Have you ever had one of those times when you were just miserably weary? Sometimes after a long, hard day my wife says to me, “I just want to crawl up inside of you.” It’s comforting, as a husband, to know that I can be that type of refuge for my wife. When you are weary, who do you turn to for comfort? Where do you turn for shelter? You may have a spouse who can comfort you or you may have a close friend who will lend a listening ear to hear your troubles. But when it all comes down to it, we all have a best friend, beloved Father and constant companion who is always ready to provide the emotional support that we need. Psalm 5:11 says, “But let all who take refuge in You rejoice; let them shout for joy forever. May you shelter them and may those who love Your name boast about You.”
When you struggle or worry or fret, slow down and look to Him. Our Abba Father is always there
waiting for us to crawl up into His lap and feel the warmth of His heart. There you will find the kind of rest and comfort that only He can give.
Take refuge in our Abba Father's love for you.
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Friday, June 24, 2011
Gardening
It was a beautiful Saturday morning and I set about the chore that had been recently ignored. In preparation for spring, the garden had been worked. The soil turned and all of those pesky weeds removed. What I had hoped would be beautiful flowers had been added, but the preparation had not been completed. On this Saturday morning, three weeks after planting the flowers, the chore was to remove all the weeds that had reappeared so quickly.
Today’s task included meticulously pulling each and every weed found in the garden in hopes they would not be returning any time soon. Following the removal of all weeds, I laid down a soaker hose so that the plants could be watered on a regular basis thus helping them flourish. After the hose, the garden was treated with Preen (a pre-emulsion agent to prevent the seeds of new weeds from germinating and growing in the garden). Finally, after all the other chores were complete, it was time to add mulch as a covering to the garden helping keep the moisture in and all of the other bad stuff out.
When I was done with my work God began showing me how it resembled my life. The freshly turned soil ready for new plants was actually me as a believer and the flowers that were planted were lessons learned through my walk with Christ that were now appearing as fruits of the spirit in my life (Galatians 5:22). The soaker hose represents fellowshipping with other believers (Acts 2:42) and attending church regularly to be fed from the pulpit and in group study. The Preen represents personal discipleship and study so that we can grow in our personal walk of abiding in the Savior (John 3:36). Finally, the mulch represents the full armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-17).
At last, I thought I was done and the garden was ready for the year. Then, a couple of days later, I noticed it. A single weed was poking its head through the mulch. It was a type of grass that had been prolific in the previous batch of weeds I had removed from the garden. I reached down to pull it out and it simply broke off in my hand. I pushed back some of the mulch to discover that the grass had started spreading its leaves under the mulch and required more effort than just a simple pluck to remove. I knew that if I didn’t get the whole plant and remove it from the roots, it would eventually take over my garden again.
That’s when God brought out the rest of the lesson. The weeds I thought I had so meticulously removed represented sin in our lives. We may do a massive overhaul and clean up obvious areas of our lives, but even when we have the full armor of God on, we are still sinful beings and sin can reappear in our lives. Sometimes, it will grow under the surface and attempt to take a foothold (i.e. thoughts) before we ever see it. And the worst part is, if we don’t deal with the sin and do our best, with God’s help, to remove the sin, it will ultimately take over lives.
Is your garden ready? Are you displaying the fruits of the spirit in your life? Are you consistently fellowshipping with other believers and being fed through the teaching you receive at church? Are you growing through personal study? Are you facing each new day by putting on the full armor of God? Are you on the lookout for sin in your life that you need to address?
Take refuge, regardless of what the activity is that needs addressing in your life, remember that we have the Holy Spirit to provide direction, a blessed Savior who paid the price for all of our needs and a loving Father who is always seeking us out to renew our relationship with Him.
Today’s task included meticulously pulling each and every weed found in the garden in hopes they would not be returning any time soon. Following the removal of all weeds, I laid down a soaker hose so that the plants could be watered on a regular basis thus helping them flourish. After the hose, the garden was treated with Preen (a pre-emulsion agent to prevent the seeds of new weeds from germinating and growing in the garden). Finally, after all the other chores were complete, it was time to add mulch as a covering to the garden helping keep the moisture in and all of the other bad stuff out.
