Living A Life That Reflects Christ

The Walton’s is probably my all time favorite TV show.  I enjoy the slow pace, the family dynamics and wholesomeness that permeates the show. While it was a ’70’s show, it lasted many seasons and is now available on DVD’s.  I have those DVD’s and most nights will treat myself to at least one episode.

NOT WANTING TO BE CAUGHT

There is a faith element within the show that is certainly a plus.  But I get tickled every time Olivia or Grandma do something they are worried their preacher will catch them doing.  The time Olivia went into the Dew Drop Inn which was against all her moral behaviors.  Or Grandma when she placed a bet with Grandpa during a horse race.

The last thing these ladies wanted to be caught doing, was something they— and the Pastor or church would disapprove of.  Yet, occasionally they both did.  I suspect we are all guilty of that every now and again.  The fascinating thing about that is, even if we hide our ‘inappropriate behavior or actions’ from our peers—whoever they may be, God still sees.  It’s Him we need to be concerned about!

GROWING IN OUR FAITH

Growing in our faith isn’t about getting everything right, every time. We’re human and inevitably we’re going to fail.  That alone can scare new believers into not believing they are truly a child of God.  Their past haunts them and they are sure that if they don’t do all things exactly right, God won’t accept them anymore. They believe they’ve disqualified their faith experience.

INCONSISTENT HABITS

Sometimes it has more to do with inconsistent spiritual habits, or feeling like a hypocrite, because we’ve done something God wouldn’t approve of.  It may be words that come out of our mouth or swirl in our heads (even when unsaid), actions we’ve made when responding in anger, anger in itself when filled with hate because it’s the way we’ve always felt about someone or something.  

All of these negative pieces is right where God can teach us.  It’s about learning to align our actions with our beliefs.  If we learn to recognize our mistakes—even our inconsistencies, the Holy Spirit is right there to nudge us in the right direction.  Sometimes a verse will come to mind or even a subconscious conviction.  That’s growth.  That’s listening to the Holy Spirit talking to our hearts!

WE ALL FAIL

What’s interesting though is realizing we will fail-- again.  I have one amazing friend who does a lot of traveling because of work.  There are times he confesses to getting hung up in traffic and getting beyond frustrated.  It’s so bad he says things he knows he shouldn’t.  Then he says, ‘Yeah, I had to talk with God again.  I messed up and said things I had to repent of!” 

WE ALL HAVE WEAKNESSES

We all have our weaknesses.  We struggle to apply what we know and believe  every day of our life.  Satan is waiting to pounce on us every time we make a move that to him, makes us vulnerable.  He uses it, twists its, and keeps telling us lies, to our heads (and hearts) until we feel like there’s no going back.  How can God possibly keep forgiving me when I keep messing up?

OUR HEART’S DESIRE

We’re human.  But as a Christian, it’s our heart’s desire to please God, yet we each fail in our own ways.  Only Jesus led a sinless life on earth.  It’s absolutely necessary for each of us to be accountable for where we fail; become humble before Him and confess.  Then go out and try to do our best again,—-and again, — and again!

KEEP TRYING

God is a loving, patient and kind God.  All those times we keep trying, and fail—repenting, then asking for His help, we are still trying ----and that’s what God wants to see, and will honor that.  He knows we are still growing!

Photo Credit: Christian Growth Process 

Renewing Our Minds

It’s been an interesting week.  For whatever reason the idea of the ‘grid’ going down here in the US, has been all over facebook.  

       Stories of what you should be ready for when-- (not if) the forces that be, causes everything to stop across the nation.  No electric, therefore no refrigeration, or cell power, cooking-on electric range tops or doing laundry and other ramifications.  

       All travel coming to a stand still, no communication, stores without food and other chaotic consequences.  But what they focus on most is being without water— drinkable water.

 

There is water all around us, they emphasized, but it’ll be contaminated, dirty and totally harmful for drinking.  While they don’t offer a solution for any of the other problems, they provide a solution for the water issue, which they insist is the most crucial since we can only survive for three days without water.

They offer their product in the assurance that it will work and hope you’ll purchase it.  Their point is valid and each person must decide if the apparent impending ‘grid lockdown’ will really occur--and when.  

Because it keeps popping up in my feed, I did some research. I have no idea if it’s really going to happen, but the information certainly gives you something to think about.  While I’m no authority and certainly not political, it does make a body wonder what’s coming next …and if something ‘weird’ does happen, am I ready to manage it?

