I looked up this morning - as I do each morning - to quite a sight. There, a relatively small, short-haired, light brown body stood, twitching fervently back and forth. I wish you could see it. There's not a lot of things more entertaining or more endearing to my heart.
She - "Sugar" - sits at our back door in the morning. She patiently and expectantly waits to catch a glimpse of someone - anyone - stirring. At the first sighting, immediately her long legs pull her frame into the air, and her tail tosses her petite body into an almost convulsion-like behavior. In Sugar's case, the tail truly does wag the dog.
But the excitement doesn't end there. Nope. To her utter joy, Sugar is rewarded for her "waiting." After all, how could you pass up saying "Good Morning" to someone or "some-dog" who is so excited to see you? It's as if she cannot contain her joy at being in our presence, and we, in hers.
That, my friends, is the same type of "waiting" that David encouraged us to do in Psalm 27. "Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord."
One way Scripture emphasizes something in the Word is by reiterating the same phrase over and over again. Did you see something in that verse that was repeated? Yep, "Wait on the Lord." So, in other words, when you get tired of waiting for the Lord...wait some more!
Oh, and it's not a drudgery to wait for Him. It's an exciting, stirring anticipation that builds and builds until we see Him appear on the scene. Then, the coolest thing happens. We are rewarded by His presence, and He is THRILLED with ours.
Beautiful, if I do say so myself.
So, along with Sugar and King David, I encourage you, my sisters and brothers. Wait on the Lord. Wait expectantly for Him. Wait with anticipation, anxious to see what God will do.
Wait for the Lord...again, I say...wait for the Lord.
Thank You, Father, that You never leave me or forsake me, but rather walk along side me in this journey. Help me to wait with expectation to see what You are going to do for me, through me, and in me.
Sunday, August 28, 2016
Sunday, August 21, 2016
A Servant and Yet, A Child
He doesn't owe us a thing...not one thing. God doesn't owe any of us...anything.
Sounds harsh, doesn't it? But read on...the good stuff is to come.
The other day, while searching for verses about faith, I came across Luke 17, and what I read there, shocked me. Verse seven begins, "Suppose one of you has a servant plowing or looking after the sheep. Will he say to the servant when he comes in from the field, 'Come along now and sit down and eat'? Won't he rather say, 'Prepare my supper, get yourself ready and wait on me while I eat and drink; after that you may eat and drink'? Will he thank the servant because he did what he was told to do? So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, 'We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.'"
Now I know that servant-hood or slavery is not a part of our society today - at least legally - but for the people in Christ's day, it was commonplace. People understood what it meant to be a slave, as well as "own" a slave.
Jesus uses this particular relationship to show His disciples what their relationship to God (and ours) actually looks like. In reality, He is the Master. We are His slaves.
These verses explain that while the Master eats, the slave waits and actually serves Him. He is not invited to dine with the Master, nor does the Master tell him "thank you" for his service in the field or his efficient service during dinner. Why? Is it because of a lack of gratitude on the Master's part. No. It's just the servant's job. He's merely doing what he was expected to do. As hard as it sounds, THAT is the reality of our relationship with God.
He owes us nothing.
He isn't required as our God to make our lives peaceful, nor happy. He's not required to do anything for us at all. He is God. Period. We are merely to obey what He commands and do what He expects of us.
That hit me like a ton of bricks. You see, I "know" that God isn't required to "bless" me, but I really don't believe it wholeheartedly. Instead, down deep, I tend to think that if I am obedient to His leading, then He MUST reward me with some sort of compensation in my life. I should be content and happy and cheerful and able to help others and speak well and write well without run-on sentences and be blessed.
Period.
Yet as my Master, He isn't required to do any of those things for me...AT ALL. Instead, my relationship with Him is one of obedience without question, not expecting anything in return...not even a "thank you" or a pat on the back.
God is my Master.
I am His servant.
That humbled me greatly, and at the same time, made me incredibly thankful. Sounds kinda strange, huh? What I mean is that I realized that everything I have, didn't come to me because I was a good servant. Fortunately for me AND you, the Master/slave relationship isn't the only reality that exists. There's another.
You see, we are His servants and rightly so. He is God. However, we are ALSO His kids - the very apples of His eyes. He delights in us, as Zephaniah 3:17 states, and dances over us with joy. So the blessings that come from obedience, don't come because "I" did the right thing. Instead, they originate because He is good, and He's my Dad...my Father.