When I was done with my work God began showing me how it resembled my life. The freshly turned soil ready for new plants was actually me as a believer and the flowers that were planted were lessons learned through my walk with Christ that were now appearing as fruits of the spirit in my life (Galatians 5:22). The soaker hose represents fellowshipping with other believers (Acts 2:42) and attending church regularly to be fed from the pulpit and in group study. The Preen represents personal discipleship and study so that we can grow in our personal walk of abiding in the Savior (John 3:36). Finally, the mulch represents the full armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-17).
At last, I thought I was done and the garden was ready for the year. Then, a couple of days later, I noticed it. A single weed was poking its head through the mulch. It was a type of grass that had been prolific in the previous batch of weeds I had removed from the garden. I reached down to pull it out and it simply broke off in my hand. I pushed back some of the mulch to discover that the grass had started spreading its leaves under the mulch and required more effort than just a simple pluck to remove. I knew that if I didn’t get the whole plant and remove it from the roots, it would eventually take over my garden again.
That’s when God brought out the rest of the lesson. The weeds I thought I had so meticulously removed represented sin in our lives. We may do a massive overhaul and clean up obvious areas of our lives, but even when we have the full armor of God on, we are still sinful beings and sin can reappear in our lives. Sometimes, it will grow under the surface and attempt to take a foothold (i.e. thoughts) before we ever see it. And the worst part is, if we don’t deal with the sin and do our best, with God’s help, to remove the sin, it will ultimately take over lives.
Is your garden ready? Are you displaying the fruits of the spirit in your life? Are you consistently fellowshipping with other believers and being fed through the teaching you receive at church? Are you growing through personal study? Are you facing each new day by putting on the full armor of God? Are you on the lookout for sin in your life that you need to address?
Take refuge, regardless of what the activity is that needs addressing in your life, remember that we have the Holy Spirit to provide direction, a blessed Savior who paid the price for all of our needs and a loving Father who is always seeking us out to renew our relationship with Him.
Thursday, May 12, 2011
Matthew 5 - Those Who Hunger and Thirst For Righteousness
Matthew 5:6 (HCSB) Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, because they will be filled.
Have you ever had a craving that you just couldn't get enough of? For me, it is any kind of sweet or carb. I am a professed "Carb-aholic." Show me a sweet or pasta and I'm there and ready to consume as much as you will give me. Of course, my doctor is not happy about this attitude and is always telling me to watch what I eat. As a diabetic, I must listen or suffer very unpleasant consequences. But, even when I am "being good" and only eating what I should or at least only eating what I shouldn't in small quantities, that doesn't change the desire for sweets or carbs.
God's righteousness should be the same for all believers. This beatitude is all about those who just can get enough of God. They know first hand the impact that He can have in their lives and they are so consumed with the desire for more of it that they literally "hunger and thirst" for it.
When those seasons arise that we all seem to face from time to time where we aren't as close to God as we should be, the longing for God's righteousness doesn't cease. Just like my desire for sweet things, those who "hunger and thirst for righteousness" always have a longing for more, even if they are not pursuing it as they should in their day-to-day walk.
And, when they are hungering, God promises that they will be filled. Since the longing never stops, the filling will be one of abundance, overflowing all of our possible expectations. God wants to bless us with an abundant life. But, we have to want it. We NEED to long for it.
Take Refuge, if your truly long for and hunger for God's righteousness, His blessings will be better than you can ever imagine.
Have you ever had a craving that you just couldn't get enough of? For me, it is any kind of sweet or carb. I am a professed "Carb-aholic." Show me a sweet or pasta and I'm there and ready to consume as much as you will give me. Of course, my doctor is not happy about this attitude and is always telling me to watch what I eat. As a diabetic, I must listen or suffer very unpleasant consequences. But, even when I am "being good" and only eating what I should or at least only eating what I shouldn't in small quantities, that doesn't change the desire for sweets or carbs.
God's righteousness should be the same for all believers. This beatitude is all about those who just can get enough of God. They know first hand the impact that He can have in their lives and they are so consumed with the desire for more of it that they literally "hunger and thirst" for it.
When those seasons arise that we all seem to face from time to time where we aren't as close to God as we should be, the longing for God's righteousness doesn't cease. Just like my desire for sweet things, those who "hunger and thirst for righteousness" always have a longing for more, even if they are not pursuing it as they should in their day-to-day walk.
And, when they are hungering, God promises that they will be filled. Since the longing never stops, the filling will be one of abundance, overflowing all of our possible expectations. God wants to bless us with an abundant life. But, we have to want it. We NEED to long for it.
