Sunday, December 4, 2016

Walking as Children of the Light

Really felt like a reminder was needed today.

With the Lord’s authority I say this: Live no longer as the Gentiles do, for they are hopelessly confused. Their minds are full of darkness; they wander far from the life God gives because they have closed their minds and hardened their hearts against him. They have no sense of shame. They live for lustful pleasure and eagerly practice every kind of impurity. But that isn’t what you learned about Christ. Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy. So stop telling lies. Let us tell our neighbors the truth, for we are all parts of the same body. And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, for anger gives a foothold to the devil. If you are a thief, quit stealing. Instead, use your hands for good hard work, and then give generously to others in need. Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them. And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.
Ephesians 4:17‭-‬32 NLT

Sunday, November 27, 2016

Location location location, or not

So for several nights I have woken up with John 4:20 in my head. I finally remembered to look it up while I was awake enough to actually read it.  As I read it and the following couple of verses it was very apparent that Jesus was making a point about worship. With Him the system of worship was about to change and change drastically. He was making a statement about worship being more about how than where. The established system of going to the temple to have a priest intervene on your behalfwas coming to an end.  The curtain that only the priests could go behind was going to get ripped open, in fact later in the new testament we are given a new position we are called "A Royal Priesthood ". Our system of church in some instances has reverted back to reliance on our relationship with God to have to go through a priest or a pastor, that was not God’s intent, never was was. He wants us to be able to come to Him directly our only Mediator being Jesus. He wants us to worship in spirit and in truth, and the location doesn't matter, your denomination doesn't matter. What matters is your passion and pursuit of a relationship with Abba, through Jesus and guided by Holy Spirit. It should become such a part of our identity that we can have open dialogue with Him no matter where we are or what we are doing.

John 4:20‭-‬24 NLT
So tell me, why is it that you Jews insist that Jerusalem is the only place of worship, while we Samaritans claim it is here at Mount Gerizim, where our ancestors worshiped?” Jesus replied, “Believe me, dear woman, the time is coming when it will no longer matter whether you worship the Father on this mountain or in Jerusalem.  You Samaritans know very little about the one you worship, while we Jews know all about him, for salvation comes through the Jews.  But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way.  For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.”

Wednesday, August 10, 2016

Mountain tops

Amos 4:13 For behold, He who forms mountains, And creates the wind, Who declares to man what his thought is, And makes the morning darkness, Who treads the high places of the earth—The Lord God of hosts is His name.

When I was in Bible College there was a  lot of talk at one time about striving for the mountain top, like the mountain top was the goal.  Abba brought me into a vision we went from a lush green valley, through the hillsides and meadows and then to the top of a high mountain. Sitting down He said look around you what do you see? There was dirt, rocks, ice and a little snow, but no life. He then had me stand and lookout and the view was incredible, you could see for miles in any direction. He then explained to me that the mountain top is a temporary destination not the end goal. You work to get to the top it is a good place to rest, regain perspective and get the vision for the next part of your journey.  But ultimately we are called to live where the life is not just where you have a nice view of it. You the snow and ice that accumulate on the mountain top eventually melt and run off down the hillsides and into the valleys the overflow brings life.  So when you are in the valley or on the hillsides seek life .

Sunday, April 24, 2016

Complacency

It has been a while  (about 2 years) since I've seriously written anything or posted on my blog. It wasn't due to lack of want to honestly couldn't put my finger on any one particular thing that kept me from it. But the one word that comes to mind is complacency.  Over the last few weeks a friend of mine has been used by Holy Spirit to nudge me. Apparently the nudging worked. 

I think many times when we hear the word complacent or complacency, especially in Chritiandom, we assume that someone has "backslid", or has walked away from God. But in reality it can set in even while you are in the midst of opportunities to minister to others, even if you have a semi regular time of prayer and worship.

For me sometimes it starts by falling out of my rhythm. For one reason or another  (travel, vacation, work, busyness) we get to where we start to lose traction, become easily distracted or lose motivation.  It's kind of like when you you haven't been to the gym in a long time and you know it's going to hurt for the first couple of weeks and you really have to push yourself to fully engage. In Revelation 3 it says:

“I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot.  So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.  I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.  Revelation 3:15-16

To me being complacent in my walk with Abba, means I am no better than vomit that needs to be spewed. And when I start making my way back to the hot side, the enemy loves to remind me of that, this is why you need to be extremely careful of your self talk. The enemy loves to remind you of those negative things you say about yourself and tries to distract us from the voice of Abba, Himself saying "come to Me, My child I have been waiting for you." We need to deny the voice speaking lies and lean into the Voice that is drawing us in love. We need to remember that we have been given resurrection power through Holy Spirit and that power doesn't bring us back from death but also from a complacent life. It's like you don't need to have   full ressutation, but some oxygen and an inhaler that can open things up and get the flow going like its supposed to.