Limited Perspective

But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the LORD does not see as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart. I Samuel 16:7 (New King James Version)

God’s words to Samuel, as he considered the next king for Israel, became instructional for me as I do some soul searching and truth seeking. Which of us have not been guilty of drawing false conclusions based upon that which we can see with our physical eyes? Which of us have not experienced being on the receiving end of such conclusions? There are times when our conclusions fall in favor of another person and times when they go against them. The problem is, one can be just as false as the other.

For decades people drew the conclusion that I was a strong Christian and right with God based solely upon the fact that I carried the “right” Bible, listened to the “right” music, attended the “right” church, spoke the “right” words, fellowshipped with the “right” Christians, and did the “right” things. Their criteria for spirituality was faulty. All those “right” things were easily done without having an intimate walk with God. It was not that I didn’t want it, it was that I just didn’t have it. I somehow felt if I could just keep doing the “right” things it would eventually result in closeness to God. I had the religion of Christianity down pat. Even knew Jesus as my Savior. But I faltered in my daily relationship and connection with God.

Several years ago that all changed and so did people’s conclusions. When I dared to step out of the acceptable “box” I had willingly lived in for so many years I was then labeled as backslidden, rebellious, and a liberal. The part that crushed me and can still so easily bring me to tears was that at neither point could these individuals see my heart. God is tenderly teaching me THAT is the reason I must not seek the approval and acceptance of people. God, and God alone, knows my heart, sees every detail of my life, and has witnessed every experience I have been through. Some know me better than others but NO one knows me like God knows me. Like myself, they are limited and must operate by their five senses. Unless God gifts them with true discernment they most likely will conclude the wrong thing. We all will!

I need to see and be reminded often that the One who knows me best and loves me most is the One whose opinion and favor I must seek. His is the only one that really matters.

Father, whenever I have wrestled with painful issues You have been gracious to settle my heart and mind. May I daily acknowledge my own limited perspectives and that of others. I bow to You as the only qualified and righteous Judge. Amen.

Came to My Rescue - Hillsong
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yAMbEPZfWCY

Getting into God's Word and letting God's Word get into me one truth at a time.

When Tempted to Remain Silent

When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, “Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.” John 8:10,11 (New King James Version)

Jesus was confronted with an issue that was meant to entrap Him. A woman caught in the act of adultery was brought to Him with the intent of having her stoned (the penalty for committing adultery). What started out as a tense moment with an angry mob quickly became an audience of two. The one who was without sin could throw the first stone was an invitation no one was able to receive. The sinfulness of their own hearts was exposed, the stones were dropped, and the crowd was disbanded. The only One who was sinless and could rightly throw a stone simply engaged this woman in conversation rather than bring about her death. The conversation began with a question and ended with confrontation in love.

Today, the world would say to label something as sin means you are judging the person and judging them with condemnation and hypocrisy. They are quick to quote Scripture saying, “Judge not!” But Jesus sets the standard with balance. First, He didn’t put the woman to death. Second, He didn’t condemn her as a person. Third, He expressed the truth that her actions were sinful and she was to not continue in them. He knew that real freedom and the ability to move forward in her life would come only as she abandoned her immoral lifestyle. He knew how to confront this woman in love. We are not told the end of her story but my belief is that she left that day a changed woman with a changed life!

So where does this leave us when it comes to facing people who have made sinful choices? First, we must see the sinfulness of our own life. We may or may not have committed the same sin but we have sinned. Second, we must see the person as beside us rather than beneath us. Hating the sin but loving the sinner is impossible if we view the person as disgusting, repulsive, or one to be avoided. While their actions certainly affect them, they do not define them. Third, reach out to them in love, affirmation, and acceptance. Not acceptance of what they have done but rather acceptance of who they are. Forth, let them know the necessity of abandoning their sin. To leave them with the idea that things do not have to change is not only unloving but unbiblical as well. May God give us the grace, wisdom, and knowledge to approach others in the way Jesus so beautifully demonstrated.

Father, when I am tempted to think less of others because of their sin, stop me with the realization of my own. When I am tempted to remain silent on the issue of sin, help me to open my mouth and say what has to be said out of love and in love. I want to be like You! Amen.

Mary's Alabaster Box - CeCe Winans
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=65S3GyA5E3o

Getting into God's Word and letting God's Word get into me one truth at a time.

Being Aware of His Presence

When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he thought, "Surely the LORD is in this place, and I was not aware of it." Genesis 28:16 (New International Version)

Her words struck me. While listing for me all the pressures of life that were mounting up for her….online college courses, young children, settling into a new home, wading through marriage issues, etc… she admitted to having relegated God to the “back burner”. She was over whelmed with much of what had to be done and felt that if she could just get organized enough she could resume the walk with Him that she had a one time. The conversation ended before I could ask what the “back burner” meant to her, but I imagine it may have had to do with Bible study, prayer life, and such. Those activities which center around spending time with God and focusing on Him.

