Friend

Have you ever considered the fact that the God of the Universe, the Creator of all things wants to be in relationship with you... and that He calls you 'friend'! It's true. He has done everything for us, not to 'buy' our affection - He is not a sugar daddy - but has and is doing everything that we allow Him to do for/about us, every moment of every day. Personally, I do have a difficult time getting my head around this... not that I doubt or reject it, but I am amazed. Listen to what Jesus says... about us:

   "You are my friends if you keep on doing what I command you. I do not call

    you servants any longer, for the servant does not know what his master is

    doing; but I have called you [My] friends, because I have revealed to you

    everything that I have heard from My Father. You have not chosen Me, but

    I have chosen you and I have appointed and placed and purposefully

    planted you, so that you would go and bear fruit and keep on bearing,

    and that your fruit will remain and be lasting, so that whatever you ask

    of the Father in My name [as My representative] He may give to you. This [is

    what] I command you: that you love and unselfishly seek the best for one

    another."  [John 15: 14-17]

Yes... the highlights, italics, bold, underlining are purposeful. Sometimes we forget that it was Jesus who does the choosing and He choses us all... it's just that we don't always accept the choice. There are over 100 verses that tell us that God wants us all to be saved... among them: 1 Timothy 2:4; 2 Peter 3:9;  Matthew 23:37. There's no doubt.

But those of us who are born again, sometimes we miss the whole of who we become and what's available for us - to become friends. FRIENDS... can you get your head around that when Jesus made that comment to His disciples? And that it is extended to us as well! Do we even know what this means? Probably only partially. The indisputable fact though is that Jesus has chosen to make us His friend. And look how Jesus defined the word! See all that is available to us as friends. As a wee little aside. If you are His friend then doesn't this mean that all who are born again have this same opportunity? And doesn't this mean that this is how we should be treating our brothers and sisters? Not comparing. Not competing. Not condemning.

How does the title of 'friend' strike you? How does this make you feel? I believe it is based in the command Jesus gave His disciples

   "I am giving you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I

    have loved you, so you too are to love one another. By this everyone will know

    that you are My disciples, if you have love and unselfish concern for one

    another.” [John 13:34-35]   

The 'new' was always a bit of a puzzlement to me. Throughout Jesus' ministry He talked about Love. And there are countless verses about Love, not the least of which is Matthew 22: 36-40. So... 'new'? And then I saw - "...just as I have loved you". This is the qualifier and provides us with the example/model, the How of the new. We need to look at how Jesus expressed love to know if we are doing the same. 

And the final point is - so that we demonstrate that we are His disciples. What greater evidence can we provide to others than to demonstrate love, which is an action word, as our behavior toward others? Our behavior and words affirm and demonstrates how we react to each other, how we define 'friend'. A friend is there for you in your time of need but also to rejoice when we accomplish our assignment. One of the underlying foundations is trust. Seriously, can you love without trust? A Friend is more than an acquaintance. A Friend speaks truth not patronized dribble. And a Friend is ...

 

Even More Miscellaneous Thoughts on Prayer, Part 5

If you haven’t already guessed I am somewhat obsessive about growth, especially in terms of who we are as pray-ers. And scripture provides us our foundation, our standard, our method to grow. I firmly believe the scripture that tells us we are blessed with every spiritual blessing and part of the reason is so we will know and understand and apply the learnings found in the Word. Those blessings act as our guide as well as our strength... our standard and judge. (We should never forget 2 Corinthians 10: 3-5.)

This study about prayer comes from Philippians 4:6-7, AMP

   “Do not be anxious or worried about anything, but in everything [every

    circumstance and situation] by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, continue

    to make your [specific] requests known to God. And the peace of God [that

    peace which reassures the heart, that peace] which transcends all

    understanding, [that peace which] stands guard over your hearts and your

    minds in Christ Jesus [is yours].”

The Message Bible says: “Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns.” 

