To the faithful...

Ephesians 1:1b lists three key components: saints, faithful, in Christ Jesus. In my last post I detailed both what I've learned and read about what it truly means that a Christian is undeniably a saint - whether I "feel holy" or not.
Now let's focus on a couple of things: what does Paul mean when he calls the Ephesians faithful, the importance of the word order, and the reality of being "in Christ Jesus."
First when I read "faithful" I immediately thought Paul was saying that these Christians were exercising exclusivity in their beliefs. Where before they were into pagan worship and sorcery, now they were "faithful" to believing in Christ. But that is only half of it, and the secondary meaning of the word used here. The primary meaning to "faithful" is "exercising faith." The reality of their conversion was evident because they exercised their faith. If you look back in the gospels one of the things that Christ Jesus commended people for was their faith - not their "commitment" to the Jewish law, but rather the evidence in their heart that they believed in Jesus and had faith (the hope of things not seen). Often a miracle was linked to faith, and when the Holy Spirit was sent from the Father after the ascension of Jesus there was power in every believer to exercise their faith.
The importance of the word order was lost on me. I have so often sped through Paul's opening address that I missed it completely, but Lloyd-Jones explains that a person cannot separate these identifiers and be either a saint or faithful. He also equates the terms to justification and sanctification. Saint-justified-cleansed by God from the inside and the outside; faithful-sanctified-continually exercising faith and maintaining a reliable commitment to Christ Jesus. The importance of the order is thereby clear from defining the terms further. Saint, Faithful, IN Christ Jesus.

Then let us note the importance of keeping intact the relationship between a saint and being faithful, the relationship between holiness and being a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ...Dr. William Temple has said, 'No one is a believer who is not holy, and no one is holy who is not a believer." These two things must never be separated, you must never put a gap between justification and sanctification...Holiness is a characteristic of every Christian, and if we are not holy, our profession of Christ is valueless (Lloyd-Jones 33-34)."

Finally looking at "in Christ Jesus." Every thing Paul has described has it's source from this statement IN CHRIST JESUS. All of what has been talked about up until this point finds its worth in these three words. Without the miracle of being united with Christ, none of us could be identified as "saint" or "faithful." Remember too whom the Ephesians were (Acts 19 and following); these were not straight laced, God-fearing folks but they were converts! They were instantly saints, and they were exercising their faith only because they were in Christ Jesus.
This should be true of me and anyone who says "I'm a Christian." There needs to be a transformation from sinner to saint, from loose and lazy believism to committed and exercised faithful - to the glory of Christ Jesus our Lord. If I can't say "I am a saint in Christ Jesus" because the statement feels false in my own mind, then I must recognize that is a necessary conviction. Also, if I can't see the marks of exercised faith in my life making it difficult to say "I am faithful in Christ Jesus," then some exercising needs to happen.

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”  Acts 1:8 ESV

In Christ Jesus, power, the Holy Spirit, will be witnesses...How will I witness and exercise my faith this week?

Ephesians 1:1b

The second half of verse one is still a part of the Apostle Paul's address to the church in Ephesus, and it has been rumbling around in my mind for over two weeks now.

To the saints who are in Ephesus, and are faithful in Christ Jesus:

To the saints...the saints ...saints...
My first time reading through chapter one in this study, like many times before, I quickly read over these words without fully applying their meaning to my understanding. Almost like I was programed to only engage in the text after the address. But as I read through D. Martin Lloyd-Jones' God's Ultimate Purpose I was struck by his view of this address and the importance of it. He says,

"We find ourselves confronted here, then, by what the New Testament teaches is the basic irreducible minimum of what constitutes a Christian. I am emphasizing this because it seems to me that it is the primary need of the Christian Church at the present time to realize exactly what it means to be a Christian. How was it that the early Christians, who were a handful of people, had such a profound impact on the pagan world in which they lived? It was because they were what they were. It was not their organization, it was the quality of their life, it was the power they possessed because they were truly Christian (Lloyd-Jones 24)."

