Psalm 139:2 He understands!!!!

You know when I sit down and when I rise up; You understand my thought from afar. 

(Psa 139:2)

Think about it.  I know you know that God knows when we sit don and when we rise up.  But have you considered that He "understands" our thoughts?  That's not just our good thoughts or our thoughts about Him but He understands our less than acceptable thoughts as well.  He understands!!

Consider:

Therefore, He had to be made like His brethren in all things, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted.   (Heb 2:17-18)

He understands!!

I don't know how to express the depth and breadth of this.  It, for me, is overwhelming and kind of a scary comfort.  He understands!!

Consider - He was made like us- He was tempted Himself.  Yes, unlike us He did not sin but He "gets it."

Now, this can in no way be taken as some sort of an excuse for our way-ward and inappropriate thoughts - sin is still sin and error will always be error - but He understands!!

As Patti and I pass through this time of testing and trial we have "not so good thoughts."  Fearful thoughts, legalistic thoughts, hopeless thoughts, fleshly thoughts and murmuring thoughts.  They just come and when they do they distress us - greatly.  But I keep having some interesting thoughts as well.

I think, "Why me, why this,why now, why so heavy?"  Kind of like Moses I want to say, "Here I am Lord, send Aaron!"   Even, "Let this cup pass from me!"  But I am humbled when

I have the thought, "If not me, then who?"  I struggle to accept that this is His will for us right now.  Not to sound arrogant - but, He picked us for this and this for us for His glory and honor - not to mention our blessing.  This makes us no more "special" than any other believers - it just makes us the ones He is using where we are, in this circumstance.

With no Egypt there would have been no Exodus.  Without a crucifixion there would have been no resurrection.  No, I'm not elevating myself or my situation but I am trying hard to see it within the context of God bringing glory to Himself and strengthening me.

What helps is, He understands my fearful and anxious thought,s and though I know He desires that I overcome them by trusting Him, He is sympathetic to my weakness and frailty (which is part of what He wants me to see and appreciate so I will lean on Him).

Please dear ones hold tight to the truth that He understands all our thoughts!  Yes, He disapproves of many and worries for us over others but none of them come as some cosmic shock to Him.  He knew we'd have them and has provided relief for and from them because He understands!

Father my heart and my mind are weak and rebellious.  Only You can temper and tame them.  Knowing that You understand and that You sympathize and provide is such a comfort.

But Father, do not let me grow lazy or complacent concerning them.  Let me take hold of them and bring them to You for Your ministry and mercy.  Be gentle with me Lord for I am much like a little rabbit - jumpy and anxious.  Care for me by giving me the heart of a child when it comes to You.  Give me stronger trust and firmer assurance as each day passes and my imaginings and fancies prove false though frightening.

Let me know more and more Your lovingkindness and Your understanding and open myself to Your instruction and care.  Make me remember Your past mercies and provision and be deaf to the lies and cries of the deceiver.  Let me look only to You and hear only You as You minister to me through Your Word, Your Spirit and Your people.

Thank You for letting me know - You understand!!

Amen

Psalm 39:1-3

Psalm 39:1-3 ESV
I said, "I will guard my ways, that I may not sin with my tongue;I will guard my mouth with a muzzle, so long as the wicked are in my presence." [2] I was mute and silent; I held my peace to no avail,and my distress grew worse. [3] My heart became hot within me.As I mused, the fire burned; then I spoke with my tongue:

Psalm 69:20

Psalm 69:20 ESV
Reproaches have broken my heart, so that I am in despair.  I looked for pity, but there was none, and for comforters, but I found none.

Been their?  Done that?

I read this and my heart was pierced.  I felt the weight of loneliness and abandonment.  It was so very painful.

But as I considered the passage I realized that my feeling wan't fact because I indeed knew that we were pitied (not negatively) and that we has many comforters.  BUT - I did have to look.

It wasn't pity and comforters I have to look at but rather my sense of having none.  I had to confess that my sense of abandonment - of loneliness - of despair we due more to my expectations than any lack of these things.  I had to confess that my "feeling" was due to not seeing any hero on the horizon - not hearing the bugle call of the cavalry coming to the rescue.  I despaired because of my expectations.

It is not uncommon or necessarily wrong to look to people for help as God does use His people to comfort and care for one another.  But I learned that we have to look to Him and not cast about for His means - especially those means we think He should use.  We have to keep our desires, our godly longings and needs focused on Him first, foremost and always.

I also realized that our burdens - just by their existence - were burdens to others.  There are others who hurt and ache for us.  They call out o God for us. They call out to God for more than we know - for us.  Family, friends, other believers - even other believers we don't know or know vaguely.