Guilty as charged. I have recently written on this verse as well. Perhaps as never before since our society has sunk as low as it has. Daily there is violence and continuous killings and I would suspect that hourly there are words that are debilitating and meant to hurt. How have we gotten here so very quickly... and why?

   "But understand this, that in the last days dangerous times [of great stress and

    trouble] will come [difficult days that will be hard to bear]. For people will be

    lovers of self [narcissistic, self-focused], lovers of money [impelled by greed],

    boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy and

    profane, [and they will be] unloving [devoid of natural human affection, 

    calloused and inhumane], irreconcilable, malicious gossips, ..." [2 Timothy 3...]

I could go on, but I think you begin, if you haven't already, grasped the answer. So my blunt question - what about you and prayer? Are you praying for our country? Are you interceding for those in leadership positions? Do you lift up those who are charged with protecting you - Soldiers, EMT's, Police, Firemen, Doctors and Nurses, etc.? Do we take these people, who may be putting their lives on the line for us, and acknowledge and pray for them? If not... why not? 

We need to be praying for our country, our society that it realizes what is happening and why and turns back and away from the vain arguments and philosophies, our behavior that characterizes who we've become. And we need to focus our attention on the real enemy. I don't believe there's a right or wrong way to pray... the point is to go to the One who has the answers and pray according to His will so that our requests are approved. 

Prayer, praying can be summed up as praising, asking and thanking the Lord for all He's done, for all He does, and for all He continues to do. Using the Lord's Prayer as our guide, Pastor Morris pointed out that it is composed of beginning in praise, petitioning, and ending in praise. I do love the symmetry. 

Devoted

Would you say you are a devoted person? To what? Are there many... or few things, people that are the focus of your devotion? How do you express your devotion? Would anyone know? Let's start simple - how do you define 'devotion'? I probably should ask if you have operationalized your definition. Is there (what is) the expression of your definition?

According to MWebster dictionary:

   " religious fervor : PIETY; an act of prayer or private worship —usually used in

    plural during his morning devotions; a religious exercise or practice; the act of

    dedicating something to a cause, enterprise, or activity : the act of devoting

    the devotion of a great deal of time and energy; the fact or state of being

    ardently dedicated and loyal ..."

Is this how you would describe your thoughts and actions? More important, is this how you define devotion? The best scriptural definition I could find is in James 1 and it comes with a warning:

   "But prove yourselves doers of the word [actively and continually obeying God’s

    precepts], and not merely listeners [who hear the word but fail to internalize 

    its meaning], deluding yourselves [by unsound reasoning contrary to the

    truth]. " [James 1:22 AMP]

Does this verse 'give feet' to the expression of devotion? It may seem easy to use the word, but so much more difficult to demonstrate it. Is it important? Yes. Especially when we consider it in relation to how we express this about/to our Lord. Continuing with James,

   "For if anyone only listens to the word without obeying it, he is like a man who

    looks very carefully at his natural face in a mirror; for once he has looked at

    himself and gone away, he immediately forgets what he looked like. But he who

    looks carefully into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and faithfully abides by it,

    not having become a [careless] listener who forgets but [c]an active doer [who

    obeys], he will be blessed and favored by God in what he does [in his life of

    obedience]." [v. 23-25, AMP]

I tend to think in terms that devotion is the visible expression of our love. Besides, if we don't express this, how will we or the object of our affection ever know... as well as a witness to others? Devotion is strong, is constant, grows and is so much more than we tend to realize. But I also will contend that it needs expression. So... who, what are you devoted to? More importantly... do you and the who/what know?

 

An aside...

The following is a kinda tease. I’ve begun writing my next book. “Becoming… ME!!!”, And I thought I’d give you a taste (though I have no idea when the book will be published - I haven’t finished writing it yet).

