tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38024741276066004802024-03-13T15:24:51.966-05:00Minister's Meditation"And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works..." Heb 10:24Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16691434674801483755noreply@blogger.comBlogger983125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3802474127606600480.post-30441656678811129312021-07-23T17:57:00.003-05:002021-07-23T18:06:57.740-05:00Seeking Forgiveness<p><em>"Then they kept crossing the ford to bring over the king’s household, and to do what was good in his sight. And Shimei the son of Gera fell down before the king as he was about to cross the Jordan. <span class="text 2Sam-19-19" id="en-NASB-8531"><sup class="versenum"> </sup>So he said to the king, 'Let not my lord consider me guilty, nor remember what your servant did wrong on the day when my lord the king came out from Jerusalem, so that the king would take it to heart.</span> <span class="text 2Sam-19-20" id="en-NASB-8532"><sup class="versenum"> </sup>For your servant knows that I have sinned; therefore behold, I have come today, <sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NASB-8532B" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NASB-8532B" title="See cross-reference B">B</a>)"></sup>the first of all the house of Joseph to go down to meet my lord the king.'</span> <span class="text 2Sam-19-21" id="en-NASB-8533"><sup class="versenum"> </sup>But Abishai the son of Zeruiah said, 'Should not Shimei be put to death for this, <sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NASB-8533D" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NASB-8533D" title="See cross-reference D">D</a>)"></sup>because he cursed the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">Lord’s</span> anointed?'”</span></em> 2 Samuel 19:18-21<br /><br />David once famously packed up his household and many of his followers and left his home base of Jerusalem in an effort to avoid a war with his son who sought to supplant him by force as the new king. During one of the lowest times of his life, a man by the name of Shimei came along and began to verbally abuse the king with words that were shocking for a commoner to use against his monarch. He accused him of being a murderer and a wicked person and said that he deserved all he was suffering. To add insult to injury, he threw rocks and dirt at the king and all of his company.<br /><br />As it would happen, the fortunes of David would reverse. Having put down the insurrection, the king and his cohort began to make his way back into Jerusalem to retake the throne and restore order. As this was occurring, Shimei appeared and was contrite, humble and repentant as he confessed and asked for forgiveness.<br /><br />Beloved, how often have we played the role of Shimei in our sinful behaviors? We can all look back on times when we have done wrong to relatives, friends, acquaintances, co-workers and even members of the church. In so doing, we shake the fist of rebellion at God by not obeying his command to love him with all we've got and to love others as we love ourselves. Our behavior can be abhorrent when we are angry and hurt. Fortunately for us, God is as patient with us as David was with Shimei. Though well within his right, David did not take Shimei's life when he sinned against him, but let him go. This gave him an opportunity to come to his senses and he eventually did.<br /><br />The lesson here is that we must all come to our senses, recognize the wrong we have committed against God and beg for forgiveness with more vigor than that with which we sinned against him. And we must not be afraid to approach him and ask. 1 John 1:9 says,<em> "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."</em> So often we are immobilized by our guilt and shame and decide that we are unforgivable. This in and of itself is sinful in that we are not to put ourselves in the place of God. It is he who has directed us to seek him and his righteousness. It is up to us to obey.<br /><br />We do not have a license to sin but we do have a remedy. If you are overtaken in a fault, go to the only one who can fix it, then accept what he provides, or as Jesus said, <em>"Go and sin no more,"</em> John 8:11.<br /><br /><em>Discipling,</em><br /><em></em><br />Lee</p><div class="blogger-post-footer">May the Lord bless you and keep you, providing you with all spiritual blessings in this world and the one to come.</div>Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16691434674801483755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3802474127606600480.post-35205114928714476292021-06-25T17:45:00.000-05:002021-06-25T17:45:34.072-05:00The God of Second Chances<p><i>"Then Samson called to the Lord and said, 'O Lord God, please remember me and please strengthen me just this time, O God, that I may at once be avenged of the Philistines for my two eyes.'” </i>Judges 16:28<br /><br />This simple passage of Scripture does not readily reveal the profound impact of repentance and the amazing forgiveness of God, but careful study of the story and the man, Samson, will leave the fervent seeker awestruck, humbled and grateful.<br /><br />In those days, the people of Israel were in a retched cycle of being blessed by God, turning their backs on Him in favor of other gods, being subjected by force to the whims of other nations, crying out to God for relief and being rescued by Him. On this particular occasion, the people had been under the subjugation of the Philistines for 40 years. God, in His infinite mercy, sent his angel to a woman named Manoah and, among other things, instructed her that she would bear a son and that through him, Israel would begin to be <i>"saved from the hands of the Philistines," </i>Judges 13:5. This was the beginning of the story and purpose of Samson.<br /><br />Now the rest of his story is well known. He was born a Nazirite (one who is particularly dedicated to God, typically by vow and the observance of certain habits and restrictions), grew in supernatural strength, became a judge of the people and famously fought and defeated the Philistines on numerous occasions. It is also well known that Samson was a very flawed man. He had habits and desires that were not in keeping with his calling. He frequently made mistakes in judgment and failed to comport himself at some critical times and was known to visit prostitutes. He is perhaps best known for his involvement with the treacherous Philistine woman, Delilah. It is to her that, despite proving herself unworthy of his trust on at least three occasions that might have resulted in his death, he reveals the secret of his strength resulting in the breaking of his Nazarite vow and the loss of his power.<br /><br />Beloved, it is easy for us to sit in judgment of Samson. We ask ourselves how he could have been so stupid, thereby inferring that we could never be guilty of such transgression and lack of good decision making. But is that strictly true? Has not God created each of us for His own glory? Has he not instructed us in His ways and given us a mission to do battle with the enemy? Have we not been distracted by the perceived benefits of that same enemy and actually done business with him? In some ways, times and situations, we are all Samson.<br /><br />That said, we serve the same God as Samson. When he had come to fully understand the error of his ways, he remembered his purpose, he remembered his God given ability and he remembered his God. Through His amazing love and forgiveness, God came to the aid of Samson, even as He had to the people of Israel through Samson, and strengthened him for his original intended purpose. God never forsakes us. It is we who leave Him. But just as the father of the prodigal son, He constantly awaits our return and receives us when we come. All praises to Him for being a God of second (and third and fourth and fifth...) chances.<br /><br /><i>Discipling,</i><br /><br />Lee<br /></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">May the Lord bless you and keep you, providing you with all spiritual blessings in this world and the one to come.</div>Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16691434674801483755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3802474127606600480.post-63891960426558845942021-04-23T08:53:00.004-05:002021-04-23T08:53:39.095-05:00A Change in Perspective<div class="p1"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></i><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Colossians 3:1-4<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="p1"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">I once knew a person who always seemed to be rooted, grounded, positive and happy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was not because he had enjoyed a trouble-free life in the lap of luxury.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On the contrary, he had been through storm after storm, yet was an example of how to keep one’s head up and remain faithful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was not that he was a perfect man; far from it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But he never claimed to be more than he was and always seemed to re-route any praise given him, to God.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Upon being asked how he did it, particularly in view of some significantly painful life events, he gave an answer that made all of the sense in the world but was no less amazing in that it involved the most basic of Christian principles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He said, “I not only believe in God, but I believe Him.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By that he meant that it was easy to acknowledge God’s existence but through the course of his life, he had come to have a significant level of faith in Him due to his experience with God. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He therefore made every effort to surrender his own will in favor of God’s.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This being the case, he went on to say, “God has told us that this life is just a vapor and that the things we go through in our day to day lives are not worthy to be compared with the things that will be revealed and experienced in an eternity with Him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I believe that with my whole heart, and that long-term view makes the limited trials of this life bearable and temporary.”<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Beloved, this is the perspective that all children of God should have.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is not to say that in our human condition, we do not occasionally worry, fret, hurt, get anxious or angry, but that we should always be brought back to who God is, what He has promised and our faith in Him. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Further, we should conduct our lives as those who accept all He has told us as established fact. Paul told the church at Colossae, and by extension all believers, that we are to “set our minds on things above and not on earth…for our life is hidden with God in Christ.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How powerful in the Lord would we be if we truly embraced this directive?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How effective would the church be?<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Let us, as spiritual beings, diligently shift our perspective to spiritual things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our burdens will surely be lightened and hearts made glad.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Discipling,<o:p></o:p></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Lee</div><div class="blogger-post-footer">May the Lord bless you and keep you, providing you with all spiritual blessings in this world and the one to come.