I was doing business with someone I sometimes use for computer fixes.  I was in a particularly sensitive place in heart and mind.  I guess it showed because shortly after leaving their place of business I got an email from them.  They told me they noticed I was troubled and asked me what was wrong.  I was overwhelmed with surprise and gratitude.

Here was another believer I didn't know well who was sensitive to my need just through my countenance (and probably the Spirit ;-}).  They not only noticed but were willing to take action by inquiring and asking and lifting us up in prayer.  God's hand was in this, I have no doubt.  

What's the point here?  I was looking to friends, family, business associated (all believers) and God threw me a curve ball.  He sent someone outside my circle who noticed, asked, pitied (in a good way) and offered comfort.  I was amazed and grateful but it took a while for me to see the depth and breadth of this blessing.  I am reminded of:


I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.   (Psa 121:1-2)

We typically look to "the hills" for help when we should be looking to the Lord.  This is common because the flesh is still active and it's a nasty habit.  We look everywhere thinking we are looking to Him when we really aren't.  We try to "figure out" how He is going to answer our prayers and we do this figuring in the flesh.  We think of people, circumstances, fate, coincidence, all kinds of things that He may use - but we fool ourselves that in doing this we are looking to Him.

Like God's people all throughout history we begin to seek provision through or from someone or something other than God.  Time and time again we see believers being enticed away from God to sources that offer no hope.  It is, unfortunately, a common thing but a bad thing.

Our "hope," our "trust," is only in Him.


I wait for the LORD, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope.   (Psa 130:5)

Father, may Your Name be glorified by my trust in You.  Forgive my casting about, forgive my seeking in the flesh.  I believe Father - help me in my unbelief.  As a little child I come to You for comfort and correction and like a good Father You have always taken care for me.  
Don't let me forget all the past and even the present mercies Oh Lord.  Help my mind and heart be focused on Your faithfulness and Your glory.  
You alone know my true needs and only Your provision can satisfy.  Calm my heart and still the voice of the deceiver - give me good strength and courage to wait upon You and the rejoice that it is You I wait upon.  For You can never be unfaithful to Your Word and promise.

Comfort and strengthen us.  Let us see Your hand and sense Your love for we are afflicted and we are weak.

Amen

Anxious? To be or not!

And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? 

Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? 

(Mat 6:27) KJV

How "powerful" am I really?  Sometimes i find myself thinking I'm pretty powerful.  That is a mistake!  Not that i have no talents, skills of abilities but I forget who they come from and who makes them effective.  

It's hard to keep in mind, when we are doing good stuff, that it is all totally dependent upon Him - totally - utterly - of Him.

I was once advised to; "Pray as though it all depended upon God and to work as though it all depended upon me."  Not good advise!  I now "Pray because it all depends upon God and I work (or try to) in utter dependence upon Him."

I can't help but think of Saul (later to be known as Paul).  He was "the man" (or at least one of them) in the Jewish religious institutions.  He knew god, the Law, the traditions and by his own statement he was "the man."  All that talent and training and effort--etc. and he still went the wrong way.

I think, that among other issues, Saul depended upon Saul a lot.  I think it was something he dealt with through out his life and ministry.  This is common to most of us and yet we need to pray for a sensitivity to it or accept the thorn that reminds us of it.

As i consider this passage from Matthew and the issue of anxiety I am mindful of what James wrote:

From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.   (Jas 4:1-3)

Now if our lusts can cause such distress among us surely they will cause the same within us.  I can't help but consider that this is a great source of anxiety within the individual believers life.  

What if, in affliction I struggle with praying for God will to be done and/or my relief/comfort/rescue/etc.   I struggle with the fact that God is glorified in my weakness - even in my affliction and yet I want it to be over.  This conflict just adds to the anxiety i experience.

It's the, "not my will but thine," conundrum.  I get anxious concerning His will and my will being - well - different.  It's not easy!  Certainly I do not face the same cup Christ faced but our "cups" are always BIG to us.  

But, there is one thing I find comfort in even in the cunnundrum!

Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him. 
(Luk 22:42-43)

Two things here.  First, Jesus did not hesitate to take His concern to His Father.  He quite clearly asks for this "cup" to be removed.  So I take that to mean I may do the same.  It also means I need to be willing to pray the whole prayer with one addition --- that we may have missed.

I will also pray for God's strengthening whether by the appearance of an angel, the presence of an angel, direct from God or through the Word and the Spirit (not to leave out the Body).  