Yes, I am a servant...
...and yet thankfully, because of Christ, so much more.
I thank You, God. I thank You for filling my life with abundant blessings, because You are who You are...not because of me or anything I have done or will ever do. I praise You, Lord. Praise You.
Sounds harsh, doesn't it? But read on...the good stuff is to come.
The other day, while searching for verses about faith, I came across Luke 17, and what I read there, shocked me. Verse seven begins, "Suppose one of you has a servant plowing or looking after the sheep. Will he say to the servant when he comes in from the field, 'Come along now and sit down and eat'? Won't he rather say, 'Prepare my supper, get yourself ready and wait on me while I eat and drink; after that you may eat and drink'? Will he thank the servant because he did what he was told to do? So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, 'We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.'"
Now I know that servant-hood or slavery is not a part of our society today - at least legally - but for the people in Christ's day, it was commonplace. People understood what it meant to be a slave, as well as "own" a slave.
Jesus uses this particular relationship to show His disciples what their relationship to God (and ours) actually looks like. In reality, He is the Master. We are His slaves.
These verses explain that while the Master eats, the slave waits and actually serves Him. He is not invited to dine with the Master, nor does the Master tell him "thank you" for his service in the field or his efficient service during dinner. Why? Is it because of a lack of gratitude on the Master's part. No. It's just the servant's job. He's merely doing what he was expected to do. As hard as it sounds, THAT is the reality of our relationship with God.
He owes us nothing.
He isn't required as our God to make our lives peaceful, nor happy. He's not required to do anything for us at all. He is God. Period. We are merely to obey what He commands and do what He expects of us.
That hit me like a ton of bricks. You see, I "know" that God isn't required to "bless" me, but I really don't believe it wholeheartedly. Instead, down deep, I tend to think that if I am obedient to His leading, then He MUST reward me with some sort of compensation in my life. I should be content and happy and cheerful and able to help others and speak well and write well without run-on sentences and be blessed.
Period.
Yet as my Master, He isn't required to do any of those things for me...AT ALL. Instead, my relationship with Him is one of obedience without question, not expecting anything in return...not even a "thank you" or a pat on the back.
God is my Master.
I am His servant.
That humbled me greatly, and at the same time, made me incredibly thankful. Sounds kinda strange, huh? What I mean is that I realized that everything I have, didn't come to me because I was a good servant. Fortunately for me AND you, the Master/slave relationship isn't the only reality that exists. There's another.
You see, we are His servants and rightly so. He is God. However, we are ALSO His kids - the very apples of His eyes. He delights in us, as Zephaniah 3:17 states, and dances over us with joy. So the blessings that come from obedience, don't come because "I" did the right thing. Instead, they originate because He is good, and He's my Dad...my Father.
Yes, I am a servant...
...and yet thankfully, because of Christ, so much more.
I thank You, God. I thank You for filling my life with abundant blessings, because You are who You are...not because of me or anything I have done or will ever do. I praise You, Lord. Praise You.
Sunday, August 7, 2016
To Be or Not to Be?
I want you to think about something this week. It's something that might just change your life, as it has mine...or at least, it's in the process of changing me.
It's just a few words, but the Words are from the very mouth of God, Himself. That's what makes it life-changing. His Word alters us. It changes us. At least, it always should.
Proverbs 29:11 states: "A fool vents all his feelings, but a wise man holds them back." Now, let me ask you. How many times have you been labeled "foolish" according to this verse? I'm afraid I've been labeled more times than I would like.
Sometimes, it's as if I can't help it. My mouth opens and the more I rant, the more easily the words seem to flow. Oh, and they sound SO good to my ears. Each morsel reaching its intended target with velocity and fervency, growing more and more intense as I go. Stressful relief happens, as the torrent continues and the feelings flow freely and fully...that is...
...until it's over. Then, my heart is heavy with my foolish behavior and my relationship, damaged with hurtful words. The weight of my sin and the words that I have uttered in anger take away my joy and my ability to smile. My relationship with God grows quiet and still...and not in a good way.