The "irreducible minimum" is then: saint, faithful, in Jesus Christ. As I hope you've already noted, I'm writing as honestly about my own heart, mind, and soul as I study this thoroughly, and so I must admit that my first reaction to the word "saint" was: no, that isn't me. I'm justified and being sanctified, yes, but a saint I am not that term only defines the Apostles or martyrs. It is not that I do not embrace what scripture says about me, but rather my keen awareness of my deceitful heart (Jeremiah 17:9). Because of this cognitive dissonance, my heart sprang to life and engaged in prayer in order to honestly, critically, and humbly proceed with reading what Lloyd-Jones had to say next:

"The first thing to say of a Christian is that he is a saint...The first thing it means is that we are people who are set apart (Lloyd-Jones 25)."

He goes on to draw the connection between the people of Israel, their distinction among the nations, how God separated them unto himself and the Church. They were different; God intended for them to be a peculiar people, chosen and holy. Lloyd-Jones goes on to say that the phrase in Galatians 1:4 "to deliver us from the present evil age" is equal to the one word "saint" in Ephesians 1:1b. A saint is one who has been delivered from the present evil age.

"The Christian today, like the children of Israel of old, while he is in the world is not of the world; he is a man like other men, and yet he is very different...This not only means that we are set apart in an outward sense, it means that we are set apart because we are cleansed inwardly. A saint is someone who has been cleansed in many ways. He has been cleansed from the guilt of his sin, cleansed from that which excludes him from the presence of God...The saint is one who has been cleansed also from the pollution of sin...Every Christian is a saint; you cannot be a Christian without being a saint; and you cannot be a saint and a Christian without being separated in some radical sense from the world (Lloyd-Jones 26-27)."

We cannot miss this drastic statement and the implications. Paul wasn't writing to moral, nice folks in Holland, Michigan. He was writing to Ephesians (read Acts 19) where the temple of Artemis was and the people made their living by selling her products and promoting the worship of idols. These people were unashamed of their cults, sorcery, and other pagan practices. They were hopeless, and this is one of the locations that God chose through the power of His Holy Spirit to use Paul to proclaim the gospel. The people believed and verses 18-20 (still Acts 19) says that they confessed, divulged their practices, brought their books (cult related, sorcery, magic) and burnt them - in the sight of all. Verse 20: "So the word of the Lord continued to increase and prevail mightily." The people Paul is calling "saints" are not people who have earned this distinction by birth, nationality, religion but rather by the work of the Holy Spirit. And the same is true today.
Now that is a convicting truth with an "already but not yet" feel to it. When I place myself into the address and receive this truth into my soul - I am humbled. I have been cleansed outwardly and inwardly only by the Holy Spirit and I am a saint. I must accept this calling to be distinct and holy.
My burden for this text is not only that I would receive and live out this truth but also that the Church would be a separated, distinct, holy gathering.
As W.B. Godbey says:

"Ekklesia, from ek, out, and kaleo, to call, means Church throughout the Greek New Testament. If you do not remember that definition you will fall into utter bewilderment on the Church idea, led astray by the Churchism of the present day, which is utterly variant from, and antagonistical to the New Testament ekklesia, which consisted only of the souls called out of the world, and separated unto God. Hence, all worldly churches are simply Satan's counterfeits...This is the glorified Church of the First Born, 'without spot or wrinkle.' The members of this Church are not joined in, but born into it, by the supernatural intervention of the Holy Ghost. This is none of your worldly Churches, as the very word for Church, ekklesia, means the called out of the world; while hagiadzoo, sanctify, means to take the world out of you (Gallagher 61)."  

{If this last quote fires you up as I pray it does :: Please check out the book }

Now this is News!

Committing Ephesians to Memory

I've posted on here before about the Scripture memory that I'm doing this year (if you haven't already checked out what I'm talking about: click here to go and find out) and I have just been blessed to pieces by God's Word! As a child (and let's face it: teenager and young adult too), I thought that "hiding God's Word in my heart" was kind of a routine thing to do just to make teachers, pastors, and parents happy. I have an easy time committing things to immediate memory, and so it was no big thing growing up to just recite a verse 5x's or so and then spit it back out.
But that's just it: I spit it back out.
Then one day, the Holy Spirit opened the eyes of my heart to his Word in Jeremiah 15:16 which says:

Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart, for I am called by your name, O LORD, God of Hosts.