Those of you who are familiar with my writing know that my style/MO/approach is to ask questions - lots and lots of questions. The purpose is for you to know YOUR answers and why and where you adopted/adapted them. Yes I provide my understanding as a counterpoint for the reader’s thoughts and perspectives. But even when I was teaching, I never wanted people to accept (and/or reject) what I said simply because I was the teacher - I wanted to provide as many resources as possible so they could consider and discover the who, when, where, what, why.

When it came to the personal, was becoming me a conscious, thought out plan on my part - I seriously doubt it. I think it became more intentional when I became more attentive. (Could be giving me more credit than what’s due though.)  Actually I think I became more aware when I heard me telling the Lord that I wanted to be pleasing to Him, that I wanted to become the best me I could be; and simultaneously admitting that there was no way of accomplishing this apart from Him helping me.

Now I can see that He took me at my word and continues to help me be me to grow, because some times it seems to be incredibly difficult. We all have our desert times of wandering or feeling battered. But there is always a learning during these times. [BTW - I really don’t believe we ever stop learning and growing, understanding and applying to whatever is the focus. And I also believe that this continues when we go home. Minimally there’s the 1000 year reign and we have responsibilities to fulfill. We will need to ‘study to show ourselves approved.]

Becoming me has been, and continues to be, quite the adventure. Frustrating at times though I don’t think I ever seriously considered giving up, highly amusing, sometimes head shaking, sometimes astonishing (in a good way), full of learning, empowering and enabling, painful at my own behavior, sad at being totally  misunderstood… and I could go on - but the bottom line is that throughout the Lord has stayed with me, never giving up on me (though I most certainly have - momentarily). Besides... His Word says He would never leave me nor forsake me and He hasn't. Have I walked away? Probably. But never for long nor too far away.

I am amazed at what the Lord has taught me, shown me, helped me discover. I am not the woman I was at the start of this journey… I’m also far from the end of this adventure - which doesn’t detract but rather entice me to continue. I also think that what I’ve just said is somewhat descriptive of all of us when we undertake the belief in and actions to grow, to become of value to the One who has, and continues, to give us a life of abundance, of fruitfulness. If you haven't begun your journey with the Lord. Do. He's standing there waiting for you to open your door to Him. 

Out there... or Right here

WHO is God to you? Is He the God of 'out there' or the God of 'right here'? It is your choice you know. And yes, I'm talking about relationship again. I've learned so much about relationship with the God of the Universe in the past 6 months and HAVE to share. 

I find it incredible that the Creator of All wants, yes - WANTS to be in relationship with us, His creation. And I don't believe that there's any evidence that He wants the relationship to be an 'out there' type. In my thinking, this means that if we only go to Him as a last resort - when things have reached crisis status - that this is man made (determined), not God. Honestly, isn't that just a trifle stupid?! He has the answers, why not start there first? And besides, He wants to be in a personal relationship with us... not just as creator. Personally, I think that this was part of the reason that the devil got so incensed. He, satan, was important, not us, and he never has wanted us to develop a relationship with the Father.

Do we deserve a personal relationship? Hardly. There's a wonderful saying that says... "God owes us nothing, yet gives us everything". True. And one of the wonderful gifts is relationship. It all began at the beginning, with how God treated Adam and Eve. He walked with them in the cool of the day (Genesis 3:8). From the very start the Lord wanted to be in relationship. And He kept demonstrating this throughout the Bible. 

Is there something we need do to begin to develop a relationship. I would answer... YES. Abide. John 15: 4-11  has to be one of my favorite verses because these verses also provide us with a promise. That when we abide in Him and His words abide in us... the end result is fruitfulness! As simple as that and yet not. We are a stiff necked creation that wants to do everything - our way! Even with all the disasters, misunderstandings, bad choices, sins, unthinking decisions... we still want to do it our way. (Definitely a head slapping reaction.) 

Why? To prove something to ourselves and to our God? Probably a big portion of our rebellion (yes, rebellion - at least call things as they are) has to be part of our doing it my way behavior. But since we're invited to co-develop the relationship... our reason??? Not worthy? Is this our bottom line - or is it an excuse, a cop out? Why do we become so reluctant to be in relationship?