Father,
You know my anxiety and fretfulness in the current circumstances.  You know I want You to make them go away.  You know my weakness - my fleshiness - my self-centeredness.  You know much more of my struggle than even I do.

I want to run from the circumstance but I fear that I would be running from You as well.  That I do not want to do.  I have been there and done that and I know it is not good.

I would ask for Your strengthening and Your comfort.  I would also ask You to show me You in all this.  The enemies assail my heart and torment my head and I need to hear You more clearly.

I am sadly afraid - but I take comfort in my Savior's prayer and His surrender to You will for us.  I want very much to do the same but my feet feel frozen and I grow anxious - very anxious.  I want to ask You to "help my unbelief," for I can't pretend there is no unblief in my mind and heart.  I believe - help my unbelief!!!

Anxious, to be or not to be. 012413 x

And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? 

Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? 

(Mat 6:27) KJV

How "powerful" am I really?  Sometimes i find myself thinking I'm pretty powerful.  That is a mistake!  Not that i have no talents, skills of abilities but I forget who they come from and who makes them effective.  

It's hard to keep in mind, when we are doing good stuff, that it is all totally dependent upon Him - totally - utterly - of Him.

I was once advised to; "Pray as though it all depended upon God and to work as though it all depended upon me."  Not good advise!  I now "Pray because it all depends upon God and I work (or try to) in utter dependence upon Him."

I can't help but think of Saul (later to be known as Paul).  He was "the man" (or at least one of them) in the Jewish religious institutions.  He knew god, the Law, the traditions and by his own statement he was "the man."  All that talent and training and effort--etc. and he still went the wrong way.

I think, that among other issues, Saul depended upon Saul a lot.  I think it was something he dealt with through out his life and ministry.  This is common to most of us and yet we need to pray for a sensitivity to it or accept the thorn that reminds us of it.

As i consider this passage from Matthew and the issue of anxiety I am mindful of what James wrote:

From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.   (Jas 4:1-3)

Now if our lusts can cause such distress among us surely they will cause the same within us.  I can't help but consider that this is a great source of anxiety within the individual believers life.  

What if, in affliction I struggle with praying for God will to be done and/or my relief/comfort/rescue/etc.   I struggle with the fact that God is glorified in my weakness - even in my affliction and yet I want it to be over.  This conflict just adds to the anxiety i experience.

It's the, "not my will but thine," conundrum.  I get anxious concerning His will and my will being - well - different.  It's not easy!  Certainly I do not face the same cup Christ faced but our "cups" are always BIG to us.  

But, there is one thing I find comfort in even in the cunnundrum!


Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him. 
(Luk 22:42-43)

Two things here.  First, Jesus did not hesitate to take His concern to His Father.  He quite clearly asks for this "cup" to be removed.  So I take that to mean I may do the same.  It also means I need to be willing to pray the whole prayer with one addition --- that we may have missed.

I will also pray for God's strengthening whether by the appearance of an angel, the presence of an angel, direct from God or through the Word and the Spirit (not to leave out the Body).  

Father,
You know my anxiety and fretfulness in the current circumstances.  You know I want You to make them go away.  You know my weakness - my fleshiness - my self-centeredness.  You know much more of my struggle than even I do.

I want to run from the circumstance but I fear that I would be running from You as well.  That I do not want to do.  I have been there and done that and I know it is not good.

I would ask for Your strengthening and Your comfort.  I would also ask You to show me You in all this.  The enemies assail my heart and torment my head and I need to hear You more clearly.

I am sadly afraid - but I take comfort in my Savior's prayer and His surrender to You will for us.  I want very much to do the same but my feet feel frozen and I grow anxious - very anxious.  I want to ask You to "help my unbelief," for I can't pretend there is no unblief in my mind and heart.  I believe - help my unbelief!!!

Being of more value. 012413b

Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?   (Mat 6:26)

Continuing His lesson Jesus gives us an example from nature.

He asks us to consider our "value," to our Father.

Birds can't sow, reap or gather - yet they are provided for.

If you can't sow, reap or gather - does thin not suggest that God will feed (provide for) you?

Is this just about food?  I think not!  This is about value.

Actually I believe it's about who we look to in order to determine our value.

Birds?  I'm of greater value that birds?  Actually the idea here is that we are "of so much MORE value" than birds. 

Birds have a role in God's creation no less critical to the sustaining of that creation than anything else.  God maintains everything they need to fulfill their role in His creation.  There are lots of birds - that takes a lot of maintaining.  It's not a simple thing nor is it insignificant!

