This Thing I Do

I was talking to my good friend, MHR, about this blog.

She’s the first person I’ve shown it to and I was nervous.

Would she like it?

Would she think it’s too cheesy?

Is it offensive?

Is it total garbage?

I was relieved to learn she likes it and plans to keep reading it!

She had a lot of good things to say. Encouraging things.

Her good words have inspired me to try harder. To write more.

She even inspired me to finish the books I’m writing.

Yes, I am going to finish them. Every. Single. One. Of. Them. And write others, too! (Thanks for the encouragement MHR!)

I’m very thankful she was so encouraging to me and appreciate her friendship so much.

Her support makes it easier for me to keep doing this blog.

I do it for 2 reasons:

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Category: Family, Life, Obedience | LEAVE A COMMENT

Saul of Tarsus

Saul was a Jewish man who lived during the early days of the Christian church.

He was a scholar who spent a lot of time studying Jewish religious law. He was very zealous for the Jewish traditions and learned more about the laws than the other men his age.

Saul hated Christians and spent a lot of time persecuting them.  He was present at the time of the stoning of the apostle Stephen, witnessing it and giving his approval of it.

That same day a great religious persecution broke out and Saul went house to house dragging out Christians and throwing them in prison.

He really believed he was doing the right thing and that by destroying Christianity he could protect the Jewish traditions he so dearly loved.

He did so many other violent acts towards Christians on a regular basis that his reputation was known far and wide.

The last time he tried it, he went to the high priest and asked for paperwork to take to the synagogues (Jewish houses of worship) in Damascus. He wanted to gather up any Christians there and take them back to the prison in Jerusalem.

As he neared Damascus a bright light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground.

A voice said, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”

Saul asked who it was.

“I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. Now get up and go into the city, and I will tell you what you must do.”

Saul got up and immediately realized he was blind.

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Category: Galatians, New Testament, People in the Bible, Scripture Study | LEAVE A COMMENT

Galatians 1:10

In the book of Galatians, the apostle Paul is talking to the believers in the churches of Galatia.

The teachers there were teaching things contrary to the gospel. Paul wrote them to try to correct some of the errors they were learning and practicing.

He also wanted them to know he wasn’t concerned about being popular; he was concerned about the truth.

Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ. ~Galatians 1:10 (NIV)

 

Following Paul’s example in this verse, I see that now that I am a Christian, my focus is to be only on pleasing God, not man. This includes not pleasing me.

It’s not about pleasing self or others, it’s only about pleasing God. Every time. Every situation. Every circumstance. No matter what.

This means setting aside my own life’s agenda and focusing on His will for my life. This is sometimes painful, but always necessary.

If I am still trying to please myself or other people around me instead of putting Christ first, then I am not really His servant; I am the servant of myself and/or those around me. It is who I place my honor and allegiance in that determines whose servant I am.

We cannot serve two masters. If we try to we will love one and hate/despise the other. This is not how it is supposed to be.

We are to choose Christ and Christ alone. We are to deny ourselves, pick up our cross and follow Him.

It’s a daily choice. Who will I serve today? My Savior or myself?

 

For further reading:
You cannot serve two masters Matthew 6:24
Pick up your cross Matthew 16:24
Don’t stray from the truth Galatians 1:6-10

 

 

Category: Scripture Study | LEAVE A COMMENT

Galatians 1:6-10

In Galatia some men had started teaching a perverted form of the gospel.

They were mixing Old Testament laws and ways with the grace of Christ and this new way of serving God.  They were telling Christians this was how it was supposed to be. This was causing confusion among the believers.

The apostle Paul addressed this in his letter to them, now called the book of Galatians.

Look at Galatians 1:6-10 via BibleGateway.com

Paul is very clear when he says those teaching a false gospel – which is actually no gospel at all – should be eternally condemned for it.

That’s pretty strong, but it’s a really big deal and the strong response is appropriate.

Teaching their version and/or adding their ideas and twists to it makes it not the gospel. It makes it false and a very dangerous thing because it leads not to salvation but to Hell.

This trickery keeps people from having a real relationship with Christ because instead of serving Him the way the Bible calls them to, they would be doing it the way a man says to. They might end up in hell because they followed this false teaching instead of the truth of who Christ is and how the Bible calls us to worship.

They could also end up teaching it to others, which according to Paul’s statement, means they should be eternally condemned.

Clearly, perverting the gospel by changing it is very dangerous to all involved!

Unfortunately, it didn’t just happen in Paul’s day.

It still happens today.

We have preachers and teachers who teach a false doctrine concerning the gospel. They twist it when they add their thoughts on how it should be done, add conditions to it, or say certain things don’t matter when they do.

There is a way we can protect ourselves.

1- Stay read-up in the Bible. Know what it says for yourself. Don’t rely on others to tell you what it says. Take notes during church, classes, and studies, and then later prayerfully look up the passages and compare them to what you heard. This helps prevent errors in your hearing and errors in their teaching, while reinforcing the learning of the lesson.