The light bulb came on and I finally saw that what I was missing the whole point! I have the awesome, incredible privilege of holding my own copy of God's Word and being able to open it and find revelation upon revelation. Yet for so long, I was unlike Jeremiah: I did not eat them.
"I ate them"? You may be thinking, wait a second, what?
Jeremiah was chosen as a prophet; he was commissioned by the Almighty Himself! Look back to chapter one for a moment:

But the Lord said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am only a youth’; for to all to whom I send you, you shall go, and whatever I command you, you shall speak. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, declares the Lord.” Then the Lord put out his hand and touched my mouth. And the Lord said to me, “Behold, I have put my words in your mouth." (Jeremiah 1:7-9 ESV)

Do you see it? God gave Jeremiah a choice when he put his words in Jeremiah's mouth. He could have ate the words that God put on his tongue or he could have spit them out. If he ate them, he would then have to digest them {think over them, be nourished by them, and be delighted by the strength in them} or he could skip all of that and just spit them out. God did not say "Behold, I have put my words in your heart and I've made the decision for you to treasure them." No, God chose Jeremiah, and then Jeremiah had to respond.
Where does Ephesians fit into all of this?
Well, for the second half of this year I will be choosing passages from Ephesians or about the Ephesian church (from: the Acts of the Apostles, letters to Timothy, Revelation, John's epistles) for my scripture memory. {2 each month for a year; 14 down, 10 to go}
And my verse for the second half of July was Ephesians 2:14 ESV "For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility." What a merciful peace he is!
Now my verse for August 1st is: Ephesians 1:17-19 ESV

"that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might"

Oh Heavenly Father, please bless the reading and memorizing of your Word. Amen.

{Please note that if you found this post through facebook, you may want to enter your email address to receive further posts:: I may be taking leave of facebook in the near future}

Ephesians 1:1a

A thought that has stuck with me from God's Ultimate Purpose by D. Martin Lloyd Jones on the First chapter of the book of Ephesians is this: when I approach God, think about God, or attempt to serve God whom do I think of first? Do I start with myself and move upwards to heaven and seek God or do I start with my eyes toward heaven and descend upon myself?
What's the difference?
The difference is also the main theme of the Epistle; it is the majesty and glory of God. It is seeing God as sovereign.
Ephesians 1:1a ESV

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God,

Paul has barely begun to write and he is acknowledging that he is writing not of his own will but "by the will of God."
Lloyd-Jones' God's Ultimate Purpose was copyrighted back in 1978 and what he had to say about the importance of how one comes to the reading of God's Word is just as significant today. He says,

The Bible is God's book, it is a revelation of God, and our thinking must always start with God. Much of the trouble in the Church today is due to the fact that we are so subjective, so interested in ourselves, so egocentric (Lloyd-Jones 13).

And further on he says,

We must not start with ourselves and then ascend to God; we must start with the sovereignty of God, God over all, and then come down to ourselves (Lloyd-Jones 14 {emphasis mine}).

Seeing God as sovereign means that I also accept that there is a mystery to the ways of God. In verse 9, Paul spells out that Jews and Gentiles being united under the redemptive work of Christ was a mystery to them for ages. Even though it was revealed to the prophets and apostles by the Spirit, Paul was now at liberty to proclaim that this mystery was now known!
So why is this mystery important in how I view God?
Again, it is because I must view God as majestic and sovereign. God's ways are still a mystery to me, and I must start with my eyes on Him and His greatness. I must recognize that He alone is God over all and I should not dare to think that with my finite, sinful mind I could ever fully understand the will and ways of God.

But take heart and be comforted with me as I unpack this, that starting with a view of God and His sovereignty is a fertile ground for faith and trust to grow...and soon we read {verse 7} of the "riches of his grace."

