Tag: #NotReligion

And When You Pray …..

AND WHEN YOU PRAY, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him. Pray then like this:

“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your Name. Your Kingdom come, Your Will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For if you forgive others their trespasses, your Heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” – Matthew 6:5‭-‬15 ESV

In verses 7-8, it seems to me that JESUS is rather condemning of us Gentiles here for being wordy and full of ourselves, but I don’t believe He’d want me to focus on that. In fact, as a young person growing up in church, there were a couple of people that, when called on to pray, caused me to cringe inside. Why? Because they were exactly as JESUS describes: using many words and heaping their prayers with empty phrases. Looking back, I feel sure that these people meant well in their prayers, and I’m certain they were sincere in their pleas before GOD. This is not a condemnation of their prayers. I am also certain that they would not have been called on for the benediction or any other time, had they not been in love with our LORD.

When we do pray in public, it seems imperative to be cognizant of the Words of JESUS. I believe it is important to have someone to lead in us prayer during worship services for a couple of reasons. First is our Focus: we are so easily distracted from the reason we gather together that is good to have someone remind us where our minds should be. Second is having no words: there have been many times when I wasn’t able to form my own prayer, and the guidance provided by the pastor or other leader was just what I needed. There are also times when the opportunity to pray for someone (in public) comes up, and I believe that when that happens, we are to seize the moment. Praying quietly and privately with or for someone in public is a mighty witness. Simply bowing our heads and whispering a prayer goes a very long way towards defeating the enemy. He hates – with a passion – those moments when we call on JESUS and utter His Name out loud, even in the quietest voice.

Conclusion: pray often. In public, pray quietly and to the point. In private, pray softly, pray loudly, pray constantly. It’s a conversation with the CREATOR. I know, it’s mind-boggling that the LORD of the Universe wants to talk with me! And when you cannot say a word, just say JESUS. He knows.

Image from https://www.beliefnet.com

Delighted!

We all have places, people, and things that bring us delight. Babies laughing, puppy and kitten antics, majestic views, beautiful flowers and trees, music, food, children, spouses, friends, loved ones. These things, these delights, as much as we enjoy them and search for them, are all momentary and fleeting. On the opposite side, we also have our fears and frustrations, especially when when we are struck with physical, personal, or monetary crises. When disasters strike the righteous person, we question why. Why does the Almighty, Omnipotent GOD let His people suffer, but He allows the sinners and the lawbreakers, the evildoers, to (apparently) prosper?

I fervently believe that we will have it explained to us one day; the day we stand face-to-face with our LORD JESUS. Meanwhile …… it is important, critical, that as followers of the CHRIST we study and absorb His Word. There are numerous promises in both the Old and New Testaments that everyone will receive a final judgement in front of the Throne of GOD. The enemy of the LORD, the Father of Lies, the instigator who brought evil into our world, will receive his due – and it will not be pretty. All of the fallen, both people and supernatural beings, everything natural and supernatural, will receive their condemnation at that time. Read the Revelations of John! This is what I know to be true:

“Delight yourself in the LORD, and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD; trust in Him, and He will act. He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday. Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for Him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices! Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil. For the evildoers shall be cut off, but those who wait for the LORD shall inherit the land.” – Psalms 37:4‭-‬9 ESV

One day soon, Psalms 37:9 will come to pass. All evil that exists will be washed away and removed from earth, and those who have chosen to follow the LORD will be rewarded with a new home – one where heaven and the true, the real, Holy City will actually reside here on earth with us! My conclusion? Fretting and worry on our part indicates that we don’t think GOD can handle the little stuff. I’m guilty, too! “Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices!” – Psalms 37:7 ESV

I know, easier said than done! There’s a song done by Natalie Grant that pretty well sums up what often we do instead of waiting and placing our reliance on the LORD. What do you think?

When we stop trying to contain GOD, then we are able to delight in Him! Amen!

GOD Still Speaks

I love the ways God uses the Old and New Testament writers to speak to us today. Even when it is not something I particularly want to hear, it’s always something I need to hear. Is that true for you, too?

“In this is Love, not that we have loved GOD but that He Loved us and sent His SON to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if GOD so Loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen GOD; if we love one another, GOD abides in us and His LOVE is perfected in us. By this is Love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the Day of Judgment, because as He is so also are we in this world.” – 1 John 4:10‭-‬12‭, ‬17 ESV

Notice the word John uses to start the sentence that I highlighted above: Beloved. That one word sums up how the GOD Who created the universe – not just our little earth and and everything in it, but every galaxy, every planet, every star, down the the most minute particles and atom and beyond – this word says how He feels about each and every one of us! Mind-boggling, don’t you agree?

