1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Psalm 81:12 New International Version (NIV)
12 So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts
to follow their own devices.
This last week was a difficult one for those follow Jesus and treasure His Word, yet still love this country. The sight of the promise of God, a rainbow, illuminating this country's White House, praising the pride of man and not the glory of God, was unsettling to say the least. We have been outrageously impudent before the God of all to redefine and relabel what He has created. I just looked up another landmark Supreme Court decision, Roe v Wade, and have learned that well over fifty million abortions have been performed in this country since that right was granted in 1973, a court ordered sanction of the taking of lives created by God. Now we have marriage equality. That's a nice phrase to describe our stubborn rebellion against a God ordained covenant, a picture of Christ's own love for his church. We want what we want and God may let us have it. What have we done? Have we set our own house on fire? Is it so important to be on the right side of history that we endanger our eternity? God doesn't change, and in that truth we can find our peace. We can trust Him even though the winds may blow against us.
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[a] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Build Your Kingdom Here - Rend Collective
Lyrics Come set Your rule and reign In our hearts again Increase in us we pray Unveil why we're made Come set our hearts ablaze with hope Like wildfire in our very souls Holy Spirit come invade us now We are Your Church We need Your power In us
We seek Your kingdom first We hunger and we thirst Refuse to waste our lives For You're our joy and prize To see the captive hearts released The hurt; the sick; the poor at peace We lay down our lives for Heaven's cause We are Your church We pray revive This earth
Build Your kingdom here Let the darkness fear Show Your mighty hand Heal our streets and land Set Your church on fire Win this nation back Change the atmosphere Build Your kingdom here We pray
Unleash Your kingdom's power Reaching the near and far No force of hell can stop Your beauty changing hearts You made us for much more than this Awake the kingdom seed in us Fill us with the strength and love of Christ We are Your church We are the hope On earth
6 Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.
1 John 4:20 English Standard Version (ESV)
20 If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot[a] love God whom he has not seen.
Matthew 7:5 English Standard Version (ESV)
5 You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye.
Mark 12:31New International Version (NIV)
31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[a] There is no commandment greater than these.”
Be prepared. Because we live in an age where tolerance is the most acceptable moral standard and laws written by man override the laws of God: the time may not be favorable, but preaching the word of God is what we must do. Still, love always. I know the amazing grace that saved a wretch like me is also well able to save my fellow wretches.
Because I've been thinking about the need to resist temptation, I uploaded a Julie Miller song today, "Don't Let the Devil Ride." It was going to be that or the Blind Boys of Alabama song, "Why Don't You Live So God Can Use You," also a good choice. When the little boy who then lived in my house was misbehaving, I'd quietly ask him, "Are you sinning right now?" For him that was usually all it took to move him in a right direction. It's a question I need to ask myself; and, not just ask, but also answer. The devil runs when we resist. So let's let him run.
"Don't Let the Devil Ride" - Julie Miller
Oh.
Don't let the devil ride,
Don't let the devil ride,
Don't let the devil ride because he'll want to drive,
Don't let the devil ride.
Don't let him flag you down,
Don't let him flag you down,
Don't let him flag you down because he'll turn you around,
Don't let him flag you down.
Don't let him be your boss, no, no
Don't let him be your boss,
Don't let him be your boss; you'll be lost, boss, no, no
Don't let him be your boss.
Don't let him talk to you, no, no
Don't let him talk to you, no, no
Don't let him talk to you; he'll tell you what you do, (don't let him talk to you)
Don't let him talk to you.