Face to face with Ephesians

I've had to come face-to-face with Ephesians over the past couple of months. I didn't realize it for a long time that God was leading me to this point of deeper study. He is such a gentleman. I hope you know that quality of His love for you too.
So a brief history of how I came to this point and then a purpose statement:
It is difficult for me to pinpoint the very first encounter with Ephesians {and by encounter I mean, indicators/desires for this deeper study}, but the first that I remember was when I picked up this book:  I love the Church of Jesus Christ. The bride. I want to do anything and everything I can to build up the body of Christ.
So I dig into the letters to Timothy.
Then I stumble upon this message by Matt Chandler On church in Ephesus which I actually posted here back in June. After listening to this teaching, I couldn't stop marveling at the wonderful interlacing of the New Testament. Paul at Ephesus in Acts, his letter to the Ephesians, his letters to Timothy {pastor of the Ephesian church}, and John's letters {elder in the Ephesian church} with a major mention of the church in Revelation. I mean wow that is a lot of the New Testament focus. I began to realize that I wanted to know and understand more and more about this church. What was God trying to say to that church? How is church today similar to this church in both good and bad ways?
Another encounter, or encouragement if you will, with this book came from my dear mentor and friend Joe Ann Shelton. She challenged me to find D.M. Lloyd-Jones' Exposition of Ephesians.
And the very next day another dear friend and mentor said the Lord pressed Ephesians into her heart with regards to sharing some specific encouragement to me.
By this time my eyes were opened wide and I still find myself in wonder and awe at the love of God in how He is directing me so clearly.
Now, all that being said, I do not know what the end of this journey looks like. I do not have a 6 part goal in mind. And I don't know why I feel like I should include you {other than to be a possible encouragement, and for the accountability}. So there in lies the purpose: it is simply to deeply study God's Word & the Ephesian church.
And so begins the journey...

WARNING:: I'm Preparing to Make a Change

To whom it may concern:
I'm writing to inform you that I will soon be deleting my facebook account and to encourage you to follow my blog here if you've enjoyed it in the past. Also, if you are following this blog, I hope you will soon be encouraged by more consistent posts on a project I'm working on...I haven't decided on what to officially call it yet...so I will leave you with a little suspense.
Sincerely,
Cara Thompson

Matt Chandler on the church in Ephesus

Greetings and 2011 Scripture Memory Team: Verse 6!

I don't think I've blogged about this yet, but I've set a goal for myself this year of memorizing 24 verses. 2 verses a month. But I'm not the only one - check out the club! We are on verse six!

Greetings and 2011 Scripture Memory Team: Verse 6!

So far these are the verses I've chosen (please test me anytime!):
Psalm 119:41-42
Romans 8:1
Romans 12:9-13
Philippians 4:19
Exodus 4:12
Psalm 119:50

These verses have ministered to me in such powerful ways, and I look forward to reading the Living Proof Ministries blog every 2 weeks. I need community in order to be admonished and encouraged!

Living the Lyric

I heard once that a song is just a song until you've lived the lyric. But when what you are singing is actually real in your life then that is when the heart engages and a song becomes worship. The Holy Spirit can use a song to convict, break, heal, admonish, instruct, and motivate.
One song He has used in my life over and over lately is "You Are For Me." I hope you will be ministered to by this lyric as I have been.

This song was an answer to prayer.

As I put my kids to bed tonight I prayed "just give me something to keep going." Now, I'm not advertising for these people, and I don't even know much of their music but this one was for me tonight. I hope you enjoy it too. Thank you Jesus.

Worship: Self-test

I often hear that worship is not just going to church to sing a few songs each week. Worship is the way I live my life in response to what Jesus has done in my life. Yet, I was still confusing the definitions of "praise" and "worship."
Praise: taking what I know about God and out of gratitude I sing and meditate on His attributes for His glory and for my good.
Praise is an attitude.
Worship: an act of devotion to God.

Worship is an indicator of the level of my devotion.

But I'm still wondering: How does living a life of worship work?
This is what I found in Psalm 51:

14 Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God,

O God of my salvation,
and my tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness.
15 O Lord, open my lips,
and my mouth will declare your praise.
16 For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it;
you will not be pleased with a burnt offering.
17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