“When a stranger sojourns with you in your land, you shall not do him wrong. You shall treat the stranger who sojourns with you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your GOD.” – Leviticus 19:33‭-‬34 ESV

There are two points I see here. I think John is referring primarily to our brothers and sisters in CHRIST, but also to our brothers and sisters in humanity – everyone on earth is part of my (our) family, and I (we) should love them. Love the PERSON, not being swayed by the life choices or lifestyle, ethnicity, or social or financial status.

Secondly, GOD specifically tells His People of Israel to treat the foreigners among them as they treat their fellow Israelites, but I don’t believe He was limiting His Voice to Israel. Jesus gave us the Golden Rule: “Love thy neighbor as yourself” in Matthew 22:37-40. ( Anyone who loves the LORD should be practicing these commands.) Who is my neighbor? It is not just the person who lives next door or in my neighborhood. My “neighbors” consist of every person I come into contact with – each shop clerk, every irritating person in line or traffic, co-worker, study group…. all neighbors, even the family member you really just don’t like. Do you see how this ties together? We have neighbors and strangers among us. They could be from another country, or a different religion, or value system, or lifestyle. They could be a recovering addict. Even in our immediate family we can have “strangers and foreigners”.

Look around. Are there “foreigners” around you? How do you treat them? I have to look at myself, and examine how I treat the foreigners around me; I need to love them and pray for them daily. Here’s a great way to remind ourselves!

Image from: https://scpeanutgallery.com/2017/10/29/21st-sunday-after-pentecost-29-oct-matthew-2234-40-the-bottom-line/

Note: This post is not politically motivated, nor is it in favor of granting illegals asylum in the United States. That is an ENTIRELY different subject!

Serenity

Serenity …… seems like an impossible goal.

I think just about everyone knows the first two lines from the “Serenity Prayer,” “A prayer written by the American theologian Reinhold Niebuhr. The best-known form is: God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, Courage to change the things I can, And wisdom to know the difference.” (Source: Wikipedia ) It was originally published in 1951, but it may have been written as early as 1934. First adopted by AA (Alcoholics Anonymous), it has become permanently linked to the recovery movement.

God grant me the serenity
To accept the things I cannot change;
Courage to change the things I can;
And wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time;
Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
Taking, as He did, this sinful world
As it is, not as I would have it;
Trusting that He will make all things right
If I surrender to His Will;
So that I may be reasonably happy in this life
And supremely happy with Him
Forever and ever in the next.

Amen.

(Read more: https://www.lords-prayer-words.com/famous_prayers/god_grant_me_the_serenity.html#alcoholics#ixzz5cgsk4Dvz )

The words as written are not in the Bible, but it is certainly based on

scriptures, starting with the Psalms and into he New Testament, here are a few of the supporting scriptures:

“I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the LORD, Who made heaven and earth. The LORD will keep you from all evil; He will keep your life.” – Psalms 121:1‭-‬2‭, ‬7 ESV

” ….. Fear not, for I AM with you; be not dismayed, for I AM your GOD; I Will strengthen you, I Will help you, I Will uphold you with My Righteous Right Hand.” – Isaiah 41:10 ESV

“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask GOD, Who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.” – James 1:5 ESV

“But the Wisdom from above is first Pure, then Peaceable, Gentle, open to reason, full of Mercy and Good Fruits, Impartial and Sincere.” – James 3:17 ESV

I challenge you to read the complete prayer again. Commit Psalm 121 to memory – it’s only 7 verses. If you have trouble memorizing (as I do!), then take the first two verses of both the Psalm and the prayer and memorize them. Write them on index cards and place them around the house where you will see them frequently. Some suggestions: the bathroom mirror, your dresser, by the coffee pot or teakettle, in your lunch, or in your workout bag. On the dash of your car. Make it fit your lifestyle! As the Apostle John wrote, I add as a benediction to us:

“Peace I leave with you; My Peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” – John 14:27 ESV

( https://www.lords-prayer-words.com/famous_prayers/god_grant_me_the_serenity.html )

Race Wars!