Then there is "us."  We were God's viceroys in the Garden.  Note:


Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth." 
(Gen 1:26)

The LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it. 
(Gen 2:15)

God's intention for us was to be His means of maintaining His creation.  We were to work and keep the garden which in turn would provide for all the creatures of the creation.  Pretty important stuff!  

Now, in this fallen world our role has changed.  Now we are called to show forth His glory, to be holy as He is.  We are his witnesses, living testaments to His glory and goodness.  How much value can we put on that?

Consider:

". . . . when He comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed."   (2Th 1:10)

Whose "value" do we choose accept?  His or the world's?  Who do we look to?  How do we measure it?  

The redemption of the creation - the birds - cost Him His Son.  However the price was demanded for our sin not for the birds' sins (birds don't sin they just suffer its effects).  So He paid the demanded price - for OUR sin - that He might redeems His creation.

Where in our fleshly spectrum of value do we really put that?  Is it first or just a close second?  Do we really accept that we are valuable enough for God to give His Son?  Are we willing to accept that his love for us was so great that he sent His Son to be a man, to suffer and be tempted as a man and then be killed as a criminal?  How valuable does that make us?

Are we willing to accept and live with Jesus as our total net worth?  Are we willing to be rejected and scorned and put down by the world so that we might live out His gracious gift for and to us?

Or do we play with the world's criteria for worth and value measuring our lives by their standards?  And how well have those standards served Him or His creation?  How cruelly have the standards of the world dealt with the world?

Think on what God has done for and in you.  Consider what you might be tempted to trade it for.  In times of weakness and suffering it is not uncommon for us to fall into "if only," and to see ourselves as worthless failures.  It is a struggle to cling to God's love and the value He has given us - He has made us ultimately valuable - He has given us a worth beyond words - Pray and think on that.

Father,

In these tough times I see my sin and my errors.  I see how I have been deceived and schemed by the world, the flesh and the devil.  Now, in my distress those three cruel enemies taunt me and pour shame upon me.  Help me Father, to cling to Your gracious gift as the only thing that matters.  Let the cruel accusations and aspersions of those three enemies drop from my mind and heart.  Deafen my ears to them, let me be comforted and let by Your Word and Your Spirit as I seek to  follow You in whatever circumstance I find myself in.

Two things I ask of you; deny them not to me before I die: Remove far from me falsehood and lying; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is needful for me, lest I be full and deny you and say, "Who is the LORD?" or lest I be poor and steal and profane the name of my God.   (Pro 30:7-9)

In the name of Jesus and for His glory, amen.

What's "more than?" 012413

"Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?   (Mat 6:25)

Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?

"Life," here is the Greek word for "breath."  It carries for us the meaning we see in Genesis where God "breathed" life into Adam.  Call it what you are comfortable with but the intent is for us to consider now so much our "living" but our "life" itself.

The Westminster Cataclysm asks what man's "end" his sole "end it.  The response it to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.  This, in brief is what "life" is for.  It is the main and plain purpose for us - for all men - but especially for believers

"Body," is the word "soma" meaning the body as a "sound whole."  It directs us to the fact that we are not a this and a that and another thing but rather we are a "whole" creature.  

Jesus is taking us to a place that most of us find, well, kind of weird.  He is talking about (I think) more God's desire for us as living creatures than He is about just the physical, mental and spiritual "parts" we find is so convenient to discuss in isolation from one another.  We are a whole being whose existence is utterly dependent upon the "breath" that gives us life.

It is not only what we are (and are intended for) but that God given "breath" that allowed us to become living souls.

So what's the point?

Perhaps it is that we worry too much about what sustains and adorns the "body" and what our "life" achieves instead of our fundamental purpose.  Which is, as we've said, to glorify God and enjoy Him forever - even here.

Well, you'll not find yourself "enjoying" God here without the requisite "glorifying" of God here.  The enjoyment can only be experienced in the glorification.  

John 9 is my favorite chapter in all the Word.  Jesus is asked if a certain man was born blind because of his sin or his parent's sin.  Jesus replies:

 "It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him.   (Joh 9:3)

God is glorified in the miracle of this man receiving his sight.  But as wonderful as this is we must accept that the man was afflicted with blindness from birth.  This was not a condition in that day that has the options available in ours.

Consider:

The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 

(Rom 8:16-18)

Many of you are "suffering" now and I am sure, like us, you want a reason.  Paul gives it here.  Keep in mind that Paul did not just suffer persecution, he suffered from all the everyday, garden varieties of difficulties and affliction we suffer.  