(Use of bold text added, taken from the ESV)
So what is the worship self-test?
Three things should be evident in my life to qualify as living a life of worship:
1. "Sing aloud"
Now I know that may seem like a "no-brainer" but think about it for a minute. When you sing with a congregation of believers, who hears you? Obviously, anyone close to you should hear, but who else? Does God hear you? Of course, He is everywhere. But wait, when I read "sing aloud" I picture David passionately shouting his praise, and I think that there is a part of the heart that only becomes engaged when we give it "all we've got." So in taking this test, do not quickly mark the box if you know you've been holding back.
2. "Declare"
The idea or definition of this declaration is telling in such a way as to stand out and attract attention. Now for me, this flies in the face of "sharing my testimony just by the way I live." The point here is that God wants us to talk about Him and what He has done for us in a way that gets people to stop and listen. Declare. I like that right before David says "declare" he says "O Lord, open my lips." Reading between the lines here I take this as not an easy thing for David to do. I resonate with that. There are times where I feel prompted to speak truth and yet my mouth seems to stop working. I think these moments can be Holy Spirit empowered and used for His purposes when I am willing to worship Jesus by declaring His praise! Simply casting light on God's character, directing others with words to the glory of Christ! The tension is not wanting to "attract attention," but I believe that when we accurately declare praise to Jesus the light, attention, and focus is on Jesus and that is where it belongs. A heart truly engaged in worship can flow through the lips in declaring His praise and it won't end in an ego boost.
3. "Sacrifices"
We see all throughout scripture the emphasis on sacrifice. At the first, it is animal sacrifice - a tangible act, a visible death. But it doesn't stop there because God wants human hearts. Sacrifice is costly for everyone. Counting the cost of sacrifice is a part of true worship. In 1 Chronicles 21 David says that he will not offer to the LORD a sacrifice that costs him nothing.
Heart here means our inner man, mind, will, and heart. What makes us who we are that is what God's going for. He's not asking for us to sacrifice an animal, or sacrifice our feelings. He doesn't want us to just change our attitude for Sunday morning - He is asking for a continual, daily laying down of our rights. To pass this segment of the test, there needs to be a inner willingness to change, repent, and surrender to the sovereignty of God...in everything.
"God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth" John 4:24 ESV
"and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free" John 8:32 ESV
"Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the LORD, our Maker!" Psalm 95:6 ESV

I hope this leads you to dig deeper into your heart and cry out with David "Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! (Psalm 139:23 ESV)" May the Holy Spirit reveal to each of us individually the truth of His word in action in our lives. May we have eyes to see Him at work and be led to sing aloud, declare, and sacrifice even more! May we long to see Jesus!

Where I found this picture.

A reminder of how Jesus loves.

JJ Heller - What Love Really Means (Official Music Video)

Who is your soul's Husband?

“Fear not, for you will not be ashamed;



be not confounded, for you will not be disgraced;


for you will forget the shame of your youth,


and the reproach of your widowhood you will remember no more.


For your Maker is your husband,


the Lord of hosts is his name;


and the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer,


the God of the whole earth he is called.


For the Lord has called you


like a wife deserted and grieved in spirit,


like a wife of youth when she is cast off,


says your God.


For a brief moment I deserted you,


but with great compassion I will gather you.


In overflowing anger for a moment


I hid my face from you,


but with everlasting love I will have compassion on you,”


says the Lord, your Redeemer. (Isaiah 54:4-8 ESV)

Reading through the Bible last year, I came across this text and it struck me with such force that I have never recovered. If this passage ministers to you, then you may know what I mean when I say that out of my utter brokenness I was completely healed by the power of union with my Maker. No relationship is as dear as the marriage relationship. All relationships have their place and importance, and understanding and believing that Jesus is Savior and Lord and placing trust in him for redemption is the most important step in every human's life. But to understand God's deep love and purpose for my soul I must be united with him in the bond of marriage. The "Bride of Christ" is not just a word picture. Human marriage as described in Ephesians 5 is an echo of the relationship already in action between Christ and the church. I tried to flip the order at first. I wanted my human marriage to be most important in rank and then my soul union with God. And as God graciously revealed this flaw in my life, I was faced with the reality that I had placed expectations on God. Like, "please give me healthy relationships and then out of my gratitude I will fully worship Jesus." What I found out about God was that he doesn't work on my terms - huge surprise there. Reading through the whole Bible, I was faced with a new picture of God - a picture so huge and life altering that I'll never figure it all out, but I'm hungry for more. So then when my life started to slowly come apart at the seems, instead of blaming God, I was able to see his invitation. An invitation to knowing him more, knowing him as husband. He truly loves my soul and provides for me in a way that no human relationship ever can. Now I hear the echo of Ephesians 5 correctly. It isn't a dissonance only to become beautiful in heaven - it is the truest harmony of life in the right order.
If this doesn't echo with your heart, will you consider that maybe the reason you are restless and unhappy is not because of your broken relationships with people but your soul's deep longing for more of God. Don't wait to be grateful, worship your Maker/husband now.
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Catch Up and Commissioning

Catch Up and Commissioning (click <--- to go to Beth Moore's blog and at then bottom is the commissioning for the Law of Kindness!!)