</div>Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16691434674801483755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3802474127606600480.post-3275824851241010502021-04-02T18:48:00.000-05:002021-04-02T18:48:54.586-05:00Seeking Forgiveness<p><em>"Then they kept crossing the ford to bring over the king’s household, and to do what was good in his sight. And Shimei the son of Gera fell down before the king as he was about to cross the Jordan. <span class="text 2Sam-19-19" id="en-NASB-8531"><sup class="versenum"> </sup>So he said to the king, 'Let not my lord consider me guilty, nor remember what your servant did wrong on the day when my lord the king came out from Jerusalem, so that the king would take it to heart.</span> <span class="text 2Sam-19-20" id="en-NASB-8532"><sup class="versenum"> </sup>For your servant knows that I have sinned; therefore behold, I have come today, <sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NASB-8532B" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NASB-8532B" title="See cross-reference B">B</a>)"></sup>the first of all the house of Joseph to go down to meet my lord the king.'</span> <span class="text 2Sam-19-21" id="en-NASB-8533"><sup class="versenum"> </sup>But Abishai the son of Zeruiah said, 'Should not Shimei be put to death for this, <sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NASB-8533D" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NASB-8533D" title="See cross-reference D">D</a>)"></sup>because he cursed the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">Lord’s</span> anointed?'”</span></em> 2 Samuel 19:18-21<br /><br />David once famously packed up his household and many of his followers and left his home base of Jerusalem in an effort to avoid a war with his son who sought to supplant him by force as the new king. During one of the lowest times of his life, a man by the name of Shimei came along and began to verbally abuse the king with words that were shocking for a commoner to use against his monarch. He accused him of being a murderer and a wicked person and said that he deserved all he was suffering. To add insult to injury, he threw rocks and dirt at the king and all of his company.<br /><br />As it would happen, the fortunes of David would reverse. Having put down the insurrection, the king and his cohort began to make his way back into Jerusalem to retake the throne and restore order. As this was occurring, Shimei appeared and was contrite, humble and repentant as he confessed and asked for forgiveness.<br /><br />Beloved, how often have we played the role of Shimei in our sinful behaviors? We can all look back on times when we have done wrong to relatives, friends, acquaintances, co-workers and even members of the church. In so doing, we shake the fist of rebellion at God by not obeying his command to love him with all we've got and to love others as we love ourselves. Our behavior can be abhorrent when we are angry and hurt. Fortunately for us, God is as patient with us as David was with Shimei. Though well within his right, David did not take Shimei's life when he sinned against him, but let him go. This gave him an opportunity to come to his senses and he eventually did.<br /><br />The lesson here is that we must all come to our senses, recognize the wrong we have committed against God and beg for forgiveness with more vigor than that with which we sinned against him. And we must not be afraid to approach him and ask. 1 John 1:9 says,<em> "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."</em> So often we are immobilized by our guilt and shame and decide that we are unforgivable. This in and of itself is sinful in that we are not to put ourselves in the place of God. It is he who has directed us to seek him and his righteousness. It is up to us to obey.<br /><br />We do not have a license to sin but we do have a remedy. If you are overtaken in a fault, go to the only one who can fix it, then accept what he provides, or as Jesus said, <em>"Go and sin no more,"</em> John 8:11.<br /><br /><em>Discipling,</em><br /><em></em><br />Lee</p><div class="blogger-post-footer">May the Lord bless you and keep you, providing you with all spiritual blessings in this world and the one to come.</div>Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16691434674801483755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3802474127606600480.post-50392393358308125592021-03-26T11:54:00.000-05:002021-03-26T11:54:10.300-05:00Will Alignment<p><i>"He said, 'Thus says the Lord, 'Make this valley full of trenches.' "For thus says the Lord, 'You shall not see wind nor shall you see rain; yet that valley shall be filled with water, so that you shall drink, both you and your cattle and your beasts."</i> 2 Kings 3:16-17<br /><br />The kings of Judah and Edom had allied themselves with aggrieved king of Israel, Jehoram, in an effort to do battle with the offending king of Moab. It should be noted that Jehoram was a wicked king but the king of Judah was righteous. Having set their battle plan to go through an area of wilderness, they found themselves without water for their men and animals. Wisely, they sought the prophet Elijah to advocate for them with God. It should also be noted that Elijah would have had nothing to do with Jehoram had it not been for the presence of Judah's king.<br /><br />God's instruction, in short, was to prepare themselves for a miraculous blessing. They would have all the water they needed if they followed His instructions. They would not be inundated by rain which might have actually hindered their efforts, yet the Lord promised that they would have water.<br /><br />Beloved, we do not always know how God will accomplish those things for which we have prayed, but we should always be prepared for an affirmative answer when the request aligns with His will. In this case the Moabites had offended God and wronged His people. It may be in your life that God take action in order to accomplish His will. Perhaps you WILL receive that promotion in order to be able to carry His word to more people and contribute more financially to His kingdom. Perhaps you WILL recover your health in an effort to be more convinced of His grace and mercy and will in turn be an encouragement to others. Perhaps He WILL send a spouse to you in order to allow you to defeat temptation and thereby be preserved. But as the kings did, you must prepare to receive such blessings.<br /><br />God truly delivered on His promise to the kings. Water was delivered to the people of God via a flash flood from a distant storm. Not only did they have water to drink, but the blood like appearance of the waters' reflection of the rising sun caused the enemy to believe the kings had fought among themselves. Thinking this they went out to meet the prepared army and were themselves consumed.<br /><br />Our God is a mighty God who blesses His children in accordance with His will. Does yours align with His? Despite the fact that there may be Jehorams in your life, be sure that you are the Judah that finds favor. God always comes through.<br /><br /><em>Discipling,</em><br /><br />Lee</p><div class="blogger-post-footer">May the Lord bless you and keep you, providing you with all spiritual blessings in this world and the one to come.</div>Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16691434674801483755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3802474127606600480.post-88252892338146103252021-03-19T07:51:00.008-05:002021-03-19T07:51:49.975-05:00Can You Hear Him Now?<p><em>"So the Lord called Samuel again for the third time. And he arose and went to Eli and said, 'Here I am, for you called me.' Then Eli discerned that the Lord was calling the boy. And Eli said to Samuel,"'Go lie down, and it shall be if He calls you, that you shall say, 'Speak, Lord, for Your servant is listening.'" So Samuel went and lay down in his place. Then the Lord came and stood and called as at other times, "Samuel! Samuel!" And Samuel said, 'Speak, for Your servant is listening.'"</em> 1 Sam 3:8-10<br /><br />God in His divine wisdom saw fit to call a young boy into his service. Samuel was a product of a devout father and a mother who struggled to bear children. For years his mother cried and prayed that God would bless her and that if He did, she would give the child to Him. God answered her prayer and she kept her promise. She left the boy with God's man, Eli, at a tender age and he began to be instructed in the way of the Lord. Then at a God determined point in his life, he was called into service by the very voice of the Almighty.<br /><br />Beloved, there are many things that call to us today. We are inundated with messages from a variety of media that contend for our attention. Some of these messages are positive, some neutral and some negative. We must ask ourselves, however, if we are tuned in to God. It is His call that is quiet but firm, powerful and consistent. He placed within each of us the ability to recognize His voice. Paul writes, <em>"...that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse"</em> Rom 1:19-20. Contextually, this is a chastisement for those who have ignored the call of God and have acted unrighteously. But it clearly reveals that He has placed within us the ability to hear and know Him.<br /><br />Further, His voice can be heard in our morality; our sense of right and wrong. Whether one is a believer or not, we all have a sense of what we should do over against what we should not. This is the God channel. It is not here stated that we hear God's audible call today. In fact <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Heb%201:1-2&version=NASB">Heb 1:1-2</a> tells us a bit of the history of His communication with us. The point is He still speaks. Be it through observed nature that make His existence evident or the conscience He has placed within us to respond to Him, He still speaks. When He calls, we need to turn everything else off and respond, "Speak, for your servant is listening."<br /><br /><em>Pursuing discipleship,</em><br /><br />Lee</p><div class="blogger-post-footer">May the Lord bless you and keep you, providing you with all spiritual blessings in this world and the one to come.</div>Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16691434674801483755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3802474127606600480.post-88236851075120774722021-02-26T12:28:00.001-06:002021-02-26T12:28:23.046-06:00Don't Let Go<p><i><span class="text Gen-32-24" style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px;">"Then Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him until daybreak.</span><span class="text Gen-32-25" id="en-NASB1995-954" style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;"> </span>When he saw that he had not prevailed against him, he touched the socket of his thigh; so the socket of Jacob’s thigh was dislocated while he wrestled with him.</span></i><span class="text Gen-32-26" id="en-NASB1995-955" style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px;"><i><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;"> </span>Then he said, 'Let me go, for the dawn is breaking.' But he said, 'I will not let you go unless you bless me.'”</i> Genesis 32:24-26</span></p><p><span class="text Gen-32-26" style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px;">Imagine what it would be like to wrestle with God. It would generate so many questions. "Why would God want to wrestle with me?" "How could I possibly win?" "What did I do wrong?" Though this is a true depiction of an actual event (based on it not being stated that it is a vision or a parable), it is an object lesson designed to represent a larger message. In this case, it is, in part, about how Jacob had been "wrestling" since the womb. He wrestled away his brother's birthright and blessing and then had to contend for the wife of his choice. Contextually, he was about to face what he thought would be an angry Esau but the divine wrestling match conveyed that he would prevail and receive God's blessing.