Take Refuge, if your truly long for and hunger for God's righteousness, His blessings will be better than you can ever imagine.
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Matthew 5 - The gentle
Matthew 5:5 (HCBS) Blessed are the gentle, because they will inherit the earth.
I was raised to view "meekness" more as the sign of weakness rather than a blessing. A gentle or meek man was someone who would not stand up for himself. Someone who would cower away from a fight. Someone who might have been described as a "patsy." But yet, this is one of those many occasions where what man means for bad, God means for good.
This character trait of gentleness is also attributed to Jesus himself. In Matthew 21, Jesus sends two disciples to get a donkey and her colt so that the prophesy of Zechariah 9:9 would be fulfilled.
Zechariah 9:9 (HCSB)
Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion!
Shout in triumph, Daughter Jerusalem!
See, your King is coming to you;
He is righteous and victorious,
humble and riding on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
In Matthew 21:5, the King is described as gentle, but the original Hebrew translation of humble really gets to the root of the kind of character that Jesus is blessing in this beatitude. The gentle or meek person described here is one who is truly humble before others, content with who they are and accepting of God's provision on their behalf. In modern terms, the gentle ones love to F.R.O.G. (Fully Rely On God).
As a result of this character trait, Jesus says they will inherit the earth. As described in The Message, Matthew 5:5b, "That's the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can't be bought." Those who are content and humble realize they already have much more than those who are pursuing money and things for the accumulation of wealth.
Take refuge in your gentleness or meekness. Your humility before God will be rewarded.
I was raised to view "meekness" more as the sign of weakness rather than a blessing. A gentle or meek man was someone who would not stand up for himself. Someone who would cower away from a fight. Someone who might have been described as a "patsy." But yet, this is one of those many occasions where what man means for bad, God means for good.
This character trait of gentleness is also attributed to Jesus himself. In Matthew 21, Jesus sends two disciples to get a donkey and her colt so that the prophesy of Zechariah 9:9 would be fulfilled.
Zechariah 9:9 (HCSB)
Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion!
Shout in triumph, Daughter Jerusalem!
See, your King is coming to you;
He is righteous and victorious,
humble and riding on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
In Matthew 21:5, the King is described as gentle, but the original Hebrew translation of humble really gets to the root of the kind of character that Jesus is blessing in this beatitude. The gentle or meek person described here is one who is truly humble before others, content with who they are and accepting of God's provision on their behalf. In modern terms, the gentle ones love to F.R.O.G. (Fully Rely On God).
As a result of this character trait, Jesus says they will inherit the earth. As described in The Message, Matthew 5:5b, "That's the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can't be bought." Those who are content and humble realize they already have much more than those who are pursuing money and things for the accumulation of wealth.
Take refuge in your gentleness or meekness. Your humility before God will be rewarded.
Saturday, April 16, 2011
Matthew 5 - Those Who Mourn
Matthew 5:4 (HCSB) "Blessed are those who mourn, because they will be comforted."
The key to understanding this beatitude is consider what the mourner is mourning. A clearer understanding is found in The Message, "You're blessed when you feel you've lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you."
I know that almost all of us have experienced the loss of someone special in our lives. The sorrow and what some might describe as devastation that we feel as a result of the loss can be insurmountable at times. You feel a heavy weight and a dark cloud that you don't think will ever disappear.
Have you ever been unjustly accused? The loss of "what is most dear" may be your reputation that is blemished by someone else's accusations that just simply are not true. If the accuser is someone that you love, then the loss is doubled resulting in sorrowful mourning.
However, what if in the light of such situations, you choose not to mourn but rather to be angry and shake your fist at God saying, "How dare you? Why would you do this to me?" When tragedy is accompanied with anger, bitterness is the natural result. And bitterness leads to broken relationships with others and with your Heavenly Father. Remember, whatever your tragedy, God didn't cause it to happen just to punish you for something in your life. Our response to tragedy is a reflection of our spirit and trust in a loving Father.
When we mourn a loss, we also allow ourselves to be comforted both physically and spiritually. The Greek word for comfort is parakaleo which is also translated as encouraged or exhorted. Our Heavenly Father wants to comfort and encourage and exhort us when we are mourning and broken in our spirit. In our weakness, He is strong. But when we choose to act "strong" showing a "stiff upper lip" to those who are closest to us or choosing anger over sorrow, we are also rejecting God's love for us.