When we read of suffering in the Word we need to be very aware that if there were no sin there would not even be a "common" cold or allergies or infections.  Living in a fallen world, for the redeemed, must be understood as a time of suffering - either ordinary suffering or extra-ordinary suffering.

BUT - regardless of which type of suffering we are experiencing it is for His glory so that His works made be seen.  His glory will be seen in His magnificent deliverance and/or in our faithful trusting and standing for Him.  

It is His faithfulness and our faithfulness that is more than food or clothing - or anything else.  

Consider:

Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead.   (2Co 1:9)

For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.   (2Co 4:11)

. . . . as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death. (Php 1:20)

But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ   (Php 3:7-8)

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. 

(1Pe 5:10)

I pray that you and I can grow in our knowledge and love of God that we might, like Paul and Peter (and soooo many others) come to understand that through His power and Spirit we can accept whatever He allows (or brings) into our lives and that He will be glorified in our faithfulness.

I know some of you are wondering why these blogs are so personal and intimate.  Well, if Paul finds it appropriate to "boast" in his weakness I will follow his example - praying that God will be glorified.  God is strong and gracious to deliver and he is strong and gracious to sustain.  As He works in our lives He is glorified as we rely upon Him for it.

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.   (2Co 12:9)

“This is faith: a renouncing of everything we are apt to call our own and relying wholly upon the blood, righteousness and intercession of Jesus.”   ― John Newton

Anxious?

"No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money. "Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?    (Mat 6:24-25)

I am astounded at the "therefore."  Jesus has called His hearers to a point of decision, Mammon or God.  It's a hard choice in that our service to Mammon can be so very very subtle and has roots running deep into our flesh.  We can make the good choice but that only initiates the hard work of "rooting out" Mammon-ness.

But having called them to a point of decision He goes on as though they had indeed made the right choice.  He is telling us, "Having chosen God over Mammon do not be anxious about your life."  then he enumerates many of the things we do ge anxious about.  I hesitate to see this list as definitive (that is limited only to what is here) but rather I am tempted to expand it this way:

"Do not be anxious about those material things you need God to provide so that you may serve and honor Him while you are here."

I am reminded of Abraham when he was called to sacrifice Issac.  I can think of no greater "hard place" to be than the one he found himself in and yet he states:

Abraham said, "God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son." (Gen 22:8)

As i read this I wonder if we might consider that God will provide Himself with what is needed for His children to live in obedience and service.  The twist here is that God is providing it for Himself to us for His glory and honor.  Hope that's not too weird I don't want to start a theological fuss!

But if everything God does (and calls us to do) is for His glory - can't we see that he is providing it for Himself to us so we might glorify Him?

He KNOWS what we need - we THINK we know what we need.  See the difference?

Jesus asks a question we need to prayerfully consider and seek the Spirits guidance concerning:

"Is not life more than.....?"

Isn't it?  Really?

Please know I am aware of how tough a question that is and how so very much works to keep us from accepting this and living it out.  I am especially aware at how parents struggle so very much to raise their children to know this and live this.  We are in prayer for you all - please be in prayer for us as well.

msanders.bc@gmail.com

Isn't it?? Really?? 012313

"No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money. "Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?    (Mat 6:24-25)

I am astounded at the "therefore."  Jesus has called His hearers to a point of decision, Mammon or God.  It's a hard choice in that our service to Mammon can be so very very subtle and has roots running deep into our flesh.  We can make the good choice but that only initiates the hard work of "rooting out" Mammon-ness.

But having called them to a point of decision He goes on as though they had indeed made the right choice.  He is telling us, "Having chosen God over Mammon do not be anxious about your life."  then he enumerates many of the things we do ge anxious about.  I hesitate to see this list as definitive (that is limited only to what is here) but rather I am tempted to expand it this way:

"Do not be anxious about those material things you need God to provide so that you may serve and honor Him while you are here."

I am reminded of Abraham when he was called to sacrifice Issac.  I can think of no greater "hard place" to be than the one he found himself in and yet he states:


Abraham said, "God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son." (Gen 22:8)

As i read this I wonder if we might consider that God will provide Himself with what is needed for His children to live in obedience and service.  The twist here is that God is providing it for Himself to us for His glory and honor.  Hope that's not too weird I don't want to start a theological fuss!

But if everything God does (and calls us to do) is for His glory - can't we see that he is providing it for Himself to us so we might glorify Him?

He KNOWS what we need - we THINK we know what we need.  See the difference?

Jesus asks a question we need to prayerfully consider and seek the Spirits guidance concerning:

"Is not life more than.....?"

Isn't it?  Really?