2-Filter everything you hear through God’s word. If it doesn’t line up, reject it. Always make God’s word the authority, not man’s word or “enlightened” understanding. Remember- preachers and teachers are only human. They make mistakes, too, both accidentally and intentionally. Compare what they say to what the Word says. In cases of conflict, trust God’s Word, not man’s.

3-Stay Prayed-up. Pray about what you read and hear. Ask God to point out errors. Ask him to lead you in to all truth. Pray for discernment. Ask God to show you and to prick your spirit when wrong words come before you. When this happens, ask Him to show you what the truth is.

4-Pray about what you’ve already learned. Sometimes we’ve already heard/learned wrong things. Sometimes we’ve misunderstood. Prayerfully ask God to show you if your doctrine/knowledge needs adjusted. If it does, prayerfully study up on it and adjust your thinking and beliefs. There is no shame in learning more and better on a subject, especially when it is the truth of God’s word.

Remember, we are responsible for what we learn, teach, and believe. It’s imperative we make sure it is accurate and properly represents/reflects God’s Word.

 

 

Category: Scripture Study | LEAVE A COMMENT

Proverbs 20:5

During my quiet time I was reading Proverbs, chapter 20.

Verse 5 really spoke to me:

The purposes of a man’s heart are deep waters,
but a man of understanding draws them out. (NIV)

 

It reminded me of my morning journaling and how I use those pages to take the thoughts and concerns of my heart before the Lord.

Journaling gives me a chance to spread my true feelings and thoughts out and examine them as I seek guidance and wisdom both through prayer and through searching Scriptures for verses that speak to each situation.

The purposes (or motives) of my heart are not always pure.

Sometimes they need adjusted. I need reminded to bring them into alignment with God’s will. I need convicted of, and corrected for, my sinful thoughts and selfish ideas.

The feelings run deep. Deep hurts. Deep fears. Deep imperfections. Deep hungers.

Bringing them out to allow Christ to shine the light of Truth on them means He can show me where to change, what to adjust, where to keep on keeping on.

This helps me to become more like Christ and to be in a better position to serve the Kingdom.

It allows me to become who God has called me to be.

It is this spreading out before the Lord that allows those feelings to be sorted, healed, and dealt with. It allows Him to remind me that He loves me and that He has each situation under control and on track, even when I can’t see Him working.

That’s a great reassurance to me because I know that means God is taking care of me in all these situations and all I have to do is trust Him as He works all things together for good.

He’s a good God and He will take care of those who love Him!

 

What about You?

Do you have a method you use to draw out your heart thoughts so you can bring them into alignment with Christ and with God’s will for your life?

If so, I’d love for you to tell me about it in the comments below.

 

Category: Journaling, Life, Submission | LEAVE A COMMENT

Sermon Notes – May 5, 2019

This past Sunday our pastor talked about Hebrews chapter 7.

He mentioned that when Jesus started His ministry the Jews believed they were in good standing with God because they carefully followed the law, had a royal priesthood, gave proper animal sacrifices, ate the prescribed Jewish diet, and gave the exact amount of tithes the law called for.

They were doing all the right outward things God’s law had said to do and assumed they were therefore okay.

Then Jesus Christ came along and told them they were wrong because they were doing all the right and “clean” things on the outside – BUT – they hadn’t changed on the inside.

Instead of being humble before the Lord and following the law as an acknowledgement of God’s greatness and their position below Him, they were puffed up with pride at how well they were following the law and  presumed they were therefore of great importance.

They were being legalistic and giving external conformity without inner surrender, conformity, or submission.

In short, they had changed on the outside but not the inside.

When Christ was here on earth He, being fully man yet fully God, looked like everyone else on the outside – BUT – on the inside He was different than those around Him.

God asks the same of us.

God calls us to be different on the inside.

God calls for inner conformity, obedience, submission, honesty, integrity, and humility. Not because we are that great, but because Christ is and as Christians we are to model ourselves after Him.

1 Samuel 16:7 tells us that the Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.

It is this inner part of us we are to pay attention to and work to bring in to obedience to Christ.

Yes, we are to dress modestly (more on that in another post!), but it’s not about what’s on the outside – it’s about what’s in your heart and who you are on the inside.

After explaining all of this the pastor asked these questions:

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Category: Obedience, Sermon Notes, Submission | LEAVE A COMMENT

National Day of Prayer

Today is the National Day of Prayer.

It’s a day we come together and turn to God in prayer, interceding for our nation’s leaders and its families.

This Year’s theme is,”Love One Another”.

Please take a few minutes, either at one of the many events all over the country or in your own quiet time, to pray and ask God to help, strengthen, protect, and guide our leaders and our families. Ask God to turn their hearts back to Him and the path He has laid out.

Ask God to change us to a nation of people who love one another and care for each other the way He has designed us to.

If you would like more information on the National Day of Prayer please click here.