Your attitude in your tragedy or distress will determine the spiritual outcome of your mourning. 2 Corinthians 7:10 (The Message), "Distress that drives us to God does that. It turns us around. It gets us back in the way of salvation. We never regret that kind of pain. But those who let distress drive them away from God are full of regrets, end up on a deathbed of regrets."
Take refuge in your mourning. God wants to comfort you and shower His love on you. It is your choice whether you allow Him to do that for you.
The key to understanding this beatitude is consider what the mourner is mourning. A clearer understanding is found in The Message, "You're blessed when you feel you've lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you."
I know that almost all of us have experienced the loss of someone special in our lives. The sorrow and what some might describe as devastation that we feel as a result of the loss can be insurmountable at times. You feel a heavy weight and a dark cloud that you don't think will ever disappear.
Have you ever been unjustly accused? The loss of "what is most dear" may be your reputation that is blemished by someone else's accusations that just simply are not true. If the accuser is someone that you love, then the loss is doubled resulting in sorrowful mourning.
However, what if in the light of such situations, you choose not to mourn but rather to be angry and shake your fist at God saying, "How dare you? Why would you do this to me?" When tragedy is accompanied with anger, bitterness is the natural result. And bitterness leads to broken relationships with others and with your Heavenly Father. Remember, whatever your tragedy, God didn't cause it to happen just to punish you for something in your life. Our response to tragedy is a reflection of our spirit and trust in a loving Father.
When we mourn a loss, we also allow ourselves to be comforted both physically and spiritually. The Greek word for comfort is parakaleo which is also translated as encouraged or exhorted. Our Heavenly Father wants to comfort and encourage and exhort us when we are mourning and broken in our spirit. In our weakness, He is strong. But when we choose to act "strong" showing a "stiff upper lip" to those who are closest to us or choosing anger over sorrow, we are also rejecting God's love for us.
Your attitude in your tragedy or distress will determine the spiritual outcome of your mourning. 2 Corinthians 7:10 (The Message), "Distress that drives us to God does that. It turns us around. It gets us back in the way of salvation. We never regret that kind of pain. But those who let distress drive them away from God are full of regrets, end up on a deathbed of regrets."
Take refuge in your mourning. God wants to comfort you and shower His love on you. It is your choice whether you allow Him to do that for you.
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Matthew 5 - Poor in Spirit
Matthew 5:3 (HCSB) "Blessed are the poor in spirit, because the kingdom of heaven is theirs."
Poor in spirit. That's a phrase the philosophers and theologians alike have pondered over the ages. You will find it described in many ways, but almost always as a concept of seeing yourself as a lowly being in the face of a Holy God. Proverbs 16:19 (HCSB) says, "Better to be lowly of spirit with the humble than to divide plunder with the proud."
Jesus describes Himself as "gentle and humble in heart" in Matthew 11:29. In Isaiah 66:2, God is saying, "I will look favorably on this kind of person: one who is humble, submissive in spirit, and who trembles at My word." Here the word submissive can also be translated as broken.
Luke 18,9-14 (HCSB), He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and looked down on everyone else: "Two men went up to the temple complex to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee took his stand and was praying like this: 'God, I thank You that I'm not like other people —greedy, unrighteous, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of everything I get.' But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even raise his eyes to heaven but kept striking his chest and saying, 'God, turn Your wrath from me —a sinner!' I tell you, this one went down to his house justified rather than the other; because everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted."
What is your spirit like? Are you the one who is thankful they are not like others who you see as lower than you or are you like the tax collector acknowledging that you are a sinner deserving of God's wrath? Like is so often true, God chooses to bless those who feel unworthy. Being truly poor in spirit is submitting yourself wholly to a just and righteous God expecting the punishment we deserve.
Take refuge, when we submit ourselves to God, understanding that we deserve punishment for our sinful nature, then God can bless us out of His mercy and love. Remember, as long as we are looking for the blessing that we think we deserve, we are not "poor in spirit".
Poor in spirit. That's a phrase the philosophers and theologians alike have pondered over the ages. You will find it described in many ways, but almost always as a concept of seeing yourself as a lowly being in the face of a Holy God. Proverbs 16:19 (HCSB) says, "Better to be lowly of spirit with the humble than to divide plunder with the proud."
Jesus describes Himself as "gentle and humble in heart" in Matthew 11:29. In Isaiah 66:2, God is saying, "I will look favorably on this kind of person: one who is humble, submissive in spirit, and who trembles at My word." Here the word submissive can also be translated as broken.