Notes from the the Simulcast

Today I went to Beth Moore's Living Proof Live Simulcast! (click to check out her website) This blog post is a collection of my notes from today. I'm hoping this will help my memory and maybe be a blessing to you too.
Key Verse:
Proverbs 31:26 She opens her mouth with wisdom, and on her tongue is the law of kindness.
In Hebrew the word here for law is "torat-hesed." The Torah is the 5 books of Moses and the oral tradition of the instruction of God. You could say the "Torah of Kindness."
We need to focus on what this "Law of Kindness" means, but first we should ask why study the Law of Kindness.
Why? 
#1 Because we live in a mean world. (2 Timothy 3) And it's only going to get meaner.
#2 Because "she openeth her mouth"!  (And I know that too well.)
But here's the deal, when the heart gets full it comes out the mouth.

8 tastes of Biblical Kindness to see if what we taste should live there right on our tongue. "on her tongue is the law of kindness."
Taste #1 Kindness is not a weakness.
Luke 6 verse 35 says "for He is kind to the ungrateful and the evil." I am like my Father when I am kind to the ungrateful and the wicked.
*Side note on "nice": Kindness does not equal niceness. Nice in the dictionary means to be "not-knowing" or "ignorant". Someone could say, "Oh, she's nice because she doesn't know better." Whereas kindness is full-on-aware of who you're being kind to - being kind is not passive!
Kindness can speak a strong word.
Psalm 141:5 Let a righteous man strike me—it is a kindness; let him rebuke me—it is oil for my head; let my head not refuse it. Yet my prayer is continually against their evil deeds.
Proverbs 11:16 A kindhearted woman gains respect, but ruthless men gain only wealth.
Taste #2 Kindness is not an action it's a disposition.
Kind (adj.) in the greek is "chrestos" which means: profitable, fit, good for any use...of persons, useful toward others, good-natured.
Kindness (noun) in the greek is "chrestotes." It is the grace which pervades the whole nature...the word is descriptive of the disposition.
"You can't fake a disposition; you can fake nice."
Taste #3 Kindness wears down we I do.
Daniel 7:25 "he will wear down the saints"
A bad relationship wears me down and I form a bad habit of response to that person or situation.
Matthew 11:28-30 “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. “For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
The word "easy" in Greek is "Chrestos"! My yoke is kind!
Things that wear down our kindness:
Resentment (2 Timothy 2:24)
Hatred/Jealousy (Genesis 37:4) 
When we're worn down, we need to be built up. In the New Testiment the context of all words for building up (edification etc) are in the community of believers!
Ephesians 4: 12,16,29
12 to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up
16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
We need the body to build up what gets worn down.
Taste #4 Kindness looks pain in the face.
Job 6:28 "Now please look at me, And see if I lie to your face."
Don't look away - don't be face blind (prosopagnosia - unable to recognize faces).
Titus 3:3-8 
Verse 4 But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared
"Appeared" in the greek is "Epiphaino"
Titus 2:13 "the glorious appearing"
Taste #5 Kindness is a Savior
Ephesians 2: 4-10
Verse 7b-8 "he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God."
Kindness is called to help, profit, aid, but our human kindness cannot save! Only Jesus, He is the kindness, can save!
Taste #6 Kindness has good memory
Psalm 106:7 says that when Israel forgot God's kindness they rebelled. 
And in Hosea 11:4 I led them with cords of human kindness, with ties of love; I lifted the yoke from their neck and bent down to feed them. 
Taste #7 Kindness craves an outlet
2 Samuel 9:1 And David said, “Is there still anyone left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?”
Kindness doesn't enable people to do things that aren't a profit for them. Kindness doesn't allow anyone to continue in sin; remember taste #1! 
Taste #8 Kindness leaves a legacy
Acts 28:1-2 After we were brought safely through, we then learned that the island was called Malta. The native people showed us unusual kindness, for they kindled a fire and welcomed us all, because it had begun to rain and was cold.
In a "World Giving Index" Malta was the given the highest percentage of the population giving to charities - 83%!! Click here to see the data and compare other countries. The people of Malta sure left a legacy!
What about my spiritual line? Am I leaving a spiritual legacy? 