Don't let the devil ride,
Don't let the devil ride,
Don't let the devil ride; he'll want to drive, (he will want to drive)
I've been thinking about some of my experiences attending African-American churches in my college days, as very young, very shy and very white woman. Because of where my university was located, if I was going to attend a neighborhood church, it would not be like the churches I grew up in. I was always warmly welcomed and well received and I'm glad for that. I learned and grew from my experiences and eventually settled on a Mennonite church within walking distance that was accustomed to students from my college. It was during those college years, I was invited to see a series of large, dramatic murals painted on the walls of what was once a privileged white church that changed along with the neighborhood. The woman that gave us a tour of the murals was as proud as I was shocked. "Shock and awe" along with a loss for words would probably describe me then. The paintings depicted "stations" of the Civil Rights Movement and the parallels endured by the Hebrew slaves in Egypt. I just googled the church and the murals are still there. The anger expressed toward white oppressors, the violent depictions by one of the artists disturbs me yet. I listened tonight to Pete Seeger's version of "We Shall Overcome" tonight that anthem of the Civil Rights Movement and realized a fundamental error in its message. We shall not overcome this side of eternity of all societal ills, although we should pursue change when it is within our power to do so. Overcoming is not within our power, however, it is only through the power of Christ. I understand that some of the original words from that song are this: I'll Overcome someday, I'll be all right / I'll wear the cross, I'll Wear the Crown / I'll be like him, I'll Sing My Song Someday". My prayers are still with the Mother Emanuel Church in Boston. They welcomed their killer with the same love showed so often to me when I was his age. The martyrs of that massacre have truly overcome. The rest of us will continue on in the power of God's love and might.
42 And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward.”
John 7:37New International Version (NIV)
37 On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink.
Matthew 25:35 New International Version (NIV)
35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,
2 Timothy 3:12 English Standard Version (ESV)
12 Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,
Some years ago I attended a small church that held its prayer meeting every Saturday night. Not only did that at first that seemed strange to me, but I also wondered if others would think me strange, a single woman who spent her Saturday nights at church. I was so completely and gently folded into that group, however, that it wasn't long before that small gathering of believers were the dearest and closest to my heart. I've been remembering this because of the terrible murders of those meeting for Bible study and prayer at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston. Those dear believers going about their Father's business welcomed this stranger as our Lord instructed them to do. It was their their last and perhaps best service this side of eternity. I have to wonder, where will I be when my Father calls me home?
Just a side note: I married the man who moved me with his spoken prayers during those meetings and stirred my heart to love.
By beanscot's husband
Acts 12:23 Instantly, an angel of the Lord struck Herod with a sickness, because he accepted the people's worship instead of giving the glory to God. So he was consumed with worms and died.
Herod had just given a speech. The people deified him. He died. Luke explains why. I think it interesting that Luke, a doctor, points out the cause of death. He should have been called in to do an autopsy so that he could document the cause of death: Didn't Glorify God. Put that in the medical records.
I wonder why Luke includes this in his history of the church. Herod was a thorn in the side of the early church, so maybe he is showing how God moves obstacles to His work. Like a chess game, God simply removes Herod's piece from the board.
Steven Curtis Chapman's current hit "Do Everything" talks about the range of human activity, from the mundane to the "significant". It has gotten stuck in my head. Some of the lyrics are:
"It all matters just as long as you do everything you do to the glory of the One who made you,
Cause he made you,"
etc.
Steven Curtis Chapman - Do Everything
Herod blew it. He needed Steven Curtis Chapman around with his music, I guess. But he had Peter, et al. Pride is a big human problem. I am human. It is a problem for me. No, I'd rather do even the mundane for the glory of God.
2 Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul.
Luke 10:9 English Standard Version (ESV)
9 Heal the sick in it and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’
2 Corinthians 4:17 English Standard Version (ESV)
17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison,
The good news is that my insurance company finally approved my biologic medicine for rheumatoid rheumatoid. The bad news is that it might take another two weeks to kick in since I've been off of it for a while now waiting on its approval.
The good news is that I'm really enjoying having that young man home for summer and spending time with him. The bad news is that I caught his cold/bronchitis.
I was recently struck by a statement by Richard Foster in his book Streams of Living Water. In the section titled The Contemplative Tradition, he writes that we are responsible for developing a personal history with God, our own personal history. This is an individual history. He means, for example, while Christian groupings have a key role in our lives, yet the church can't write this personal history for me, nor can the choir, nor can the Bible study, nor can my best friend. I have to compose it, because it is more about God and me than anything else. Growth in grace requires solitude as well as community, Foster says.