Please know I am aware of how tough a question that is and how so very much works to keep us from accepting this and living it out.  I am especially aware at how parents struggle so very much to raise their children to know this and live this.  We are in prayer for you all - please be in prayer for us as well.

msanders.bc@gmail.com

Flee - run away! 012313

For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs. But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness.   (1Ti 6:10-11)

Two things really stood out for me in these verses.  "craving" and "wandered away from the faith."

On the subject of "cravings" or literally "stretching out."  I certainly understand the error of this and it's subtlety.  It is not hard for any of us to find ourselves so dissatisfied with both what we have and what we don't have that we go beyond God's provision or mis-handle God's provisions so that we are indeed "stretched out."

But don't make the mistake of thinking simply in terms of being financially stretched out.  More relationships - especially marriages - suffer greatly from financial "stretching."  but it really isn't the money (I am learning) that is the problem.  It is the fear and guilt of being on thin financial ice.  It is also the conviction of the Holy Spirit working in our hearts and minds and our resistance to it.

Our flesh not only indulges itself in all the recriminations and accusations the unbeliever experiences but it resists the promptings and conviction of the Holy Spirit.  For the young or weak believer all these "feelings" can get mixed together and seem to be one.  But they are not.  We need to take the biblical view that sin is sin and that God has blessed us with the Spirit that we might recognize it and repent.  

This can result in that "wandering away from the faith."  Huh?  Well, when we are in distress and we are sensing a need to be rescued from it our flesh wants us to turn to things of this world in order to solve the problem.  But the critical factor is that the flesh wants us to do this instead of turning to God and seeking His correction and solution.

"Wandering away from the faith," may refer more to wandering away from trusting God than in refers to some theological or doctrinal error (however - this is also very possible).

I have had to simply recognize that the provision I have mis-used came from God and that the provision I need must come from Him as well.  Certainly He can and will use secondary sources to bring that provision but we have to fight the fight of keeping our eyes on Him.

God does not scheme and His people need to avoid scheming as well.  If I had a nickle for every "scheme" I've come up with in our current situation - well, I think I'd be out of this situation.  But the cost of doing it according to the world, the flesh and the devil is much to high (trust me, I know).  I have to really "keep my eyes and ears on Him," sometimes by force.

I have a love/hate relationship with the Puritans.  I love their insight and sensitivity but I struggle with their faithful acceptance of the fact that "here" isn't any kind of priority.  What I mean is that they had such a wonderful hope of heaven that they really did count everything as "dung" compared to the riches of God's grace.  

I consistently read their admonitions to trivialize earthly needs (in relation to heavenly provision) and I am dumb-struck - and not a little ashamed of myself.  They lived in a cycle of earthly need.  They were no strangers to suddenly suffering the loss of their "livings" not to mention their incarcerations.  And yet they were satisfied that God's will was perfect regardless of the earthly consequences.

That's the part I "hate," because it reveals to me my lack of strength and maturity in the Way.  It shows me my weakness and self-centeredness.  It shows me my sin.  Though this is truly a blessing, it hurts deeply and my flesh hates it (another sign of the battle we must fight).

But Paul admonishes us to "flee" from all of this.  If we're not in it we must watch and pray that we might be warned and flee.  If we're in it we must trust and pray and flee from within it.

We are to, "Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness."  as well as:

Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 

(1Ti 6:12)

This is tough to do when the bill collectors are calling or unexpected needs arise.  This is difficult as we struggle to pretend to our brothers and sisters that all is well (not a good thing).  This is difficult when we live in a culture where we are told we have to "succeed" according to the standards and ways of the world, flesh and devil.

But we must pursue these things regardless of where they lead us here in this temporary residence.  We must flee from this evil but we must flee to Him.  Just running away from the problem does not sever the tie.  We must go to the only one who can free us from all the fleshly pain and sorrow even i it is through godly pain and sorrow.

I'm learning - quite late - a lesson I have not studied and absorbed.  It is hard and it is good.

We, Patti and i, are praying for all of you who are where we are and we pray that you will - as we are striving to - break away from the world, the flesh and the devil and flee to Him more faithfully and more whole-heartedly.

Devoted - Despised 12323b

Matthew 6:24 ESV
"No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.

Devoted = hold firmly

Despise = to think against

Nothing vague here.  Of course the:thing was hard to miss!

Hate = detest

Love =to be contented/well pleased

These are not "feelings" they are choices.  Deliberate choices that each of us must make often and faithfully.

Check your "log!" 012313

Matthew 6:24 ESV
"No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.