Perhaps there are as many different reasons as there are those off us who have accepted the Lordship but haven't walked in relationship? Do you remember this scripture?

   "You are my friends if you keep on doing what I command you. I do not call you

    servants any longer, for the servant does not know what his master is doing;

    but I have called you [My] friends, because I have revealed to you everything

    that I have heard from My Father. You have not chosen Me, but I have chosen

    you and I have appointed and placed and purposefully planted you, so that you

    would go and bear fruit and keep on bearing, and that your fruit will remain

    and be lasting, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name [as My

    representative] He may give to you." [John 15:14-16]

How do you understand these verses? Do you understand that you are given an invitation to friendship? Yes these verses were intended for Jesus' disciples but if you have accepted Him as your Lord then He is inviting each of us into a personal relationship. Look at the words: I HAVE CHOSEN YOU: appointed, placed, planted (notice too that these are past tense not future - He's done everything He can do and now it's up to us!. And the result of a close, personal relationship is that we would bear fruit and continue to bear fruit! I would argue that this doesn't happen if we keep Him 'out there'. Without a 'right here' relationship, without abiding in Him... this can't happen. The loss is ours.

BEing Extraordinary

10 years ago I wrote a blog that made it into 2 of my books called, "Be EXTRAORDINARY'. This is an update and reaction on that thought. Part of my thinking is based in my belief that most everything that's important, significant is in a process never a completed 'project'. Actually, I think my main point in that blog was to suggest that the reader consider themselves and to never accept an 'ordinary' definition unless that describes their extraordinary. 

Some of what I wrote was:

  "You can live a superlative life. Why be average (whatever that means or how it

    is defined)? Surely mediocre is not something to be pursued? Then again,

    remember that 'extra' and 'super' are defined individually as well. Superlative

    basically means reaching for or stretching yourself for that which is just beyond

    your finger tips. Yes it is a striving. And yes, it is competitive but the focus,

    actor, and definer (and competitor) is yourself. Striving in this context is not

    necessarily stressful nor painful but it isn't a walk in the park either. It means

    setting the goal so that you don't achieve success quickly. And your 

    competitor? Your previous successes."

Can't say that I disagree with any of that. As you can read, process is intimately involved... you don't go to bed at night and wake up mediocre or extraordinary. You compromise to get to mediocre, you partner with the Lord to be extraordinary. I went on to say:

   "The 'get by', 'get along' mindset is really not one to cultivate. This truly would

    be a way to be tossed by every wind that comes by. I would think it would be

    quite confusing because in this approach, you really don't have your own set of

    standards to live by.  Soooo... what are you? Why would you want to be

    average or 'ordinary'? Does fear of failure, of not attaining 'extraordinary' stop

    you from trying? Or... perhaps you are listening to the voices of those who

    don't realize your potential? People who would rather see you as compromising

    to be 'average' so they don't have to raise their own standard. 

    Never forget that if you try for extraordinary and don't make it, where you

    arrive is going to be definitely higher than 'ordinary'. Don't misunderstand,

    'ordinary' isn't 'bad' unless it's less than what you are capable of accomplishing.

    Even in a limiting situation you are in control of what you learn, what you

    discover, how you refine what you do and how you can do it. Others can

    attempt to limit you but only you can decide to accept that limitation. 

    In the last analysis, you are the only one who can determine if your effort is

    extraordinary or not because you are the definer of the word. But extraordinary

    is something that is exhilarating when you do attain it. It is a defining

    moment."

I think 'extraordinary' is always what I've wanted as descriptive of my default. Did and do not always attain this... but I also ascribe to the belief that if you err, sin, etc. that doesn't need to define you or your goal. Yes, that does smack of 'if you don't succeed, try, try again'. and what's wrong with that? Probably only if you don't have a 'done' point (in terms of achievement or changing). Some things truly aren't for us and we need to walk away. Simply check with your partner - the Lord never tempts, never misleads, never sets us up for failure. Remember His words of never leaving or forsaking us and that as we abide in Him we will be fruitful. That kinda defines 'extraordinary'.