There’s an added element to this process that may sound a bit strange to some, but it crosses my mind.  If something ‘weird’ does come, am I ready spiritually?  While maintaining physical survival is essential to continue on this planet we call Earth, am I ready for what comes after?

God’s Word tells us we need to constantly ‘renew our minds,' with what He tells us.  My soul is more valuable than my life.  I will eventually leave this world and my eternal world will never end.  

Choosing to know the information God offers and supplies is as vital as any drinking water for survival here on Earth! There are battles within my heart and mind that can overwhelm me if I’m not alert to what’s going on.  Satan will attack on any front, where there is even a chance at chinking away at my armor.

Spiritual growth begins in the mind, and ultimately shapes the way we live.  It’s vital to replace the lies that Satan whispers to our minds, in our ears, and what his minions continue to place before our eyes —with God’s good promises!

Negative thought processes produce negative behavior.  All this ‘gloom and doom’ talk, can poison the way we think.  It can possess us and fill us with fear because it’s something we’ve never experienced.  Those who promote their products ‘for our safety’ may not be deliberately trying to ‘scare us witless’ but the effect can be the same.

Panic can rise up in us, and cause us to prepare like the world is going to crash around us tomorrow and we’ve got to have everything ready.  Some of the promos include showing people pulling all their funds from banks, digging holes in their back yards and burying things they feel is important and on and on.  It’s a giant scare tactic.

Could there be truth in their prediction?  Perhaps, --at least in part, but how big a part?  I’m not saying don’t pay attention or even consider what they are predicting.  But is that the most important thing? We need to be in the Bible, renewing our minds.  Because there is a time when Jesus will return.

God isn’t about scaring us with things that aren’t true—or even only ‘partly true.’  We do know, because the Bible tells us, ‘eternal’ means forever. We have two choices.  God provides what we need to live in Him through salvation and therefore live eternally in a real place, called Heaven.  But that doesn’t change  the fact there is also place waiting, for those who choose to reject Him.  Hell, a place of torment, is a real too.

How are you ‘renewing your mind’?  Is the world closing in, or are you in God’s Word, searching to see what God says?

Photo Credit: Power Grid Failure

Deliberate Intention To Godly Transformation

        Athletes are amazing.  I am often in awe of those people who can push their bodies to the limit, do amazing feats, and keep right on going!  But I know that is not where they started.  

     I enjoy watching the videos of parents who took their child to the ice skating rink or ski slope when they were just beyond toddlers. Or to the pool for swimming lessons or tennis court for tennis, or a track for running.  

IN TRAINING

While natural ability is definitely important, growth in whatever ‘it’ is, is still relevant and essential.  It applies to every single sport! Style and methodology, learning specific skills required, probably even a specific diet to aid in all the ‘work’ the body is going to do while in training can have lasting impact.

This same thought process also applies to any business position.  To become a CEO of a business, you need to know not only the foundational material, but the details of how a business is run.  Sometimes it’s in agriculture. Here, too, there is a beginning.  The point is, it applies nearly everywhere.  You're not the best you can be in an instant.

PRACTICE, PRACTICE

Even for cooking, sewing, decorating or any domestic chore, if the goal is to be ‘good at it’ or in some way do it ‘professionally’ —because you love what you are doing—-there is learning to be had, and practice.  Lots and lots of practice.  

One thing I’m not, is athletic!  Sports was just not in our family vocabulary except on rare occasions, and to watch the Olympics.  When I was a teenager, my dad did become interested in car racing—-but not for the racing…  He had a wrecker he could bring to the track for the ‘wrecks’.  So even there, the idea wasn’t about being involved, athletically.

GROWING SPIRITUALLY

Even growing into an adult requires growing, learning…and practice! It’s a journey, not a sprint.  This same concept also true to grow spiritually.  It isn’t something you do in one sitting and done, or even during a one time retreat, which can be very helpful.  

Growing spiritually is just as demanding—if you want to truly have a close relationship with The Lord, as any sport!  It’s about getting into His Word every single day.  This along with prayer and study, to understand what He was saying to His people in Biblical times, as well as, what He's teaching us today, can be unveiled!

SPENDING TIME WITH GOD

Sitting down with the Bible can feel terribly intimidating to some.  There are lots of reasons people choose to not study on their own.  Some believe it’s the Pastor’s duty to teach us what we need to know.  Understanding the language can be difficult, depending on the translation.  Figuring out who said what, why, when and where, unless you actually read the entire chapter, can be confusing.  Exactly what it’s saying to ‘me/us’ can be hard to grasp.  And on and on!