We've had a look at the love of money and how it can be so subtle and easy to miss.  And that led me to greed.  Yeah, ouch!

See like to think of greed as we do avarice.  If it's not big and obvious and abusive then it must not be there.  Right?  Well not really.

See, we have been somewhat numbed to sin as sin with no degrees or shades.  We have actually come to a place where we talk about "little" sins and "big" sins.  We have even come to find comfort in opposing and fighting some sins while conveniently ignoring others.

Oh, this is nothing "new" but in considering the passage in Matthew I was struck that it is a clear either/or with no buffer room at all.  So, if I am a "little greedy," or a little mammonish I'm on the wrong side of the line.

Yes, we all sin.  But we must keep the following in mind AND heart:

1 John 1:8-10 ESV
If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. [9] If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. [10] If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

We will not cease to battle sin this side of heaven but it is a battle we must keep clearly in view.  We must faithfully seek the Spirit's conviction, faithfully confess our sins and faithfully repent - knowing His promise of forgiveness is realized through the blessing of conviction and repentance.

Consider also:

Luke 6:41-42 ESV
Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? [42] How can you say to your brother, 'Brother, let me take out the speck that is in your eye,' when you yourself do not see the log that is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother's eye.

Our sin should be "logs" to us.  Our brothers' sins but specks.  God did not forgive me my brothers' sins but my own.  He did not die for my brothers' sin to redeem me but died for my sins.

I have no "specks" only logs.  If I have grown to see them as specks I am well and sadly deceived.  But, being received is not sin, just it's "on ramp.". If I do not seek/pray to discover my decievedness then I sin.  If I ignore my deception when it is exposed, I sin.

A Deeper View 012213b

"No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money. (Mat 6:24)

"Money"  mammōnas:  Wealth personified; avarice

Ouch!

Most definitions of avarice say it's "extreme" - excessive or insatiable desire for wealth or gain : greediness.

But is that what Jesus is actually saying?  I don't think so.  I believe He's making a clear comparison between who/what we look to for our providence.  In the context of this, even the slightest "avarice" is extreme.

You don't have to be a greedy-wealth driven person to fit into what Jesus is talking about.  If I am looking to "money" as the answer to my problems and not to God, then I am double-mastered - actually I am serving Mammon.  

Paul writes:

For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.  (1Ti 6:10)

The author of Hebrews writes:

Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."  (Heb 13:5)

I have to say I am learning what Paul means by, "pierced themselves with many pangs (sorrows)."  I'm getting pang pierced quite regularly.  

I am especially sorry for all the waste of His provision.  Oh boy - let's leave it at that.  But being "sorry" isn't the point.  Repentance is the point.  I have to turn away from that oh so common money thing to Him.  I have to embrace Him and His promise and accept His will for me.

There was an old saying in my pre-disciple days that we "hippies" used - I will leave that to your imagination but - in this case I'll say, "God will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no God."

Jesus presents us with a choice - and for some it's a big and deep choice.  We have to really examine ourselves (a good thing anytime) for what pieces of avarice/mammon are tucked away in our heads and hearts.  

I suggest - from experience (current experience) that we look for envy, dis-satisfaction, grumbling, fear, anger, etc and see it they are connected to mammon.  

Are we dis-satisfied with God's current provision?  Are we fearful of our future known and unknown needs?  Are we, like Israel in the OT when threatened by invasion, looking to make unwise alliances?  Are we, like they, seeking some thing other than God in our need?

It's common to us but it isn't best.  We all know that.  We all know that God is the loving and gracious Shepherd.  We all know that He gave His best to make us His and that this is the greatest provision we could ask for.  We all know these things - but sometimes He loves us enough to take us to a place where we see our sinful seeking in other places.  He does that to halt us in our tracks and bring us back to His way - the only true way.

Sometimes it feels like He is teaching me to be a little child.  I cried in Patti's arms the other night and prayed to Him for to comfort and strengthen us in His Way.  I felt like a weenie - but I realized I was learning to come to Him as a little child who is utterly dependent upon Him for EVERYTHING.

Just goes to show that we can know something - and yet have to KNOW it better - deeper - more childishly.

Let's examine ourselves and ask His Spirit to both guide us and comfort us as we look for those thin, weak places in our walk.  It's OK, He intendeds to fatten them up and build some muscle.  He is never done with us - which really is good news!

You, those of you who can identify and those of you who don't yet - are in our prayers and  we are vaguely but faithfully lifting you up.  Remember it's "OUR Father ------"

Unwitting Servant? 012213

"No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money. (Mat 6:24)

These are the words with which Jesus begins His teaching concerning - well, concern, worry, fear, anxiety, etc.