</span></p><p><span class="text Gen-32-26" style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px;">The point today; however, comes from the match itself. It was indeed a contest and the point of every contest is to win. In wrestling, winning means pinning your opponent to the ground or securing his retirement ("tap out" in today's vernacular). Despite wrestling all night, neither contestant is reported as hitting the ground or giving up. When Jacob's hip was dislocated, it caused pain, sapped strength, and took away leverage. It would be easy to see how he might go down. Instead, the supernatural opponent said "let me go."</span></p><p><span class="text Gen-32-26" style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px;">Beloved, there are times when we go through troubling and difficult. As Christians, we have been taught to reach out to God. We do so through prayer, fasting, studying of the Scriptures and perhaps spiritual counseling. Our desire is to prevail against whatever it is that plagues us. It is clear based on the opponent's words that Jacob was holding on to him, refusing to give up and refusing to go down despite his limiting and painful injury. This is what we must do. Hang on with everything we've got and do not let go no matter what. If we let go of God in the midst of trials, we will surely lose, but if we embrace Him until he blesses us, then we will surely prevail. To be clear, prevailing does not meant to win but to succeed. Neither opponent lost, but Jacob was successful in receiving his desired blessing.</span></p><p><span class="text Gen-32-26" style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px;">Jacob met Esau and found love instead of death. Renamed Israel by God, he said to Esau that seeing him was like seeing God. This connected to his post match confession that he had seen God face to face and lived. The match revealed to him in advance that he would not lose his life at the hands of his brother, but that he would prevail and be blessed. Let us do as Jacob did and hold on to God until the blessing comes.</span></p><p><span class="text Gen-32-26" style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px;"><i>Discipling</i>,</span></p><p><span class="text Gen-32-26" style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px;">Lee</span></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">May the Lord bless you and keep you, providing you with all spiritual blessings in this world and the one to come.</div>Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16691434674801483755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3802474127606600480.post-51506388778393187362021-01-22T11:51:00.003-06:002021-01-22T12:03:47.690-06:00Prayer for the Nation<p><i><span class="text Neh-1-2" id="en-NASB1995-12299">"</span><span class="text Neh-1-2" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="font-size: 16px;">Hanani, one of my brothers, and some men from Judah came; and I asked them concerning the Jews who had escaped and had survived the captivity, and about Jerusalem.</span><span class="text Neh-1-3" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" id="en-NASB1995-12300" style="font-size: 16px;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;"> </span>They said to me, 'The remnant there in the province who survived the captivity are in great distress and reproach, and the wall of Jerusalem is broken down and its gates are burned with fire.' </span></i><span class="text Neh-1-4" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" id="en-NASB1995-12301" style="font-size: 16px;"><i>When I heard these words, I sat down and wept and mourned for days; and I was fasting and praying before the God of heaven."</i> Nehemiah 1:2-4</span><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"> </span></p><p><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, Segoe UI, Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, Noto Sans, sans-serif, Arial"><span style="background-color: white;">On January 6, 2021, the world watched while the Capitol building of the United States of America was temporarily overtaken by members of its own citizenry. Most Americans were horrified and could not believe that it was happening. Many were brought to tears. It was clear evidence of the profound division that exists within the country. </span></span><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial">What are we to do?</span></p><p></p><p><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, Segoe UI, Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, Noto Sans, sans-serif, Arial"><span style="background-color: white;">Though it may feel that given the pandemic, social upheaval, political discord and economic devastation, these are the worst of all possible times, they are not. The world has endured much more and much worse. Even in this country, a Civil War was survived. This is not to say that emotions are out of place because they are not. These days, times and events have never happened to us, therefore we feel how we feel.</span></span></p><p><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, Segoe UI, Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, Noto Sans, sans-serif, Arial"><span style="background-color: white;">The message today, beloved, is that there is a remedy available if we would simply avail ourselves of it. If we, with one voice, would appeal to our Heavenly Father, He most surely would heal our land and our hearts. After all, He is the same God who delivered His people out of Egyptian slavery, fought for them against enemies who arrayed themselves against them, fed them from His own hand in the wilderness and caused them to thrive despite every attempt to exterminate them. That same God is the God under which these United States was conceived and established. There is nothing too hard for Him. Is appealing to Him too hard for His New Testament people, the Church? Is placing the things we have in common (in Him) ahead or in place of our differences too difficult?</span></span></p><p><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, Segoe UI, Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, Noto Sans, sans-serif, Arial"><span style="background-color: white;">Historically, the people of God turn to Him in crisis. While it is sadly human nature that we cause these crises through disobedience, unfaithfulness, division and a lack of love for Him and one another, His nature is to hear our plea and respond (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=judg+2%3A18&version=NASB1995">Judg 2:18</a>). All who call upon the name of Christ ought to do as Nehemiah did when he learned that his nation was in a shambles: he mourned, fasted and prayed. After months of doing so, he took action, with God's favor, to bring about change. Israel was restored. So too can be the United States of America.</span></span></p><p><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, Segoe UI, Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, Noto Sans, sans-serif, Arial"><span style="background-color: white;"><i>Discipling,</i></span></span></p><p><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, Segoe UI, Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, Noto Sans, sans-serif, Arial"><span style="background-color: white;">Lee</span></span></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">May the Lord bless you and keep you, providing you with all spiritual blessings in this world and the one to come.</div>Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16691434674801483755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3802474127606600480.post-20918708639918574692021-01-15T15:40:00.000-06:002021-01-15T15:40:10.375-06:00A Waste of Talent<p><em>"And the one who had also received one talent came up and said, 'Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow and gathering where you scattered no seed. And I was afraid, and went away and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what is yours.'" </em>Matthew 25:24-25<br /><br />In the parable of the talents, Jesus imparts the story of a man who entrusts his servants with varying sums of money, ostensibly to grow, while he goes away on a journey. When the man returns, two of his servants doubled that which they had been entrusted. The kind master complimented and rewarded them both with promotions and greater resources to manage. One of them, however, buried the funds in the ground so as not to risk losing them. Upon returning to his master exactly that which was entrusted to him, he was not happy.<br /><br />The larger context of this story is that we Christians must be prepared for the Lord's return. More specifically, here, that we are not to neglect the use of the skills, abilities and gifts he has provided in the pursuit of producing desired outcomes. In other words, Jesus, through the Holy Spirit, has made an investment in us and he expects a return on that investment.<br /><br />Beloved, we are too often like the scared servant who essentially does nothing with what he has been given. Make no mistake, all children of God are the recipient of spiritual gifts (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Cor+12%3A4-11&version=NASB">1 Corinthians 12:4-11</a>). These gifts are to be used for the common good, which is to say that they are not so much for ourselves as they are for others. When we fail to use our ability to teach, comfort, provide financial resources, do manual labor, provide expertise in our field of work or study or any other skill with which are blessed, we are in effect, burying the "talent." In no uncertain terms, this is failure.<br /><br />As much as when a farmer plants his or her crops with the expectation of a yield, Jesus expects for us to produce fruit. Failure to do so can result in the withdrawing of that which sustains us and our removal in favor of another that will produce (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+13%3A6-9&version=NASB">Luke 13:6-9</a>). Be it far from us that we should ever waste the talent that has been given us. We have been saved by the blood, invested by our Savior and commanded by our Master. Let us use what has been given in his service and for the benefit of others. After all, every Christian is the result, in part, of the work done by a faithful servant.<br /><br /><em>Discipling,</em><br /><br />Lee</p><div class="blogger-post-footer">May the Lord bless you and keep you, providing you with all spiritual blessings in this world and the one to come.</div>Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16691434674801483755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3802474127606600480.post-60355043232747442792021-01-08T08:47:00.000-06:002021-01-08T08:47:05.575-06:00Message to the Messenger<p><i>“Son of man, I have appointed you a watchman to the house of Israel; whenever you hear a word from My mouth, warn them from Me. When I say to the wicked, ‘You will surely die,’ and you do not warn him or speak out to warn the wicked from his wicked way that he may live, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand.'"</i> Ezekiel 3:17-18<br /><br />Every now and then I run across a Bible passage that makes my blood run cold. Ezekiel 3:17-21 is just such an example. The prophet Ezekiel was being sent by God to the rebellious people of Israel to deliver a warning from Him. One of the reasons he was being sent was so that the people would know that a prophet, and by extension, God Himself was among them. In turn, the message he was sent to deliver was designed to warn the people to turn from their wicked ways and return to the previously established covenant relationship, lest they die.