Oh LORD, I pray that you would teach me Your law of kindness. May I open my mouth with wisdom, and keep your law of kindness on my tongue. I pray that I would continue to meditate on Your word and be changed by it. Thank You. Amen. 

Want an "A"?

Scripture:

John 9:35-41

When Jesus heard what had happened, he found the man and asked, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” The man answered, “Who is he, sir? I want to believe in him.” “You have seen him,” Jesus said, “and he is speaking to you!” "Yes, Lord, I believe!” the man said. And he worshiped Jesus. Then Jesus told him, “I entered this world to render judgment—to give sight to the blind and to show those who think they see that they are blind.” Some Pharisees who were standing nearby heard him and asked, “Are you saying we’re blind?” “If you were blind, you wouldn’t be guilty,” Jesus replied. “But you remain guilty because you claim you can see.

 

Thought:

"I don't care about looking the part anymore. I don't want an "A" for appearance - I want the real thing in my heart. I don't want to appear to be right with God - I want to be right with God no matter what it takes."

-Dr. James MacDonald

This is probably the number one issue that I come back to in my life. For me I was raised in church, raised to know what is right and to know how to look the part. When I rebelled against God and walked away from my family that was when I finally saw my past religion for what it was - empty religion. And then the Holy Spirit found me. All things were made new! I wasn't blind anymore! I was set free and set into a right relationship with the Father through Jesus' sacrifice and the Holy Spirit's seal.

So then why do I still struggle with being blind to my sin? Why do I, like the Pharisees think I have it together when I really don't? Because I care what this world thinks of me. I want an "A" for the things that I do. I seek to please man and not God.

And once again, I must repent.

Like the song below says - my choices say who I am, so what am I going to do? Keep struggling with the fear of man? Or make a choice to live as the new creation that I am?

"let your life be one that lights the way!"

Song:

It's Your Life: Francesca Battistelli: Listen Here

Album: My Paper Heart: Deluxe Edition: Her website

This is the moment

It’s on the line

Which way you gonna fall?

In the middle between

Wrong and right

But you know after all

It’s your life

What you gonna do?

The world is watching you

Every day the choices you make

Say what you are and who

Your heart beats for

It’s an open door

It’s your life

Are you who you always said you would be?

With a sinking feeling in your chest

Always waiting for someone else to fix you

Tell me when did you forget

To live the way that you believe

This is your opportunity

To let your life be one that lights the way

There are Rules

Thought:
I heard the other day that "the devil doesn't play by the rules" and I was surprised to realize that I didn't already live with that understanding. I have been living like a sucker, not realizing that of course he (satan) doesn't play fair! Because of my poor choices in earlier years, I have always been quick to blame myself for the sinful choices or painful thought patterns in my life and would rarely give thought to being tempted by satan. Now as I am growing in godliness, I realize his attempts to influence me and my choices. I can say that I understand James' admonishment in the 4th chapter to resist the devil! When he flees I enjoy freedom through Jesus Christ!
So where is all this going (I'm wondering)...Here's the thing, all through the New Testiment I see "resist the devil," "don't give place for the devil," "your enemy the devil prowls," and "give no opportunity to the devil." All of these should have helped me see what the first quote says "he doesn't play by the rules"! When I choose to let down my guard, when I debate with him instead of resist him, when I listen to his influence because I am weak - I assume that if I do give into the devil that he will treat me fairly! For instance with Eve, he said "you will not surely die!"
Spiritual death or spiritual life. If I choose to follow the Holy Spirit with everything that I am, I live. If I choose to believe a lie, I die. Right here and right now - I am either spiritually alive or dead. I can't risk my spiritual life by playing with someone who doesn't play by the rules.

Thanks for reading.

Scriptures:
Psalm 19:7-11
The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the Lord are right,
rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the rulesd of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.

Psalm 12:6 The words of the LORD are pure words; As silver tried in a furnace on the earth, refined seven times.

Psalm 36:9 For with You is the fountain of life; In Your light we see light.

Psalm 119:14 I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies, As much as in all riches.

Psalm 119:128 Therefore I esteem right all Your precepts concerning everything, I hate every false way.