Fruit bearing?

   "But the fruit of the Spirit [the result of His presence within us] is love

    [unselfish concern for others], joy, [inner] peace, patience [not the ability to 

    wait, but how we act while waiting], kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 

    gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law." 

    [Galatians 5: 22-23]

Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness,

Self-Control

So, are You good soil to plant the fruit of the Spirit... and what kind of fruit are you bearing? But before we get to this... do you ever take the time to read the verses before and after the one you focus on? If you do, you will often gain an even deeper understanding of your focus verses because they provide further understanding by telling us what to do or what not to do, and sometimes the when and how.

The 9 attributes tell us WHO our God and Father is and how He goes about being Himself. And if it is He who created us (and it is) then we also have these qualities in us because it is God who breathes the breath of life into us!  Do you see these in yourself? Are they evident to those around you? Do you have a slight problem with a couple of them? Specifically these 2 verses give us information about how to judge ourselves on our understanding and application of the fruit of the Spirit scriptures. These verses tell us what our evidence should be regarding our effectiveness. I would argue that all words, all actions produce results... it's just that sometimes what is seen is not what is wanted or intended.

One of the key scriptures that relates to being a fruit bearer is:

   "Remain in Me, and I [will remain] in you. Just as no branch can bear fruit by

    itself without remaining in the vine, neither can you [bear fruit, producing

    evidence of your faith] unless you remain in Me. I am the Vine; you are the

    branches. The one who remains in Me and I in him bears much fruit, for

    [otherwise] apart from Me [that is, cut off from vital union with Me] you can do

    nothing. If anyone does not remain in Me, he is thrown out like a [broken off]

    branch, and withers and dies; and they gather such branches and throw them

    into the fire, and they are burned. If you remain in Me and My words remain in

    you [that is, if we are vitally united and My message lives in your heart], ask

    whatever you wish and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified and

    honored by this, when you bear much fruit, and prove yourselves to be My

    [true] disciples." [John 15: 4-8] 

When you read these words, there are a number of 'if-then' statements. If you (we) do (fill in the blank) then the Lord will (fill in the blank). There are a number of if-then statements throughout scripture... partially, I think, so that we will always know the effect, the result of when we do or don't do. Remember that we make the decision about being fruit bearing. The Lord gives us opportunities... we choose to walk His path or not. Bottom line: do you intentionally try and be an example of these fruits? Are you growing in being a fruit bearing person? Like everything else of importance... it's a process. But we also have a promise with this in John 15: 8. 

Since I suspect we always bear fruit from our words and behavior, perhaps the most important question is - what kind of fruit do we bear? Is it fruit that remains? Is it fruit that's on the verge of spoiling? Is it fruit that's slightly bruised? Is it the particular fruit that's at issue? Simple example: you really are a kind person and attempt to be this kind of fruit bearer... BUT you have zilch patience. Which one then takes the lead? Kindness? Or Patience? Or does it depend on the person and/or time?

If our choice is to bear fruit that remains, we need to be diligent about the fruit that does remain. Look again at John 15:16  / 4-11, AMP

   "You have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you and I have appointed and

    placed and purposefully planted you, so that you would go and bear fruit and

    keep on bearing, and that your fruit will remain and be lasting,..."

   "Remain in Me, and I [will remain] in you. Just as no branch can bear fruit by

    itself without remaining in the vine, neither can you  ... The one who remains in

    Me and I in him bears much fruit, for [otherwise] apart from Me [that is, cut off

    from vital union with Me] you can do nothing. My Father is glorified and 

    honored by this, when you bear much fruit ..." [selections from John 15: 4-11]

Obviously the Lord is as interested in our bearing good fruit that remains as we are. I think He gives us our entry to be good fruit bearers... abide, remain in HIM!