<br /><br />The message God gave Ezekiel to deliver was a critical one, however, before he was given a word to speak, God impressed upon him the importance of carrying out the assigned task. In short, He told his prophet that if anyone perished (due to their own iniquity) without him having delivered the assigned message, he would bear responsibility.<br /><br />Beloved, the reason this passage caused a chill to run down my spine is due to the realization that we have been given the same charge and bear that same responsibility. Those of us who call upon the name of Jesus are the messengers of God. We are sent to all nations to bear witness to the love of the Lord and to deliver His message (Matthew 28:19-20). We are to fill our mouths with His word and warn the stubborn, obstinate and unrighteous about the dangers associated with pursuing their current course. We are charged with nothing less than attempting to literally save the lives of the lost. Our failure to speak up and speak out condemns to death the people we refuse to warn just as if we failed to take the keys from an inebriated person attempting to get behind the wheel of a car. It is not our fault that the person is drunk, but we would bear at least some responsibility for refusing to intercede if that person tragically died or worse, caused the death of someone else. Chilling indeed.<br /><br />Let us not view our Christian lives simply as "going to Church," attending bible studies, participating in potluck dinners and fellowshipping with those of like faith. Let us instead act as fire marshals engaged in literal fire prevention and fire fighters engaged in literal rescue of those in danger of being lost in the fire.<br /><br /><i>Discipling,</i></p><p>Lee</p><div class="blogger-post-footer">May the Lord bless you and keep you, providing you with all spiritual blessings in this world and the one to come.</div>Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16691434674801483755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3802474127606600480.post-19087395673738035332020-11-20T13:28:00.000-06:002020-11-20T13:28:20.148-06:00Bottom of the Barrel Prayers<p><em>"Pray without ceasing." </em>1 Thessalonians 5:17<br /><br />One of my favorite stories in the bible can be found in Judges 10. Essentially, the people of God had a habit of adopting the traits, behaviors, beliefs and religious practices of their pagan neighbors. This is characterized by the following: <em>"And the children of Israel did evil <strong>again </strong></em>[emphasis mine]<em> in the sight of the Lord, and served Baalim, and Ashtaroth, and the gods of Syria, and the gods of Zidon, and the gods of Moab...thus they forsook the Lord and did not serve Him," </em>Judges 10:6. The result of such faithlessness was that they were turned over to the crushing and brutal hands of their enemies. Whenever this happened, they cried out to God for salvation and relief, promising to quit their wicked ways and to never be idolaters again, if only He would help them.<br /><br />On this particular occasion, God had a rather unexpected answer for them. He said, <em>"You have forsaken me and served other gods; therefore I will no longer deliver you. Go and cry out to the gods which you have chosen; let them deliver you in the time of your distress," </em>Judges 10:13-14.<br /><br />I'm reminded of this story because it is not unusual for me to receive calls from friends, acquaintances and church members, soliciting prayer. In a recent particular case, however, the call came from someone dear to me. I know this person to be a believer but also know them to be inactive in the faith and in their relationship with God. They are experiencing a season of need, uncertainty, discomfort and distress. Inevitably, a pleading to God for relief has begun and yours truly has been engaged.<br /><br />Beloved, it is always a mistake to treat God as if he is an alarm, an axe or a fire hose behind glass to be broken in case of an emergency. Our relationship with God is designed to be as that of a Father and his children. In this relationship, we are to be constantly engaged, in constant communication and in constant proximity, in spirit if not physically. When the trips, falls, bruises, other accidents or even disobediences of life occur, it is in our best interest for us to have well worn paths of access to Him from whom we seek our help. How much more readily available is that assistance when we are close than if we are distant and disconnected?<br /><br />None of this is to say that God will not rescue even the dilettante among us. <em>"The sons of Israel said to the Lord, 'We have sinned, do to us whatever seems good to You; only please deliver us this day.' So they put away the foreign gods from among them and served the Lord; <strong>and He could bear the misery of Israel no longer</strong> </em>[emphasis mine]<em>",</em> Judges 10:15-16. The encouragement herein is to not have a prayer life that consists of last minute, emergency or bottom of the barrel prayers but one that is indicative of a close, warm personal relationship with the Father. Then, you will have gained the experience to know that whatever His answer may be, it will be for the ultimate good.<br /><br /><em>Increasing in faith</em>,<br /><br />Lee</p><div class="blogger-post-footer">May the Lord bless you and keep you, providing you with all spiritual blessings in this world and the one to come.</div>Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16691434674801483755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3802474127606600480.post-74302640181394111552020-10-30T11:27:00.002-05:002020-10-30T11:27:46.766-05:00The Ancient Path<p><i>"Thus says the Lord, 'Stand by the ways and see and ask for the ancient paths,<br />Where the good way is, and walk in it; And you will find rest for your souls.'<br />But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’"</i> Jeremiah 6:16<br /><br />These days, it seems that humanity is moving at nearly the speed of light. There are technological advances announced just about every day. New developments in medicine, health, electronics, communication, transportation, business and education boggle the mind compared to what was available just 10-15 years ago. As a result, there is an increasing appetite for the newest and latest thing when it comes to just about everything we need and desire. Those who are first to the market with their offerings typically are greatly rewarded, which in turn speeds the cycle even faster.<br /><br />This can cause the older among us to say "Whoa. Slow down." We become nostalgic for the simpler times and ways of yesteryear and wonder if the world has forgotten about the things that are really important like loving God, loving your neighbor, taking care of one another, hard work and being kind. We wonder what happened to morality, common sense and just trying to be the best people we can be.<br /><br />Beloved, these are not new musings. In 626 BC, the prophet Jeremiah was called into service by God. He was charged with preaching and prophesying to the people of God regarding the dark future they were bringing upon themselves. It seems that the they were not satisfied with the tried, true and righteous, but instead ran to new and different "gods" and the pagan and idolatrous behaviors that accompanied their worship. These things were preferred by those who should have known better. For as many warnings that were delivered by many prophets, the people were more interested in the latest religions than they were in what was right and the Ancient One who had fed, freed and sustained them in the midst of all of their enemies.<br /><br />As we look around today, we might see the same things that Jeremiah saw and lamented. Like Israel, we are being warned. Like Israel, we have a choice. Like Israel, God loves us and desires the ultimate good for us. There is nothing wrong with technology, new methods and new thinking, but we must use these things for good and continue to adhere to the same unchanging message. We must not allow ourselves to be carried off by the pursuit of the new, bright and shiny things that only appear to be Light. They lead ultimately to destruction. Instead, let us follow the ancient path. We know exactly where it is and to whom it leads.<br /><br /><i>Increasing in faith,</i><br /><br />Lee<br /></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">May the Lord bless you and keep you, providing you with all spiritual blessings in this world and the one to come.</div>Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16691434674801483755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3802474127606600480.post-41002472491779656402020-10-02T07:50:00.000-05:002020-10-02T07:50:08.942-05:00The Claiming vs. the Calling<p><em>"A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among robbers, and they stripped him and beat him, and went away leaving him half dead. "And by chance a priest was going down on that road, and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. "Likewise a Levite also, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side."</em> Luke 10:30-32<br /><br />It would be a great speculative exercise to wonder where the priest and the Levite where going as they passed someone in such distress. One should have no trouble determining what a priest is. For those who do not know, however, a Levite was one whose tribe members were responsible for attending to things associated with the temple, the worship that took place there and the needs of the priests. Where could they both be going?<br /><br />Before that is further pursued, the fact that they "passed by on the other side," away from someone who had been injured is of particular note. Certainly tradition holds that this took place on a road that was frequented by robbers. Perhaps they were both concerned about their own safety and decided to give the situation a wide berth.<br /><br />Suppose they were just in a hurry. Suppose they were in a hurry because they were late. Suppose they were in a hurry because they were late for a temple worship or class. Suppose they were in a hurry because they were late for a temple worship or class where they were scheduled to discuss how to treat one's fellow man. Just suppose.<br /><br />Beloved, Christianity is not a claim, it is a calling. Particularly during today's turbulent time, it is not for show but for shouldering. It is not just for hearing but for helping. It is not just for believing but being. I wonder how often we pass up the opportunity to do good on the way to "church"...where we are told to do good.<br /><br />Faith without works is dead.<br /><br /><em>Increasing in faith,</em><br /><br />Lee</p><div class="blogger-post-footer">May the Lord bless you and keep you, providing you with all spiritual blessings in this world and the one to come.</div>Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16691434674801483755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3802474127606600480.post-41330427154912222102020-08-28T15:29:00.000-05:002020-08-28T15:29:26.263-05:00In His Image and Likeness<p><i><span face="" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">"Then God said, 'Let us</span><span class="crossreference" face="" style="background-color: white; font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-26A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)"></span><span face="" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"> make mankind</span><span class="crossreference" face="" style="background-color: white; font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-26B" title="See cross-reference B">B</a>)"></span><span face="" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"> in our image,</span><span class="crossreference" face="" style="background-color: white; font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-26C" title="See cross-reference C">C</a>)"></span><span face="" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"> in our likeness,</span><span class="crossreference" face="" style="background-color: white; font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-26D" title="See cross-reference D">D</a>)"></span><span face="" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"> so that they may rule</span><span class="crossreference" face="" style="background-color: white; font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-26E" title="See cross-reference E">E</a>)"></span><span face="" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"> over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky,</span><span class="crossreference" face="" style="background-color: white; font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-26F" title="See cross-reference F">F</a>)"></span><span face="" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"> over the livestock and all the wild animals,</span></i><span face="" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><i> and over all the creatures that move along the ground.'”