I think I am learning more about this as every day passes.  If God is God and He is my God (and I am His child) then what Jesus says after this is wonderful news.  But if I have been seduced and blinded by sin, if I have bought into the world's game plan then perhaps it is still wonderful news but it is frightening news as well.

I must confess that I can see a "two master" part in my heart and mind.  All my worry and anxiety comes from a fear of not having, well, money.  When I had money I was at peace.  Now that money is scarce I find my peace fluctuating and my anxiety gripping me terribly at times.

Is it indeed a desire to trust two mutually exclusive masters that causes me so much distress?  I really have to admit that I really think it is.  My thoughts, at times, seem to revolve around the lack of Mammon and what that may bring with it.  

How can I claim to be His when I struggle so much with my dependency upon Mammon - my fear concerning it - my very real and practical need for it?  

It has been tough times for a lot of us.  But I haven't missed a meal, I have clothes, I have shelter, I even have gas in my car.  So why am I anxious?  Simple, there are coming needs I know and coming needs I suspect and coming needs I know nothing of that taunt me and rattle my cage.  While all the time (today) I am well provided for.

And who, pray tell, other than my God can I thank for this?  No one!  Today I am well - very well cared and provided for.  More than I need today!  

I'll be honest enough to tell you a big factor is, "What will people think?"  Will they think me a fool, irresponsible, a wastrel, a bum, a nut?  We have lived our lived committed to serving Him (poorly but sincerely) trusting Him in what we believed was our calling and He has never failed us.  

But even though we have surrendered many things our culture tells us we are supposed to "have," and "do," I have not really let go of it all.  I still had to have what I wanted but did not need.  So as we struggle I have to take my licks and learn my lesson that I have flirted with and at times surrendered to the lust o the eye, the lust o the flesh and OH boy - the pride of life.  

I write this and am doing this series in order to grow.  Perhaps you will see some of yourself in what I am learning - perhaps not.  But I pray God will bring me to His peace which is only found when I look only to Him for it.  I must hate that "other" god I have danced with and stand with my true God.

May God bless you, comfort you and strengthen you as He walks with you through whatever circumstance you find yourself in.  

EXTRA For we who fear, pray and work to fear rightly!

Sinful fear -- not uncommon - not good.

In his work, Triumphing Over Sinful Fear, John flavel writes some things that I have found convicting and heart breaking in my life.  Perhaps you will be blessed by his words as I was.  I highly recommend the book as a companion to scripture in these difficult times.  He writes of 3 kinds of fear, natural, sinful and holy --- well worth reading and following his guidance.

"Some fear more than they ought, some fear before they ought and others when they ought not at all.  The strong Christian fears God, not man.  The weak Christian fears man too much and God too little."

Based upon what we find in Hosea Flavel writes:
"But their eyes do not look to Me for protection and deliverance.  They expect more from Egypt than from heaven, more from a broken reed than from the Rock of Ages.  Do not fear their fear!  It drives them from Me to the creature.  It first distracts them, and then ensnares them.  In marked contrast, see that you and all the faithful in the land sanctify Me in your hearts, and make Me your fear and dread.  Rely upon Me by faith in this day of trouble.  See that you give Me the glory of My wisdom, power, and faithfulness by relying entirely upon My attributes that are engaged for you in so many tested promises.  Do not give yourself to sinful and vain dealings, as those who have no interest in Me nor experience of Me."

"Sinful fear will cause the best people to attempt to help themselves through sinful compromises."

Isa. 30:15-17a
"In a word, one act of faith will do them more good than Pharaoh and all his forces.  But they refuse to trust God."

"The sinfulness of fear lies in its exess and immoderacy when we fear more than we ought. . . . . Our fear exceeds the value and merit of its cause.  It is a great sin to love or fear any creature above its worth, as if it were master of all our temporal and eternal comforts."

"To trust in any creature as if it had God's power to help us, or to fear any creature as if it had God's power to hurt us, is exceedingly sinful."

Isa. 31:1
"It is a sinful and dangerous mistake to give to a creature that trust and dependence that belongs to God alone."

"Be careful not to fear any man, as if the power of making or marring you were in his hands - as if it were his will and pleasure to save or ruin you.  Do not fear those who can only touch your body, as if they could damn your soul; do not attribute to any creature God's sovereign and incommunicable power."

"The sinfulness of fear consists in its power to dispose and incline people to use sinful means to escape danger.  This casts them into the hands of temptation."

You are in our prayers.