SMALL, STEADY STEPS

But all of those ‘concerns’ are irrelevant if a person really wants to know God.  Small steps matter. He isn’t asking us to ‘understand’ everything all at once.  We don’t learn like that.  Consistency and faithfulness, in even a few verses for understanding, is far more important than reading a long section of scripture and not remembering a thing we’ve read!

These small steps can grow into massive transformation!  God can use every single word, sentence, scripture or lesson you learn a little at a time, to do amazing things!

The idea of sitting with Him every day and meditating on His word, sincerely asking Him to show you what it means and how it’s relevant to your life, will absolutely change you! 

       Are you ready to know God better? Take your Bible off the shelf and begin. If you need help choosing a study, ask a friend, pastor or even google 'Bible Study' on line.  Choose a specific book, or study a person, or topic. God's Word is there to learn and the Holy Spirit is there to guide you... but begin--and be changed.

Photo Credit: In Training For Sports

Giving God Our Best

This adorable picture popped up in my newsfeed this past week and I couldn’t help but relate!  We were one of those families whose children had ‘church clothes’, school clothes and play clothes.  

It was a big deal for my children to get ready for church each Sunday.  My boys didn’t always wear ties, but they did when they wore their suits for special occasions. 

But they had their ‘best clothes’ for church, nice clothes for school and play clothes, which meant they could get them dirty by climbing a tree (which meant a tear every now and again), or a hole in the knee of a pair of pants, that’d I’d often patch.

 The girls also had their ‘extra nice’ dresses, and others they wore to school, and the play clothes they usually only wore at home!

What struck me as I thought about this and the accompanying caption to the picture was how we treat ‘the temple of God’ in today’s world.  The very idea of taking pride in our appearance and remembering to be respectful of where we are, and the event we are attending, seems to be indeed, ‘nostalgic’.  

When I consider that my body is the ‘temple of God’, is this correct thinking?  Sometimes, a person truly can't afford a lot of options to wear.  And if that is all a person has, then he should by all means attend a church service wearing what he has, because that is his best!  And I’m certainly not saying pricey clothes--or even fancy clothes and adornments are necessary—or even recommended.  It's not about impressing our peers.

What makes this even more interesting, in my perspective is knowing that not only is my body the ‘temple of God’, it’s knowing that the Holy Spirit lives within me—- God  lives there since I accepted Him as Savior!  Am I treating Him with respect?  Am I being my best when I don’t dress my best—- at least when I’m in a sanctuary to worship Him?

The Holy Spirit moved in to guide us when we were lost and in a dark place, to help us worship and live godly lives.  He's the giver of special gifts and more.  Shouldn’t we give Him our best, whether it’s how we live, how we eat (this can be tough too— given our culture of fast, processed and unhealthy foods)— how we talk, and yes, even how we dress!  Doesn’t this show the world that we care about the ‘temple’ of the Lord we are given….and expected to take care of?

Many will say if we 'dress up' for church, those who have less won’t attend.  That is a valid point.  There are those in our world who really do not have ‘church clothes.’ And wearing ‘nice clothes’ certainly isn’t required. But even those with less can look nice in their less than pricy clothes.  We’re a society of much; often too much.  

Does God care what we wear to church?  Probably not; certainly not when we are giving him the best we have--and our heart is in the right place.  But I’m of the opinion that He does care when ‘we aren’t the least bit inclined to be our ‘best’ for him.  

God expected the ‘best’ when sacrifices were given.  Is it too much to ask us to be our best in worship to Him? Being the best we can be, would be considered ‘reasonable service.’  We are presenting ourselves to the Lord.

I can’t help but think of attending a wedding, going to a grand concert, showing up in court for some reason or other important event and not wearing my best.  

In those venues, it’s about making sure our attire suits the event….  Is our place of worship so different? We are the ‘church’ and aren’t we saying something about ourselves when we choose to not care how we are ‘dressing for God’?  Are we giving Him our best, or is it even less than what we’d give a judge in a courtroom or other place where respect is required?

‘Dressing up’ may not be a requirement to come to church….  but I wonder….  Do we really want to ‘dress down’ for the Lord?  Is it really about a ‘come as you are attitude’ ---or do we really just not care anymore?