</i> Genesis 1:26</span><br /><span face="" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span><span face="" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">Despite the fact that we are always searching for our origins, it is difficult for some to imagine that we are, in fact, created beings. Further, we are literally created by the hand of God.</span><br /><span face="" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span><span face="" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">Most believers understand that we are created in the image and likeness of God but do we understand what that means? The word "likeness" comes from a Hebrew word that involves our make up and content. Otherwise put, we know that God is Spirit. We also were made of Spirit. It is true that we were formed by God's own hand from the dust of the ground but our most important component is the breath that he blew into that dust (Genesis 2:7) that caused us to be living souls. In so doing, part of Him became part of us. Further, it is written in Ephesians 4:24 that we are to <i>"put on the new self created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness."</i> Is God not holy and righteous? We are not gods but we were created to consist of some of the "stuff" of God.</span><br /><span face="" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span><span face="" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">Regarding image, the Hebrew word used here speaks to the fact of our appearance. It is important to note once again that God is Spirit and cannot be confined to any boundaries or manifestations. That said, we are told throughout Scripture that we resemble Him. Though it is done as much for our ability to mentally grasp as anything else, He is always spoken of in anthropomorphic (of or having to do with humanity) terms. And of course, when he took on flesh in the person of Jesus (John 1:14), it was not as a plant, or beast, but as human. Though He spoke everything into existence, the one being created by His own hand was the human. Man and woman were formed by Him and resemble Him. Thus, the definition of the Hebrew word revealed, "resemblance; representative figure" comes into focus.</span><br /><span face="" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span><span face="" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">Beloved, as we go about our lives, it is critical that we understand from whence we come. We are nothing less than the creation of God with some of the consistency of God, made to look like God. It is similar to our own children. They have the same make up as we do and they look like us, but they are not us. However, they are ours just as we are His. And when you know who you are, what you are and from whom you come, that ought to affect your life. Amen?</span><br /><span face="" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span><span face="" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><i>Increasing in faith,</i></span><br /><span face="" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span><span face="" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">Lee</span></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">May the Lord bless you and keep you, providing you with all spiritual blessings in this world and the one to come.</div>Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16691434674801483755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3802474127606600480.post-87942025582502345602020-08-01T16:04:00.000-05:002020-08-01T16:04:25.452-05:00Which Ones?<em>"And someone came to Him and said, 'Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may obtain eternal life?' And He said to him, 'Why are you asking Me about what is good? There is only One who is good; but if you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.' The he said to Him, 'Which ones?'" </em>Matthew 19:16-17<br />
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You may recognize this passage as part of the famous exchange between Jesus and one who is referred to as the "rich young ruler." You are no doubt familiar with the fact that when given the ultimate answer to his question, that he needed to give up his earthly belongings and follow Christ, he declined and went away sad. This is most surely a cautionary tale for a variety of reasons. If we are more attached to earthly belongings, positions, social status, reputation and even relationships than we are to our Savior and the glories of heaven, we are a most sad and lost people indeed.<br />
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What caught my attention within this passage, however, was his second question. The Lord clearly tells him that he needs to obey the commandments, but he asks, "Which ones?" When you think about it, it is an astounding question. The young ruler obviously understood that eternal life was possible and he desired it. It is also evident that he understood that Jesus was, at minimum, a source of information about it. Why is it then, when given the answer, he responds in a way that seems to indicate, in his mind, that there was the opportunity to choose which of God's commands to follow in an effort to achieve his objective? Why would he not understand that they all must be followed?<br />
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Beloved, this is a problematic mindset that persists to this day. Most anyone who believes that God and heaven exist desires to make it their home. Unfortunately, most are not willing to do what is required to achieve it. Let me be careful to say that eternal life cannot be earned because it is a gift (Ephesians 2:8-9); however, certain qualifications must be met to receive the gift. One must enter into a committed relationship with the Lord which should inspire obedience and good works. Many of us willingly obey the commands that suit us and just as willingly reject those that do not. It is as if we are not willing to submit ourselves to the whole counsel of God, but instead, treat His requirements as multiple choice or optional. Further, there are religious teachings and organizations built around this very concept. They embrace and celebrate sinful words, thoughts and deeds as if there is no condemnation for them at all. In effect, then, there are those conforming the word of God to their own preferences instead of the other way around.<br />
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Jesus went on to point out six of the ten commandments, all of which had to do with how others are to be treated. The young ruler remarked that he had followed the six commands supplied for the entirety of his life. When Jesus put that to the test by telling him to sacrifice his earthly good for the benefit of his neighbors in need and to follow him, thus storing his treasure in heaven, he proved that he was not keeping the commands at all. More importantly and tragically, he valued adherence to his own earthly priorities over the simple and specific path to the heaven he said he desired.<br />
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It is my prayer that none of us are asking the Lord "which ones" of his commands must we obey. Let us not <em>"be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect,"</em> Romans 12:2.<br />
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<i>Increasing in faith,</i><br />
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Lee<div class="blogger-post-footer">May the Lord bless you and keep you, providing you with all spiritual blessings in this world and the one to come.</div>Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16691434674801483755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3802474127606600480.post-86874179448851903422020-07-17T09:02:00.001-05:002020-07-17T09:02:30.592-05:00Trusting God in the Worst of Times<i>"'And behold, a great wind came from across the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell on the young people and they died, and I alone have escaped to tell you.' Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head, and he fell to the ground and worshiped. He said, 'Naked I came from my mother’s womb, And naked I shall return there. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.' Through all this Job did not sin nor did he blame God."</i> Job 1:19-22<br />
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It is a fact of life that bad things happen. There is no way around it. Our views, thoughts and how we handle such situations; however, vary widely. When more of the story is read, it is revealed that Job lost the animals that represent his livelihood, his servants that represent his workforce, his sheep which represent his ability to feed and clothe himself, and his children. All of these things happened and were reported in rapid succession. It is difficult to imagine experiencing greater losses in worse ways than these. What is more difficult to imagine is his attitude.<br />
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When most would criticize and become angry at God, Job worshiped and praised Him. Astoundingly, he acknowledged that he was born with nothing, that God had given him all that he had and that God had the right to take it all away. Given human nature, this is the rarest of all possible responses to such calamity.<br />
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Beloved, achieving Job's attitude must be the goal of all Christians particularly in this era of COVID-19, social unrest and upheaval and economic distress. So often, we put ahead of God the blessings of employment, possessions, material goods and family that He has so graciously provided. When we become consumed by the acquisition, maintaining or loss of them, we are in effect exchanging the one true God for idols. This is not to say that we should not be great stewards of what we are given or that we should not mourn loss but that we should trust God completely and rely upon Him to keep us in and through all situations, be they favorable or not.<br />
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We know that Job would later wrestle a bit with the things that were happening when they got even worse, but he remained faithful, he kept his trust in God and was eventually restored in a way that multiplied his original position in life. It should further be stated that the reason these things happened is because God had faith in him. Can He have that kind of faith in us?<br />
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<i>Increasing in Faith,</i><br />
<br />
