrusted

A few months ago I used the following scripture as the focus for a post. I'm using 2 Timothy 1:12 again... but with a different perspective/emphasis.

   "I am not ashamed; for I know Him [and I am personally acquainted with Him]

    whom I have believed [with absolute trust and confidence in Him and in the    

    truth of His deity], and I am persuaded [beyond any doubt] that He is able to

    guard that which I have entrusted to Him until that day [when I stand before 

    Him]. (2 Timothy 1:12, AMP)

This is one of those scriptures that Christians tend to remember and 'use' especially in times of attack, stress, and any other negative force. No criticism. But, goodness... this verse is soooo much more than that. It is one of our weapons of 'it is written' but it is also a declaration. Look at how Paul begins this discussion with Timothy - I am not ashamed... for I know Him. In my world, those are two powerful declarations. I also believe that Paul was telling us his foundation for the strength of his convictions. He was explaining to Timothy (and us) how we are able to stand when everything around us appears to be falling and failing. 

Look at the words Paul is using - believed, persuaded, entrusted. These are not wimpy words, and they speak that this is not a new revelation for Paul because these words are spoken in the past tense - He has and still does (until that day). And we can infer that if it was in Paul's past faith foundation, it still is. He still believes, is persuaded and entrusts. Paul wants Timothy to build on his faith, to 'exercise' it so that it grows strong and into a mighty foundation. 

ALL of these qualities, emotions, etc. are ours to determine, to empower. WE can believe, be persuaded, entrust to the Lord anything and everything. Simply He is a good God and one who will never fail us. We can trust Him and in Him. Again, these are acts that are totally in our hands to do... or not. But look at what we receive, and look at what we lose if we don't. Mighty high price to pay when we do not act on how Paul lives his life. And we also know that this is how we can live our lives.

'Entrusted' is an interesting word Paul uses. Webster defines the word: "...to commit to another with confidence." Confidence. That's the foundation for entrusting. [you do see that if you drop the first 2 and last 2 letters of this word you get to the essence - trust]. Paul trusted the Lord and that is a strong word. No one will trust without evidence that the other person is trustworthy. Paul was telling Timothy that he could... confidently trust in the Lord. And so can we.

I think that part of what I'm also trying to indicate is that scripture is never one dimensional, only able to respond to one specific need/want/study. When we say/speak scripture, especially as our weapon against the devil, we have the conviction of our words. They are stated intentionally and purposely. Never, never forget that God, in defining the affect of His words says:

   "So will My word be which goes out of My mouth; It will not return to Me void

    (useless, without result), Without accomplishing what I desire, And without

    succeeding in the matter for which I sent it." (Isaiah 55:11, AMP)

Since, when we speak the Word, we are speaking God's word into the situation - our confidence, conviction should soar, which only enhances our believing, being persuaded, and entrusting..