1 Peter 5:6-10
Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

2 Corinthians 12:9
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Song:
Words & Music: J. Bruce Ev­ans, 1906 (MI­DI, score).

Just when I am disheartened,
Just when with cares oppressed,
Just when my way is darkest,
Just when I am distressed—
Then is my Savior near me,
He knows my every care;
Jesus will never leave me,
He helps my burdens bear.

His grace is enough for me, for me,
His grace is enough for me;
Through sorrow and pain,
Through loss or gain,
His grace is enough for me.

Just when my hopes are vanished,
Just when my friends forsake,
Just when the fight is thickest,
Just when with fear I shake—
Then comes a still small whisper:
“Fear not, My child, I’m near.”
Jesus brings peace and comfort,
I love His voice to hear.

Just when my tears are flowing,
Just when with anguish bent,
Just when temptation’s hardest,
Just when with sadness rent—
Then comes a thought of comfort:
“I know my Father knows.”
Jesus has grace sufficient
To conquer all my foes.

Day by Day

Hymn: Day by Day:

"Day by day, and with each passing moment,
Strength I find to meet my trials here;
Trusting in my Father's wise bestowment,
I've no cause for worry or for fear.
He, whose heart is kind beyond all measure,
Gives unto each day what He deems best,
Lovingly its part of pain and pleasure,
Mingling toil with peace and rest.

Every day the Lord Himself is near me,
With a special mercy for each hour;
All my cares He fain would bear and cheer me,
He whose name is Counsellor and Pow'r.
The protection of His child and treasure
Is a charge that on Himself He laid;
'As thy days, thy strength shall be in measure,'
This the pledge to me He made.

Help me then, in every tribulation,
So to trust Thy promises, O Lord,
That I lose not faith's sweet consolation,
Offered me within Thy holy Word.
Help me, Lord, when toil and trouble meeting,
E'er to take, as from a father's hand,
One by one, the days, the moments fleeting,
Till with Christ the Lord I stand."



Scripture: 1 Peter 5:6-11
Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Thought:
In a sermon*, I once heard that humbling one's self is worked out through the action of "casting all your care". Personally when I cast all my thoughts, fears, anxieties, etc on the Lord I am humbled because I have nothing left to hold onto but Him. I make myself trust Him to work all things out for my good. There is nothing that I can do on my own; I must believe. And this process is daily. I wish I could cast everything onto Him and really, really mean it for a months time or even a week! But I find that my flesh and my heart are so deceitfully wicked and I cannot carry my own cares for even a day let alone a week. I pray that this hymn "Day by Day" will encourage you as well to remember that He has promised to be near those who are humble and broken, and His nearness is a treasure that is far more beautiful that being able to take care of things on your own.

*http://www.yourchurch.com/sermon/pray-or-youll-become-proud/

Nothing Compares

Song:
Hands lifted high, we come
Distractions aside
Humbly, we bow our hearts
And lay down our lives
For there is no one like you, Lord
No eye has seen, no ear has heard
Nothing in this world compares to You
No nothing compares
Perfect and Sinless One
Righteous and True
Savior for all who come
Lord, Worthy are You
Awesome in all of Your ways
To Your grace, to Your love and Your mercy
To Your fame, Your renown, may the world see
You are Great, You are God, You are Lord
We see You for who You are

By: Steve Busch from "Only God," Harvest Bible Chapel: West Olive, MI

Scripture:
Isa 64:4-5
4 For since the beginning of the world
Men have not heard nor perceived by the ear,
Nor has the eye seen any God besides You,
Who acts for the one who waits for Him.
5 You meet him who rejoices and does righteousness,
Who remembers You in Your ways.
You are indeed angry, for we have sinned--
In these ways we continue;
And we need to be saved.
NKJV

Isa 6:3-5
3 And one cried to another and said:

"Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts;
The whole earth is full of His glory!"

4 And the posts of the door were shaken by the voice of him who cried out, and the house was filled with smoke.
5 So I said:

"Woe is me, for I am undone!
Because I am a man of unclean lips,
And I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips;
For my eyes have seen the King,
The LORD of hosts."
NKJV

Thought:
"When we experience God for who He really is, we suddenly see ourselves for who we are. We have no identity problem when we understand ourselves from God's perspective."
Dr. James MacDonald