Lee<div class="blogger-post-footer">May the Lord bless you and keep you, providing you with all spiritual blessings in this world and the one to come.</div>Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16691434674801483755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3802474127606600480.post-52761825443165480612020-06-27T08:20:00.000-05:002020-06-27T08:20:21.798-05:00Love Indiscriminately Like God<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<i>“When God saw their deeds, that they turned from their wicked way, then God relented concerning the calamity which He had declared He would bring upon them. And He did not do it.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>But it greatly displeased Jonah and he became angry. He prayed to the Lord and said, “Please Lord, was not this what I said while I was still in my own country? Therefore, in order to forestall this, I fled to Tarshish, for I knew that You are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, and one who relents concerning calamity.” </i>Jonah 3:10–4:2<o:p></o:p></div>
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Jonah, a prophet of God, is famous for doing the exact opposite of his calling and what he was commissioned to do. God commanded him to go to Nineveh with a warning that the city and all of its inhabitants would be destroyed in 40 days. Not wanting to deliver the message, Jonah booked passage on a ship headed nearly 3000 miles in the opposite direction from where he was being sent.<o:p></o:p></div>
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To understand why the prophet would violate his calling and command, it must be known that Nineveh was the capital city of the Assyrians, who themselves were a vicious and merciless conquering empire who did unspeakable things to those whom they defeated. Originating in an area located in modern day Iraq, they are the civilization that was responsible for scattering the ten tribes that made up the northern kingdom of Israel among other things. Hebrews had no love for the foreign and heathen Assyrians. It is evident; however, that God did.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Beloved, it is important to know, understand and believe that God loves each and every human being, whether they love Him or not. John 3:16 famously bears this out. It is also important for us to know that He desires that we love Him as well as each other. The Spirit has said, <i>“For this is the message which you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another;<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>not as Cain, who was of the evil one and slew his brother. And for what reason did he slay him? Because his deeds were evil, and his brother’s were righteous,”</i> 1 Jn 3:11–12. In view of this, how can we stand idly by and see fellow creations of God murdered and discriminated against while we claim to be His children? The Spirit has also spoken a word about those who would do such: <i>“If someone says, ‘I love God,’ and hates his brother, <b>he is a liar</b>; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from Him, that the one who loves God should love his brother also,” 1 Jn 4:20–21. </i>How should we treat those whom we love? Would we turn a blind eye to their mistreatment or even participate in it if we loved them?<o:p></o:p></div>
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Jonah confesses that he did not want the Ninevites to have access to God’s mercy. It is ironic that he was so recently a recipient of that same grace, having been rescued from death in the belly of a fish due to his own sinfulness. Further, this was an object lesson for the people of God. Given the chance, the Assyrians immediately repented and mended their ways while the Hebrews, the very people of God, were persistently disobedient, idolatrous and unrepentant.<o:p></o:p></div>
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As we consider our own Christianity and what it means, let us not violate our calling and command to love all people regardless of the differences that exist between us. Let us be sure not to be liars by hating our diverse brothers and sisters, made in God’s image and likeness, through our actions or inactions. Let us not be Jonah. The time is long past that we eliminate the difference between what we claim and what we do or fail to do.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>Increasing in faith,<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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Lee<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">May the Lord bless you and keep you, providing you with all spiritual blessings in this world and the one to come.</div>Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16691434674801483755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3802474127606600480.post-55409390877395375652020-06-05T16:09:00.000-05:002020-06-05T16:09:13.432-05:00Good News and Better News<i>"So Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him." </i>Heb 9:28 (NIV)<br />
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It is difficult for any human being to look upon Jesus' suffering on the cross as good news. The gospel account is actually quite horrifying and humiliating. Nevertheless, without it, humanity would be doomed to an an irreversible destruction. It is only because of our Savior's great sacrifice that we can be reconciled to the God who made us.<br />
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The one thing that mitigates the sorrowful treatment of God's son is the fact that he took up his life again. With resurrection power, he arose and walked out of his borrowed tomb to verify the truth of his words and spread the good news of their meaning. Having completed his work on earth, he returned to the heaven from which he came and now sits on the right hand of God.<br />
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Beloved, all of this is as if a cure has been discovered for a terrible disease to which we are all subject. The goodness of the news does not reach its zenith until we are ourselves inoculated. This will take place when the same Savior who rose into the clouds comes back in those clouds and reaps the harvest of all he has planted on earth. That is when good news will get even better.<br />
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Let us be sure that we are part of that harvest. Though he will return for those who are waiting for him, remember that we must be prepared in our waiting. As the wise virgins had their lamps filled with oil, ready for the bridegroom to arrive despite not knowing the hour, we too must have our lives in order. Only then we will be able to take advantage of the best news possible: the announcement that it is time to go home.<br />
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<i>Increasing in faith,</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
Lee<div class="blogger-post-footer">May the Lord bless you and keep you, providing you with all spiritual blessings in this world and the one to come.</div>Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16691434674801483755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3802474127606600480.post-5942101865197519732020-05-23T08:03:00.000-05:002020-05-23T08:03:36.732-05:00The Power of Witness<i>"-what we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ."</i> 1 John 1:3<br />
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Against the charges of Christ merely appearing to be a man by a group called the Docetists, John offers the proof of witness to refute their falsehood. He offers, both in the Gospel of John as well as 1 John, the fact that he had heard, seen, watched attentively and touched the very Son of God and that he was not the only one to do so.<br />
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Then as now, matters are settled on the testimony of witnesses. It should be understood that there was a high threshold in official matters. Matthew 18:16 reveals that an acceptable burden of proof is established in the mouths of two or three witness. The humanity and deity of Christ was proven through the witness by God, the Holy Spirit and John the Baptist at his baptism, by Jesus himself and by the more than 500 to whom he appeared <b>after</b> his resurrection.<br />
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Beloved, today we do not have the pleasure or privilege of experiencing the physical Jesus as those did who lived 2000 years ago but we believe by faith. That faith was made possible through the mouths of those who did experience him. This should not be as foreign a concept as some would make it out to be. The same individuals who will not accept Christ because they cannot see or touch him today will accept as fact the words of witnesses in legal, legislative, news and even gossip matters. They should know that they are not the first to take this position. The apostle Thomas refused to accept the witness of his peers and brothers in the faith, declaring that he would have to see for himself. As it would happen, Jesus showed up and said to Thomas, <i>"Because you have seen Me, have you believed? Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believe”</i> John 20:29. Those same witnesses and the Lord himself have said that he will one day likewise appear to us all.<br />
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Believe.<br />
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<i>Increasing in faith,</i><br />
<br />
Lee<div class="blogger-post-footer">May the Lord bless you and keep you, providing you with all spiritual blessings in this world and the one to come.</div>Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16691434674801483755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3802474127606600480.post-34773190325150079332020-05-15T07:02:00.001-05:002020-05-15T07:02:19.347-05:00He Hears<em>"Return and say to Hezekiah the leader of My people, 'Thus says the Lord, the God of your father David, "I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears; behold, I will heal you."</em><br />2 Kings 20:4<br /><br />King Hezekiah had just received the worse news of his life. He was told by the prophet Isaiah to set his house in order because the illness from which he was suffering was about to take his life. As you might imagine, Hezekiah was beside himself and immediately went into prayer, begging that he be allowed to live.<br /><br />Many of us struggle in our prayer life. We sometimes wonder if our prayers make it beyond the ceiling. We sometimes wonder if God is home or if He cares at all. It may be that we feel this way because we don't always get what we want. Make no mistake, it is understood that some of the things we want are entirely and sometimes urgently needed. We pray out of pain, fear, concern for another, worry, <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">imminent</span> danger and other things we consider critical. We are subject to becoming despondent and shaken in our faith if we feel God does not look at things the way that we do.<br /><br />Beloved, it is our faith that should carry us through the times when it seems that God is missing in action. It is our trust in Him that should remind us that all things work together for good to them that are the called according to his purpose, even and especially when things seem that they are at their worst. We need to remember the agony suffered by God's only begotten in the garden of Gethsemane. Remember that God did not allow that cup to pass. Remember that if He had, there would be no salvation for you and I today. Remember that despite Christ's great suffering at our hands and on our behalf, he is even now at the right hand of the Father advocating for us. We can only hope that the times that God may say "no" would accomplish an end so noble and beneficial. Lastly, remember that God is <strong>never</strong> absent. He is everywhere at all times knowing all things with every ability. That said, he also has the ability to be silent.