Photo Credit: https://www.facebook.com/NostalgiaFilesNet

Additional note:  I rarely post a controversial subject.  This one may qualify. I do not oppose differing views.  What I must insist upon, however, is that all comments are kind and respectful—without any ‘attacks’ on me or anyone else!  And, that you share your thoughts and views without any ugliness.

The Power Within---Discovering The Holy Spirit

I have vivid memories of learning about the Holy Spirit as a child.  I recall the time a Dove-- the Holy Spirit --descended on Jesus, after being baptized in the Jordan River by John the Baptist.  The ‘tongues of fire’ which were over the heads of the many on Pentecost who were ‘filled with the Spirit, was awesome, too.

Most Christians will say, ‘God the Father, Jesus the Son and the Holy Spirit,' but their mind’s eye don’t ‘see’ a live being for the Holy Spirit, like they see Jesus or God.  Visualizing Jesus for the most part, is quite easy.  He was a human who walked the earth, even while being fully God.  

TRYING TO PICTURE GOD

God is harder to picture because we know He is so vast and all encompassing.  Our minds struggle with a clear image.  Some may picture a very wise man, human form with pure white hair, perhaps a beard, and this ‘male image’ with strength and wisdom.  Others struggle with putting any human qualities in their picture of God, even though the Bible clearly tells us we are made in God’s image.  So realistically He is going to look human! 

PICTURING THE HOLY SPIRIT

But when we cross the line to visualizing the Holy Spirit, many people falter, myself included, although I know with certainty that He is absolutely not a ‘thing or an it’!  He has human qualities just as God the Father and God the Son.

I read a book years ago who described the Holy Spirit as a human, but in a way you couldn’t see his feet… and he sort of floated through the air.  I always liked that picture… It presented the image as being a ‘friendly kind of ghost’ who flits about here and there….  without ever settling.

But I wonder if even that is accurate.  I have absolutely no picture in my mind to describe it, but I know that the Holy Spirit lives within me!  Now that’s hard to describe---particularly when you think in 'human' terms, and especially to a non-believer!

THE HOLY SPIRIT IS FULLY GOD

But the Holy Spirit is way more than some ethereal wisp we can’t know.  He is fully God, fully present and deeply personal.  The Bible lists some of the ‘tasks’ set for the Him. Galatians 5:22-23 talks about the ‘fruits of the Spirit.’  Peace, joy, love, gentleness, kindness and more are available to us, if we let the Spirit transform us.

Many will say they have no spiritual gifts and shy away from serving in any capacity, because they feel inadequate.  Yet, that is another of the tasks of the Holy Spirit.  It is He who gives these gifts to each of us.  So, certainly if you’re a Believer, and have accepted Christ as Savior, the Holy Spirit indwells you, and offers gifts.  

DO WE REFUSE HIS GIFTS?

Sometimes we are reluctant to accept the gifts He offers because we don’t want the ‘challenge or the responsibility’ of any kind of service —or servanthood.  He empowers us to carry out whatever 'gift' we've been given.

Christ told his followers he would be sending a Counselor in his place.  This is the Holy Spirit.  This means He offers wisdom and guidance, knowledge and fear of the Lord, among more.

A RELATIONSHIP WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT

Perhaps you’ve had the moment during a worship service when you felt ‘washed’ with something or had ‘Holy Ghost bumps’ and couldn’t define it.  I love when that happens because I am reminded that the Holy Spirit is totally within me and I’ve felt him!

In an odd way, I think about a woman carrying an unborn child.  The baby kicks, sucks his thump, gets the hiccups and shifts positions!  Momma can feel this and it brings immense joy, and the little being inside her reminds her he’s there, alive and well!  It’s certainly not the same, but similar. 

THE HOLY SPIRIT TRANSFORMS US

 The Holy Spirit within us has the capability of transforming us into the people God wants us to be.  He’s more than a Dove, more than a Tongue of Fire.  He is the embodiment of God!  He is God, just as Jesus is, only in a different form!

He wants a relationship.  He desires to hear us talk to/with Him and address Him, just as we would God, or Jesus!  They are three in one!

BE STILL AND KNOW THAT HE IS GOD

Take a moment and 'be still and know that He is God.'  Invite the Holy Spirit to become 'real' to you. Even if you can't 'sense' Him immediately, keep reaching out and I don't believe you will be disappointed!

Photo Credit: A Child Learning the Bible