One way to describe this "freely flowing landfall of feelings" is to use honey as an analogy. Think about it. When you first attempt to pour the sweet concoction, the thick syrup pours forth slowly. It feels like it takes FOREVER, especially when you are waiting for it to sweeten your first cup of coffee in the morning. Once it starts, however, it's incredibly difficult to stop. Before you know it, your "touch of honey" has become a whole handful, and your morning cup of coffee is ruined - too sweet to even put to your lips.
What happened? The honey "got away from you." It became its own entity, pouring forth with its own will and going its own way. A similar thing happens when we "vent all our feelings." Our words become an entity of their own, pouring forth with their own will and going their own way - often much further than we ever intended them to go.
So, if you contrast the foolish behavior with that of the wise man, the fool vents all his feelings, but the wise man holds them back. Now, holding back isn't illustrative of the quiet little mouse in the corner that never says anything. That in NO way is characteristic of Christ. Instead, the wise man has the same feelings as the foolish man, even with the same intensity. Yet, the wise man doesn't let all the honey out of the jar at one time. Instead, he purchases one of those syrup containers that cuts off the flow of syrup with the click of a finger. You know the one I'm talking about? Yes, that's it. We just purchased one this week, as a matter of fact, for the very reason that we always get way too much honey in our morning drinks!
I digress! No, it's not that the wise man doesn't "feel" the same as the foolish man - with the same intensity or passion. It's just that the wise man is continually aware those feelings don't all need to pour forth from his mouth, especially when he is feeling vulnerable and a little out of control.
"To be or not to be - that is the question." Better still...to be wise or not to be wise - that is REALLY the question.
Hmmm...how will we respond?
Oh, Jesus, help me with my words today. Help me become wise by holding back my feelings, instead of venting them all. Thank You for doing this in my life and changing me into Your image.
It's just a few words, but the Words are from the very mouth of God, Himself. That's what makes it life-changing. His Word alters us. It changes us. At least, it always should.
Proverbs 29:11 states: "A fool vents all his feelings, but a wise man holds them back." Now, let me ask you. How many times have you been labeled "foolish" according to this verse? I'm afraid I've been labeled more times than I would like.
Sometimes, it's as if I can't help it. My mouth opens and the more I rant, the more easily the words seem to flow. Oh, and they sound SO good to my ears. Each morsel reaching its intended target with velocity and fervency, growing more and more intense as I go. Stressful relief happens, as the torrent continues and the feelings flow freely and fully...that is...
...until it's over. Then, my heart is heavy with my foolish behavior and my relationship, damaged with hurtful words. The weight of my sin and the words that I have uttered in anger take away my joy and my ability to smile. My relationship with God grows quiet and still...and not in a good way.
One way to describe this "freely flowing landfall of feelings" is to use honey as an analogy. Think about it. When you first attempt to pour the sweet concoction, the thick syrup pours forth slowly. It feels like it takes FOREVER, especially when you are waiting for it to sweeten your first cup of coffee in the morning. Once it starts, however, it's incredibly difficult to stop. Before you know it, your "touch of honey" has become a whole handful, and your morning cup of coffee is ruined - too sweet to even put to your lips.
What happened? The honey "got away from you." It became its own entity, pouring forth with its own will and going its own way. A similar thing happens when we "vent all our feelings." Our words become an entity of their own, pouring forth with their own will and going their own way - often much further than we ever intended them to go.
So, if you contrast the foolish behavior with that of the wise man, the fool vents all his feelings, but the wise man holds them back. Now, holding back isn't illustrative of the quiet little mouse in the corner that never says anything. That in NO way is characteristic of Christ. Instead, the wise man has the same feelings as the foolish man, even with the same intensity. Yet, the wise man doesn't let all the honey out of the jar at one time. Instead, he purchases one of those syrup containers that cuts off the flow of syrup with the click of a finger. You know the one I'm talking about? Yes, that's it. We just purchased one this week, as a matter of fact, for the very reason that we always get way too much honey in our morning drinks!
I digress! No, it's not that the wise man doesn't "feel" the same as the foolish man - with the same intensity or passion. It's just that the wise man is continually aware those feelings don't all need to pour forth from his mouth, especially when he is feeling vulnerable and a little out of control.
"To be or not to be - that is the question." Better still...to be wise or not to be wise - that is REALLY the question.
Hmmm...how will we respond?
Oh, Jesus, help me with my words today. Help me become wise by holding back my feelings, instead of venting them all. Thank You for doing this in my life and changing me into Your image.
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