<br /><br />In Hezekiah's case, God not only heard but responded. God not only responded but He responded so immediately that Isaiah had not even managed to get out of the house before he was directed to go back and give the king the good news. Let us also not forget the times when we have prayed and received an immediate response. Many of us cite those times as proof of His existence in our own minds. Whatever it is that you think, understand that His ways are as high above ours as the heavens are above the earth. You may or may not receive an immediate or affirmative answer to your prayers. Regardless, have faith that God knows exactly what He is doing and He hears and responds in one way or another to all of our prayers.<br /><br /><em>Increasing in faith,</em><br /><em></em><br />Lee<div class="blogger-post-footer">May the Lord bless you and keep you, providing you with all spiritual blessings in this world and the one to come.</div>Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16691434674801483755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3802474127606600480.post-89767233650645450832020-05-01T11:00:00.000-05:002020-05-01T11:00:59.480-05:00Sharing Your Little<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">“There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two </span><span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NASB-26267A" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NASB-26267A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span></i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><i>fish, but what are these for so many people?”</i> John 6:9</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">There is a very famous passage of </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">Scripture in which Jesus feeds more than 5000 people. To be sure, much has been written and preached about this event, and rightly so. There are lessons about Jesus' love, compassion and deity. There are lessons about his apostles' lack of understanding and faith. There are even lessons about a crowd who largely missed the significance and point of the whole exercise. Little is said, however, about a young boy and his lunch.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">Consider the fact that though virtually nothing is known about him, it can be surmised that he was relatively poor due to the contents of his meal but that he was prepared because he had it. Though we do not know what his day or life consisted of, he showed up with food among thousands who either had none at all or an amount insufficient for their needs.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">Consider also that he was wiling to share. We know nothing about how the actual exchange took place, but it can be said with a high degree of confidence that Jesus would not take a child's lunch from him by force. We can therefore surmise that the young man was willing to not just share, but to give all he had.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">Finally, it was with this boy's lunch that Jesus indeed and in fact, fed the multitude. Further, not only where the people filled but there was an abundance that was leftover. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">Beloved, as believers, we have confidence that the Lord can do all things. We believe that miracles are available and do happen through the power of God. We also believe that God is fully capable of performing these things with zero assistance from us. That said, Jesus chose to work in partnership with the youngster. He took what the boy was willing to share and miraculously multiplied it for the benefit of many. It is important that we not miss this very important lesson because too often, we feel as if our little is not enough. We often feel impotent in the face of so many needs and so much pain in the world. At times we feel this so strongly that we fail to offer the resources, knowledge, skills and abilities we do have, shrug our shoulders and walk away. Suppose a little boy with his lunch box refused to open it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">Let us be mindful that Jesus never asked us to save the universe. What he asks of us is that we love others as he has loved us, that we treat others the way we would like to be treated, that with humility, we esteem others more than ourselves and that we lead lives that produce fruit. Our circle of acquaintances and those with whom we come into contact is limited, but the power of Christ is not. Let us bring our little and let Jesus do great things with it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: helvetica neue, verdana, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><i>Increasing in faith,</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">Lee</span></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">May the Lord bless you and keep you, providing you with all spiritual blessings in this world and the one to come.</div>Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16691434674801483755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3802474127606600480.post-79369871998128223752020-04-25T08:11:00.000-05:002020-05-01T10:39:16.314-05:00Thou Art With Me<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><i>"Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me." </i>Psalm 23:4</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">The 23rd Psalm is one of the most beloved, recognized and memorized passage of Scripture in all of the Bible. It is the "go to" resource in times of fear, sorrow, grief and pain when strength and reassurance are needed. It is also a source of great encouragement and a reminder of the provision, protection and great love of God toward his own.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">As we endure the COVID-19 induced crisis, we find ourselves in the midst of the worst human and economic tragedy of our lifetime. People are dying, losing loved ones, and losing jobs, homes and hope. It is at times like these that the 23rd Psalm breaks through like the rotating beam of a cliff top lighthouse in the midst of a tempestuous storm, verse 4 in particular.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">I marvel at the power and depth of the verse. Essentially it supplies that we can be fearless in the darkest of circumstances (as dark as death itself), due to the presence, care and leadership of God. To get the full impact of what is being expressed, it is important to know that God is our personal Shepherd whose function is to care for his sheep. He does so by personally guiding us to places of rest, sustenance and refreshment. It is also important to know that the path on which he leads us is one of righteousness. It is while following that Shepherd on that path that we can find ourselves in "the valley of the shadow of death." That tells us that 1) the path of righteousness can go through some very dark places, but it is no less the path of righteousness and 2) that no matter how dark the times or places, the Shepherd has not abandoned us but goes ahead of us, protecting us and charting our course to light. If a third consideration were to be added, it would be that as long as we stay on the path and keep the Shepherd in front of us, there is no cause for fear at all.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">Beloved, having recently done an in depth study of this passage, it has become one of the most significant in my life. I have always known that it was there but I now have a fuller understanding of what it means, particularly in dark times like these. It is my prayer that you would take another look and reconsider what the Spirit of God is revealing to you.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">May we all find confidence, comfort and peace in the presence, protection and provision of our Lord.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><i>Increasing in faith,</i></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">Lee</span></span><div class="blogger-post-footer">May the Lord bless you and keep you, providing you with all spiritual blessings in this world and the one to come.</div>Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16691434674801483755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3802474127606600480.post-29376812511468605492020-04-17T17:16:00.002-05:002020-04-17T17:16:47.771-05:00Who is Your God?<em>“Men of Athens, I observe that you are very religious in all respects. For while I was passing through and examining the objects of your worship, I also found an altar with this inscription, ‘TO AN UNKNOWN GOD.’ Therefore what you worship in ignorance, this I proclaim to you."</em> Acts 17:22-23<br />
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The apostle Paul found himself in Athens, Greece, the one time center of the civilized world and the home of things such as democracy, the world's prevalent language and perhaps most importantly, philosophy (which literally means "love of wisdom"). It was a popular thing for intellectuals and "wanna be" intellectuals to sit around thinking about and discussing many things, such as existence, logic, aesthetics, morality and religion. As was his custom, Paul began to share the way of God with all who listened. The people were inclined to hear because they were always interested in being exposed to something new as if they wanted to be on the leading edge of the newest fad philosophy. Some believed and some did not.<br />
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Beloved, humanity has changed little. Everyone still has an opinion about everything and it is not difficult to attract followers to just about anything. There is no credible way to accurately quantify the number of religions practiced on the planet. Suffice it to say, most everyone is looking to believe in something higher than themselves that will eventually answer all of our questions. For this dilemma, Paul offers the one true living God.<br />
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Even in Christ, we must ask ourselves what we truly believe. It is true that we may claim Christianity and even attend worship in a church building, but who do we truly serve? Is it our possessions? Our relationships? Our vocations? Our habits? If you are unsure, examine where you spend most of your time and resources. This may very well be a strong indicator.<br />
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Surely God wants us all to have life, and that more abundantly. But let us always remember who provides that life. Let us remember that, <em>"The God who made the world and all things in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands; nor is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all people life and breath and all things; and He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation," </em>Acts 17:24-26.<br />
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<em>Increasing in faith,</em><br />
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Lee<div class="blogger-post-footer">May the Lord bless you and keep you, providing you with all spiritual blessings in this world and the one to come.</div>Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16691434674801483755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3802474127606600480.post-24224514535172578662020-04-10T11:23:00.000-05:002020-04-10T11:23:07.439-05:00Which One Was My Candle? A Good Friday Remembrance<i>"And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice saying, 'Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?' that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?"</i> Matthew 27:46<br />
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Beloved, despite its sad origin, happy Good Friday! I'd like to share with you an experience I had several years ago on this date that still resonates today. I suspect we do not meditate on the importance of Good Friday very much these days as we go about our busy lives, but it is my hope that sharing this experience will cause us to reflect, even for a moment, on one of the most important days in all Christendom.<br />