Foster's emphasis is that we sometimes have to walk with God alone, no matter how tempting it may be to cling to our forms of fellowship to stay afloat, especially in times of trouble. God likely offers us doors of opportunity to enter this isolation with Him. You may have gone through one of these doors, perhaps due to personal loss. Walking through the valley of the shadow of death is not a group excursion, but God can do in a person what He would not otherwise get done, in that valley. Fruit is grown in the valley.
I found this stimulating, and made me wonder how I would write my own, or at least rehearse it to myself. I would think it would involve chunks of time and passages of life, sections of the forest I call my pilgrimage, without getting stuck on the individual trees we call Today. There would be major movements as well as interminable stretches where nothing seemed to move, or should I say, I didn't move the needle of spirituality. Would it include embarrassing, shameful things, or just the "high times" with God. I suppose it would include both.
What about those times when God shows us boatloads of blessings, and the times when the well seems dry? What did I learn from these times? Most importantly, what did I learn or what did God want me to learn about who He is and how He operates? What did I learn about myself that I wasn't already aware of? If I don't or if you don't have more spiritual insight after these kinds of experiences, well, I think we should know more. I would think a personal history would include these, but it would be open-ended, that is, more is to come on this side of glory.
I think we all have a lot of the material for this history. The challenge is putting it together in a single story. An encouragement to me is that we can still write this story. What chapters would you like to add to yours?
4 Love does not give up. Love is kind. Love is not jealous. Love does not put itself up as being important. Love has no pride. 5 Love does not do the wrong thing. Love never thinks of itself. Love does not get angry. Love does not remember the suffering that comes from being hurt by someone. 6 Love is not happy with sin. Love is happy with the truth. 7 Love takes everything that comes without giving up. Love believes all things. Love hopes for all things. Love keeps on in all things.
Increased work hours that lead to increased rheumatoid arthritis pain (I'm still waiting on my specialty pharmacy.) slow down my work on beanscot Youtube videos. I'm thankful today to have uploaded another video. I am reminded in doing so that my anchor is not my job or family or medicines or Youtube, it is Jesus and Jesus alone. He is my hope and the anchor for my soul.
Inflate your inner tubes, your water wings and rafts, because God keeps is promises. He will make a river in whatever spiritual desert you find yourself in.
Light glorifies everything. It transforms and ennobles the most commonplace and ordinary subjects. The object is nothing, light is everything.
Leonard Missone
Isaiah 42:16 English Standard Version (ESV) 16 And I will lead the blind in a way that they do not know, in paths that they have not known I will guide them. I will turn the darkness before them into light, the rough places into level ground. These are the things I do, and I do not forsake them.
John 1:4 English Standard Version (ESV)
4 In him was life,[a] and the life was the light of men.
We who had sweet fellowship together Walked in the house of God in the throng.
Matthew 18:20 King James Version (KJV)
20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
Luke 14:15
When one of those who were reclining at the table with Him heard this, he said to Him, "Blessed is everyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God!"
I had sweet fellowship after church today but it was at McDonald's and there were only three of us. Still it was good and I'm thankful. I doubt, though, that McDonald's food could compare with what this church picnic fare of old; and both pale considerably when I consider my place at the Lord's banqueting table. I can only imagine.
MercyMe - "I Can Only Imagine" Official Music Video
13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.
Isaiah 40:31 King James Version (KJV)
31 But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
While my insurance company is trying to figure the best way for them to pay for my rheumatoid arthritis medication, I find myself without it. It does have me thinking about strength or my lack of it. After a work day with the phone and a computer keyboard, I'm ready to find a new strength; and maybe that's what God wants from me, as He has me wait; and, when they do come, I'm really going to enjoy those eagle wings.
6 So let us go on to grown-up teaching. Let us not go back over the beginning lessons we learned about Christ. We should not start over again with teaching about turning from acts that lead to death and about believing in God.
...take off our water wings, let go of side of the pool, climb out of the boat, walk out on the high board and dive in, or do whatever it takes to be grown-up followers of Jesus.
Tis So Sweet To Trust In Jesus - Jordan Howerton Band