Luke 18,9-14 (HCSB), He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and looked down on everyone else: "Two men went up to the temple complex to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee took his stand and was praying like this: 'God, I thank You that I'm not like other people —greedy, unrighteous, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of everything I get.' But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even raise his eyes to heaven but kept striking his chest and saying, 'God, turn Your wrath from me —a sinner!' I tell you, this one went down to his house justified rather than the other; because everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted."
What is your spirit like? Are you the one who is thankful they are not like others who you see as lower than you or are you like the tax collector acknowledging that you are a sinner deserving of God's wrath? Like is so often true, God chooses to bless those who feel unworthy. Being truly poor in spirit is submitting yourself wholly to a just and righteous God expecting the punishment we deserve.
Take refuge, when we submit ourselves to God, understanding that we deserve punishment for our sinful nature, then God can bless us out of His mercy and love. Remember, as long as we are looking for the blessing that we think we deserve, we are not "poor in spirit".
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Matthew 4 - He called, they followed.
Matthew 4:18-22 (HCSB) "As He was walking along the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon, who was called Peter, and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the sea, since they were fishermen. "Follow Me," He told them, "and I will make you fish for people!" Immediately they left their nets and followed Him. Going on from there, He saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and his brother John. They were in a boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and He called them. Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed Him."
When Jesus called the disciples, they didn't hesitate or delay. They followed him immediately. As Matthew 4:20 says in The Message, "They didn't ask questions, but simply dropped their nets and followed." There was immediate obedience.
I've often wondered why this was. Peter and Andrew may have heard of Jesus by this time, but they didn't even ask, "Why me?" They just dropped everything and left. The same was true with James and John even leaving their father in the boat along with the nets they were mending. They could have said, "We'll follow you, but let us finish mending these nets first." But instead, "they were just as quick to follow, abandoning boat and father." (Matthew 4:22 - The Message).
What do you do when Jesus calls you? For me, it was to run in the other direction. I was afraid of what it would "cost" me. Would I have to be a "Jesus freak?" What would it feel like for people to tell me they didn't want to hear about the God that I was following. And, consider the financial cost. Most pastors are not financially "well off." No, the cost for me was too great, so I ran -- until now.
God has been patient with me and continued to pursue me until finally, I have surrendered to His call on my life to do whatever He asks. I don't yet know what that is or what the "cost" will be, but like the disciples, I need to stop asking questions and simply follow.
In retrospect, I think Peter and the others were glad they did. They got to spend 3 years learning at the feet of the Son of God! They got to see first hand the miracles that he was performing and hear from Him how to live an abundant life.
Take refuge, my friend, when God calls it is worth it to answer without hesitation. And, even if you delay, He will still pursue you because He has a perfect plan for you and He wants the very best for you. Give your life and your will to Him. You can trust Him, He won't lead you astray.
When Jesus called the disciples, they didn't hesitate or delay. They followed him immediately. As Matthew 4:20 says in The Message, "They didn't ask questions, but simply dropped their nets and followed." There was immediate obedience.
I've often wondered why this was. Peter and Andrew may have heard of Jesus by this time, but they didn't even ask, "Why me?" They just dropped everything and left. The same was true with James and John even leaving their father in the boat along with the nets they were mending. They could have said, "We'll follow you, but let us finish mending these nets first." But instead, "they were just as quick to follow, abandoning boat and father." (Matthew 4:22 - The Message).
What do you do when Jesus calls you? For me, it was to run in the other direction. I was afraid of what it would "cost" me. Would I have to be a "Jesus freak?" What would it feel like for people to tell me they didn't want to hear about the God that I was following. And, consider the financial cost. Most pastors are not financially "well off." No, the cost for me was too great, so I ran -- until now.
God has been patient with me and continued to pursue me until finally, I have surrendered to His call on my life to do whatever He asks. I don't yet know what that is or what the "cost" will be, but like the disciples, I need to stop asking questions and simply follow.
In retrospect, I think Peter and the others were glad they did. They got to spend 3 years learning at the feet of the Son of God! They got to see first hand the miracles that he was performing and hear from Him how to live an abundant life.
Take refuge, my friend, when God calls it is worth it to answer without hesitation. And, even if you delay, He will still pursue you because He has a perfect plan for you and He wants the very best for you. Give your life and your will to Him. You can trust Him, He won't lead you astray.
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