Ever feel like that? Maybe at one time spending time with God was higher up on the list of things to do. Maybe the thought of the energy it would take to get back to that point is daunting in itself. Someone once said that “God is not to be our top priority…He is to be our life.” We miss that if we view our time with Him as merely a certain part of each day. Like Jacob, we need to wake up and become aware of His presence in the very place we are standing. Not just the physical place we are standing, but where we are in life. Every task, every responsibility, every relationship, every conversation, every moment of the day and night we can proclaim with confidence, “Surely the LORD is in this place.” He is never on the “back burner” so to speak. The problem is that when it comes to His presence, like Jacob, we are not always aware of it. He is with us even when we don’t know it, recognize it, or acknowledge it. What a difference it makes when we wake up to that truth!

So how do we live with a consistent realization of God’s presence in our life…in the place we are at? Talk to Him throughout the day. Don’t think of prayer as being relegated to just a particular time set aside but rather as a continual conversation with God where you talk and listen. When life gets hectic, thank Him for being there with you. Verbally invite Him into each aspect of your day. See Him as not only present but involved in your life. Take time to read His Word…even if it is simply a verse or two…and then think on what you read throughout the day. Have Christian music playing while you are in the car or cleaning the house. Visualize God right along side you during every task you are called upon to perform. One person even suggested that at the top of each hour, stop whatever you are doing and say, “Abba, Father, I am Yours!” It will be the start of experiencing God at the forefront of your life rather than the proverbial “back burner.”

Father, I welcome You into my day just as You have welcomed me into Yours. May my awareness of You grow with each fresh realization of Your presence. Amen.

Surely the Presence of the Lord is in This Place - Don Marsh Singers
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tP1kYuOLYqg

Getting into God's Word and letting God's Word get into me one truth at a time.

It is Not Left Up to Me

And I am convinced and sure of this very thing, that He Who began a good work in you will continue until the day of Jesus Christ [right up to the time of His return], developing [that good work] and perfecting and bringing it to full completion in you. Philippians 1:6 (Amplified Bible)

Have you ever stopped to ponder God’s consistent and purposeful involvement in your life? In particular, the growth and development of your Christian life? If you are like me, you can become weighed down with the responsibility of striving, obeying, cooperating, and serving to the point that you draw the false conclusion that it ALL rests on YOUR shoulders. You might even be tempted to view God as One who simply sits back and watches how you are doing. While you know His Spirit lives in you to empower you and instruct you, and His Word gives you knowledge and wisdom for the journey, you still come away with a feeling that it is ALL up to you. The only thing you are “convinced” of is that you must keep up the pace and eventually there will be the pay off of growth.

Through the inspiration of God, Paul is coming along side us this morning to whisper essential truths to us. Primarily, the truth of God beginning the work, doing the work, and perfecting the work He started in each one of us. Recall the words of Isaiah the prophet who said in Isaiah 64:8, “ Yet, O LORD, you are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter, we are all the work of you hand.” Make David’s words of Psalm 57:2 your prayer, “I will cry to God Most High, Who performs on my behalf and rewards me [Who brings to pass His purposes for me and surely completes them]. Review the words of Psalm 138:8, “The LORD will accomplish what concerns me; Your loving kindness, O LORD, is everlasting; Do not forsake the works of Your hands.” Hence, God’s assurance in Hebrews 13:5, “I will never leave you or forsake you.”

So what is it God is reminding each one of us this morning? He is the One doing the work in us! Yes, we are to cooperate. Yes, we are to obey. Yes, we are to daily connect with Him. My own journey has included reading a multitude of books, devouring Scripture, thriving under rich relationships, sitting under sound teaching, embracing incredible music, and replacing a lot of lies with the truth. But He is the one doing the changing and producing the growth. And He is the one doing so in you as well. Dance in the midst of it all! Delight in the awareness of being held in His hands as He accomplishes His masterpiece which is you! He is not only completely capable of such a thing, He is joyfully doing it!

Father, I am not on my own and You are not a distant observer. With a heart of joy I review the many ways You have worked in my life so far and anticipate all that You will accomplish in the days and years ahead. Amen.

By Your Side - Tenth Avenue North
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J95rAr0gOFU

Getting into God's Word and letting God's Word get into me one truth at a time.

Signs of Life

He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in its season and its leaf does not wither; and in whatever he does, he prospers. Psalm 1:3 (New American Standard Bible)

There are many conditional promises in the Word of God. Today’s verse is one of them. There are times when I seek solitude in a beautiful cemetery in our city of Indianapolis called Crown Hill. It is massive with rolling hills and numerous trees. At moments when everything in me seems like it has died, I find this place of burial so similar to how I feel on the inside. I go in hopes that God would once again resurrect in me hope and healing for the journey.

One visit to Crown Hill comes to my mind this morning. As the tears flowed I heard God say to my heart, “Speak to Me. Tell Me what you are thinking and feeling.” When the tears ceased and the lump in my throat diminished I spotted a large tree with absolutely no leaves on it. I felt like that tree; bare, vulnerable, and exposed. I looked around at some other trees. Pine trees that were still green. Large oaks and maples that displayed beautiful fall colors. But the bare tree was my mirror and Psalm 1:3 seemed far removed from my experience.