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I'd like to share with you one of the most moving experiences of my life. Interestingly enough, it happened quite unexpectedly and even at this writing, some 12 hours later, I'm still a bit numb.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Last night, our youth minister, Chris Hughes, and several of the congregation's young people put together a Good Friday Service. Truth be told, I had never heard of such a thing. But Chris is kind of a spunky guy who has a great love for the Lord and is always wanting to try something new (you know how youth ministers are).</span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The service began with each person being required to light a candle in the foyer before entering the sanctuary. Once inside, Chris informed those who had gathered about what the service would consist of in pretty specific detail. He warned that it would be a heavy service and that it was not designed to bring joy, but to put us in the place of a disciple during the time of the trial, scourging and crucifixion. The service was to be lit primarily by <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">candle</span>, leaving participants mostly in the dark. I made note that he said that at the conclusion of the service, anyone who had the need or desire to stay could have all the time they needed. Little did I know that I would be the last to leave his seat.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Billed as a multi-sensory experience, the service began with a video montage, consisting primarily of clips from the film, "The Passion." If you've ever seen the movie, you know how much it can move you around emotionally. It started right there for me. It went downhill from there.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">A chorus made up of the youth, Chris and the Horn family sang a beautiful song that seemed to both frame and echo the emotional content of the video's last scene; Mary was holding the battered and bleeding corpse of her dead son as the wind whipped her hair and tears cascaded down her face.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">There then came a very well done dramatic presentation written by Megan Schwartz that represented the anger, despondency and confusion felt by Christ's apostles immediately after his death. By this point, I was, as the saying goes, all in. I was no longer aware of sitting in the third pew in a business suit, fulfilling my obligation to the members of our congregation by being present to support Chris and his efforts. I was there. 2000 years ago. I was there. It was happening to me. It was as if I had just witnessed the crucifixion of God's son whom I personally knew and had followed for years. It is difficult to explain...and it got worse.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The next portion of the service involved a reading of the account of Christ's ordeal from his arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane to the time he hung his head and died. Chris and the kids took turns reading the account. Of course these are passages that we've read dozens or even hundreds of times. I was struck, despite my familiarity with the words, by how they hung in the air, rang in my ears and drilled down to my soul. The words seemed to have come to literal life. Even this was tremendously amplified by the fact that at every juncture in the scripture that an injustice was done or a betrayal committed, a candle on stage was blown out. It was painful to watch and I must admit that my eyes were either closed or looking at my hands the majority of the time. Hearing those words, picturing those images, feeling the weight of what Jesus went through and why, examining my own life and it's place in the scheme of why such a sacrifice was necessary, and watching Samantha <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Hearn</span> step forward and blow those candles out at juncture after juncture was more than I could stand.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I wondered which candle would have been mine.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">By the time the next to last candle had been blown out, I was barely coherent. Chris had earlier explained that when the last candle was blown out, the candle representing Jesus' life, the service would be over. After hearing the words of the soldier's spear piercing Jesus' side, only to find him already dead reverently and somberly read, Samantha approached the last light in the room, which poetically and ironically enough was placed on the altar, and disappeared with it behind the table. For a moment there was a glow that cast shadows...</span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">...and then it was gone.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The sanctuary had fallen into the darkness reminiscent of the darkness that fell on that day 2000 years ago at <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Golgotha</span> between noon and three.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Chris' voice intoned, "As you leave, note that the only light left is that from the candles you lit in the foyer before you came in. The only light left is the light in you."</span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I don't know how long I sat there.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I don't know how long I sat there suffering under the weight of it all. There were so many thoughts running through my head. There were so many emotions running through my soul. There was an overwhelming sense of sadness, grief, blame and responsibility. It felt as though I had just experienced a very real personal tragedy. I had. I sobbed uncontrollably. There is one thing I know for sure however; I wanted to go and get that candle back more than I've wanted to do anything in a very long time. But I knew I couldn't. No one could. Not even God would.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">When I was able to gather myself (somewhat), I found Chris, grabbed him, held him and thanked him with every word I could muster, which admittedly were very few. I told him how I wanted to go and get that candle and it was about there that I lost it again. He assured me that it would be better Sunday. Knowing he was right, I reluctantly released him, turned, walked past a singing Christiana Horn, left the sanctuary, grabbed my daughter <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Torri</span> and walked out of the building. I can only hope that the many members who all seemed to be lingering in the foyer didn't think me rude for not staying and chatting. For the first time in a long time, the preacher didn't have the words.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span><i>Increasing in faith,</i><br />
<i><br /></i>Lee<div class="blogger-post-footer">May the Lord bless you and keep you, providing you with all spiritual blessings in this world and the one to come.</div>Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16691434674801483755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3802474127606600480.post-6890254999102283402020-03-20T19:41:00.000-05:002020-03-20T19:41:47.233-05:00Be Encouraged<em>"In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ;"</em> 1 Pet 1:6-7<br />
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There is not one among us who does not at one time or the other experience problems, difficulties, tragedies and loss. Issues come up in personal relationships, work situations, neighborhood interactions, finances and even misunderstandings among those with whom we worship. Speaking of worship, there may even be times that we are subjected to persecution because of our beliefs. None of us should be shocked by this. In fact this situations should actually encourage us and give us cause to rejoice.<br />
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Beloved, as Christians, we are called upon to be a different type of person with different beliefs, hopes, dreams, perspectives and certainly different responses to trials and difficulties. Our savior has taught us by his word and his example that life and reality are bigger than our current circumstances. There is an entire eternity before us against which many of the things we endure today diminish into triviality. We are sons and daughters of the living God! That must mean something to us and by extension, those who come into contact with us. We must look at these events, situations and circumstances as simply faith builders (our faith being more precious than pure and refined gold). Think about it this way: there is not a single situation out of which God has not delivered you or is not currently in the process of doing so. Not one. When he delivers us, our faith that he will do so the next time and the time after that and the time after that grows. We will eventually come to rely on him completely and begin to accept trials with joy, knowing that God has us now as He always has.<br />
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There is one more thing that helps us grow into this mindset and this truth: <em>"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who <sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NASB-30378B" title="See cross-reference B">B</a>)"></sup>according to His great mercy <sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NASB-30378C" title="See cross-reference C">C</a>)"></sup>has caused us to be <strong>born again</strong> to <sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NASB-30378D" title="See cross-reference D">D</a>)"></sup>a <strong>living hope</strong> through the <sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NASB-30378E" title="See cross-reference E">E</a>)"></sup>resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, <span class="text 1Pet-1-4" id="en-NASB-30379"><sup class="versenum"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></sup>to obtain an <sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NASB-30379F" title="See cross-reference F">F</a>)"></sup><strong>inheritance</strong> which is imperishable and undefiled and <sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NASB-30379G" title="See cross-reference G">G</a>)"></sup>will not fade away, <sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NASB-30379H" title="See cross-reference H">H</a>)"></sup><strong>reserved in heaven for you</strong>,</span> </em><span class="text 1Pet-1-5" id="en-NASB-30380"><em>who are <sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NASB-30380I" title="See cross-reference I">I</a>)"></sup><strong>protected</strong> by the power of God <sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NASB-30380J" title="See cross-reference J">J</a>)"></sup><strong>through faith</strong> for <sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NASB-30380K" title="See cross-reference K">K</a>)"></sup>a <strong>salvation </strong>ready <sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NASB-30380L" title="See cross-reference L">L</a>)"></sup>to be revealed in the last time" </em>1 Pet 1:3-5 (emphasis mine). We have every reason to be encouraged, even in the midst of the worse life has to offer.</span><br />
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<span class="text 1Pet-1-5"><em>Increasing in faith,</em></span><br />
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<span class="text 1Pet-1-5">Lee</span><div class="blogger-post-footer">May the Lord bless you and keep you, providing you with all spiritual blessings in this world and the one to come.</div>Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16691434674801483755noreply@blogger.com0