 

Category: Holiday, Prayer | LEAVE A COMMENT

“It’s On the House!”

The other night I went to my favorite restaurant for dinner.

It’s the type where you walk down the line, cafeteria-style, as they build your meal.

One of the employees is a good friend of mine. She just happened to be working.

When she asked me how I was, I said, “fine,”.

She knows me well enough to know that wasn’t true so she said, “Really?”

I explained I’d been out of town for a week and was trying to get back in the swing of things.

Then it happened.

I blurted out the truth: “My brother died.”

I followed it up with a few sentences of explanation concerning his young age and drug use.

She was very kind and empathetic, encouraging me to call or text her later so we could talk.

I thanked her and changed the subject.

When it came time to pay, the Shift Manager, who’d been standing with us when we had that conversation, handed me my meal and said,

“It’s on the House!”

I told him he didn’t have to do that and offered to pay.

He looked me in the eye and said, “No, take it. And have a blessed night, okay?”

When he said that, I immediately felt the Holy Spirit’s presence. In that instant I felt so loved! Such peace washed over me.

Something inside me clicked. I suddenly felt such peace about Matt’s passing. I felt such healing and relief.

There is no doubt in my mind God used this brother-in-the-faith to minister to and comfort me.

Who knew that the simple act of giving someone a free meal, just because they could, would change someone’s outlook and bring them such peace, healing, comfort, and relief?

I am so thankful for those Christians out there who love on others just because they can. They do things to help them, not for gain, but for the simple pleasure of doing good.

What joy they sow in the lives of others!

I’m so thankful the Lord chose to use a “regular Joe” to reach out to me in my pain and love me. He truly was the hands of Christ that day.

I pray God will bless him for his gift to me and I pray God will allow me to love others the way he loved me!

 

 

Category: Death, Family | LEAVE A COMMENT

Matthew A. T.

November 2, 1981 – April 6, 2019

Please remember my family in prayer as we lay my brother to rest.

 

 

Category: Death, Family | LEAVE A COMMENT

I’m Struggling

Today I am struggling.

I’m sitting here at my desk at work, silently crying out to God for a miracle.

This morning my sister called to tell me our stepbrother is in the hospital.

Late last night the doctors told the family there’s not much hope. His time is up.

I’m struggling because I’m angry, I’m hurt, and I’m grief-stricken.

Matt is a great guy. Beautiful smile. Great sense of humor.

Matt knows how to charm you so you think he’s your biggest fan in the world and that you are the most important person he’s ever met.

Matt is a heroin addict.

I don’t believe in luck, but if I did, I’d say his has run out.

He’s been making questionable choices for over 2 decades.

Hard, painful choices the family has struggled to watch. We’ve paid a price for his actions, too. Big ones.

Now it is all coming to an end.

I grieve because I see how different his life could have been. The lost chances. The wasted potential.

I want to reach out into time and change things. Adjust his past. Fix it somehow.

But, I can’t.

I’m angry because the drugs have stolen away the life of someone I care about. Someone I love who is so caught up in his addiction all he can see is the need for his next fix.

I’m grieved, too, because while several of us have talked to him several times, he has made it clear he has no need for God and that he is god of his own life.

How I wish I could have made him see the errors of his ways.

I know the only thing I can do now is pray. It’s the least I can do, but it’s also the most I can do.

So I pray.

I pray God will have mercy on Matt.

I pray Matt’s life will be a warning to others about the dangers of drug use.

I pray God will comfort all of us he’s leaving behind.

I know that this is not going to end well.

Matt is going to die.

At that moment, Matt is going to step into eternity to face a loving God.

A God who has given us all the chance to be reconciled to Him through His son, Jesus.

A Son who poured out His life for us so we could be saved and safe when we step into eternity – IF we choose to accept Him as that Savior.

I have no way of knowing what kind of conversations God and Matt have had over the last few days. I hope they are the ones that make the eternal difference for Matt’s future and that he somehow manages to get his life right with God.

Whatever the answer, I know that God loves all of us very much. He is long-suffering toward us and it is not His will that any of us perish.

But, He is also a just God who will cause us to pay the price for our sins if we don’t allow Christ to wash them away with the blood of His sacrificed life. We can only do that by calling on Jesus to save us, trusting in His gift of eternal life.

I might not be able to lead Matt to Christ. I may never know whether he got things right.

But, I can witness to others. I can be more committed to telling them how much God loves them.

I can continue to fight the good fight of faith as I seek to share God’s love with others.

And, I can pray for Matt until the very last moment.

God answers prayers.  Even when we don’t see or know it.

 

*If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction, there is help. Below are several resources. You can also talk to a trusted relative, religious leader, medical professional, or friend. Whatever you choose, please reach out.

Addiction Resource or call their hotline at 888-459-5511. They cover all 50 States.

The Recovery Village This link also includes information for family members of those struggling.

 

 

 

 

Category: Addiction, Death, Family | LEAVE A COMMENT