God quickly assured me the bare tree still had life sap flowing through it. The potential for foliage next spring was still there. Its outward appearance was not the total picture. One woman said it so clearly, “Like a bare tree you may be in the winter of life right now. But God is still working. The sap is still running even when we don’t see it and there is nothing on the limbs.” What I see and feel cannot be my measuring stick for reality. My view and emotions are often skewed and limited. My faith must be in a God who sees clearly and completely the entire sphere of my life.

And yet there are conditions for baring fruit and leaves. The previous verse states those conditions when it says, “His delight is in the law of the LORD and in His law he meditates day and night.” Whom I delight in and what I meditate on will make all the difference in the world. It made a difference in the way I left the cemetery and will continue to make a difference in how I live each day.

I have not been to Crown Hill for quite some time now and yet the lessons learned from that former visit is speaking to me once again this morning. God is still working. The “sap” is still running. Potential for growth and change lies within me by His grace.

Father, I no longer fear the times of sadness that come over me. They have become Your invitation for me to meet with You. Be my delight and meditation today. Amen.

You Never Let Go - Matt Redman
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SIAdgLR1ZGw&feature=related

Getting into God's Word and letting God's Word get into me one truth at a time.

Learning Where to Stand

And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power; that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. I Corinthians 2:4,5 (King James Version)

I get excited when I come across people who have a dynamic and intimate walk with God. I see characteristics in them that I want in my own life and before I know it I am in a struggle to keep my eyes fixed on Jesus…the author and finisher of my faith. They suddenly take center stage in my thinking and have much of my attention. I hang on their every word, read any book they have suggested, follow their advice, and rub shoulders with them as often as I can. The problem with that is my Christian life becomes too entangled and tied to a person. Without meaning to I begin to look to them for answers, direction, and growth. While my goal may be to get to know God better, I end up going about it the wrong way. In the end, God has to expose my idolatry and take me through a painful time of correction, repentance, and restoration.

Paul had such a desire for believers to base their faith on God’s wisdom and work. He sought to point people to God as their source for faith and growth through his life, words, actions, and message. For someone to become enamored with him instead of with God would have been tragic in his eyes as well as in God‘s eyes. That is why he often referred to himself as a vessel, a servant, a prisoner, and a messenger.

How I must take Paul’s words to heart each day. For if I do not guard my heart I will find myself once again in the throws of following the creature more than the Creator. Beth Moore’s words are a wake up call to me when she says, “People crave a human worth worshiping.” Ouch! That craving has side tracked and side swiped me more times than I care to admit. It is one of the hugest battles I fight on a daily basis.

So where is my hope and answer? In God! As He has shown me this aspect of myself, He has also presented Himself as my Healer. He redirects my steps, adjusts my focus, and woos me back to Himself. He is faithful in contrast to my unfaithfulness. He sees my desire for change and will continue to bring about that change.

Father, keep showing me what hinders me from abandoning myself to You and abiding in You. Help me to worship You alone. Amen.

In Christ Alone - Brian Littrell
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Alm6YWm-zfc&feature=related

Getting into God's Word and letting God's Word get into me one truth at a time.

Not Setting Myself Up

All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any. 1 Corinthians 6:12 (New King James Version)

Paul knew there were many things he was allowed to do and yet if doing those things led to addiction or bondage he avoided them. Unless things are spelled out specifically in Scripture and begin with the phrase, “Thou shalt not” each of us must individually determine what to steer clear of….what to avoid. Sometimes, many times, the knowing of those things is brought about after experiencing the pull.

This truth is easy for me to grasp when it comes to an area such as food. Certain foods are trigger foods for me. To partake means an over whelming urge to over indulge. They are not the foods I can eat in moderation therefore they really should be avoided. This is cut and dry for me. It is a black and white area. I have no question as to whether or not I should make other choices. I know my limits. I know the consequence if I don’t apply this principle. My track record speaks for itself.

This morning, I am applying this truth to another area of my life. Unlike food, this is not a physical aspect but rather an emotional one. I am aware of certain things that will trigger negative emotions in me. Presently, I do not do well when those emotions are triggered so it is necessary for me to see what things should be avoided so that I am not “brought under the power” of a downward spiral.

I look back over the past week, one that has been filled with battles in my mind, and I see certain things I could have chosen NOT to do….certain things I could have not said, certain emails I could have not sent, certain expectations I could have not entertained. With each one a negative emotion resulted. I paid the price as did those who crossed my path. God and I will be walking through those instances in a time of acknowledgement, confession, and receiving of forgiveness. It will allow me the fresh start I need as I head into a new day.

I look forward to the day when the things I avoid now can once again be enjoyed. When my walk becomes such that a trigger is handled in the right way. For now, I would rather not set myself up for a battle.

Father, bring me to the place whereby I operate out of faith and confidence rather than out of dread and fear. Amen.

A Different Road - Kathy Troccoli
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-P2awWTLmGU

Getting into God's Word and letting God's Word get into me one truth at a time.