“Race” – an absolutely polarizing issue that is being force-fed to us through media, politicians, and lawyers. Why can’t we have relationships with people based on our commonalities rather than our differences? To be considered politically correct (the All-Powerful “PC”), we – the public, everyday citizens, the “proletariat” – are expected to embrace each other regardless of social or economic status, lifestyle, clothing preferences, age, religion (with the exception of followers of JESUS, whom it is PC to harass, persecute, and prosecute) ….. but we are divided by race? King Solomon of Israel is reputed to have been the wisest man to have ever lived. Even Christians who are told to “love our neighbors as ourselves” (Matt 22:39), allow ourselves to be divided by the color of another’s skin. There is nothing wise in allowing this to happen!

“The proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel: To know wisdom and instruction, to understand words of insight, to receive instruction in wise dealing, in righteousness, justice, and equity; to give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the youth— Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance, to understand a proverb and a saying, the words of the wise and their riddles. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.” – Proverbs 1:1‭-‬7 ESV

Let’s go back to the beginning:

“So GOD created man in His own Image, in the Image of GOD He created him; male and female He created them.” – Genesis 1:27 ESV

Have you ever noticed that GOD repeats the really important stuff? He created us in His Image; in His Image He created us. Period. There weren’t a bunch of different couples created as Anglo, African, Mexican, Asian, or any other “race”. There was one couple; Adam and Eve were created in His Image. So what did they look like? Since they were created to reflect GOD’s Image, we won’t know until we meet them in Heaven. In the meantime, what we view as separate “races” are merely years – thousands of years – of the human race adapting to climate and the environment around them. I believe that “race” is simply an invention of man as a tool for rulers to control their people. You might argue that GOD used His people to wipe out other “races,” but I maintain that this is a word used to simply designate people of other cultures, not of other skin colors.

“For they have taken some of their daughters to be wives for themselves and for their sons, so that the holy race has mixed itself with the peoples of the lands. And in this faithlessness the hand of the officials and chief men has been foremost.” ….. “You commanded by Your servants the prophets, saying, ‘The land that you are entering, to take possession of it, is a land impure with the impurity of the peoples of the lands, with their abominations that have filled it from end to end with their uncleanness. Therefore do not give your daughters to their sons, neither take their daughters for your sons, and never seek their peace or prosperity, that you may be strong and eat the good of the land and leave it for an inheritance to your children forever.’ ” – Ezra 9:2‭, ‬11‭-‬12 ESV

Ezra, one of GOD’s prophets, called GOD’s people the “holy race” as a means to distinguish it from the other cultures and kingdoms, not because they were a separately created race. It was an intentional separation of that culture from all others. I guess we could say there is the “holy race,” GOD’s Chosen People, and then there is everyone else. (So what are we? If we become Christian, a follower of JESUS, then we become a part of GOD’s Holy race.) The prophet Daniel, interpreting the dreams of Nebuchadnezzar, talks about people from different cultures and kingdoms but not races:

“As you saw the iron mixed with soft clay, so they will mix with one another in marriage, but they will not hold together, just as iron does not mix with clay. And in the days of those kings the GOD of Heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed, nor shall the kingdom be left to another people. It shall break in pieces all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, and it shall stand forever …..” – Daniel 2:43‭-‬44 ESV

“Race wars” are absolutely unnecessary and redundant. In CHRIST JESUS, we are all brothers and sisters. We all have the same Father, the Creator GOD and the FATHER joy our LORD JESUS CHRIST. A friend of a profoundly different skin color from mine used to call me his “sister from another mother.” I like it. To all of my brothers and sisters from other mothers, in all of the shades of the rainbow, I love you. “Race” doesn’t enter in.

Image is from Pinterest

Once-And-Done; All-Or-Nothing

When you hear “Sermon on the Mount,” I imagine your mind goes right to the Beatitudes:

“Blessed are the poor in spirit ….. Blessed are those who mourn ….. Blessed are the meek ….. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness ….. Blessed are the merciful ….. Blessed are the pure in heart ….. Blessed are the peacemakers ….. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness ….. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” – Matthew 5:3‭-‬12 NIV

My challenge is to go to verses 17-18:

“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.” – Matthew 5:17‭-‬18 NIV

Does the LAW of Moses still stand, just as it did before JESUS came to earth to fulfill it? If it does, what does that mean to us today? Are we still bound by the old laws, the Ten Commandments and the regulations as given by Moses to the Israelites? I am not a Bible scholar, by any stretch, so I rely heavily on the knowledge and information I can glean and learn from others. In my study today, I found some great information in a post written by Pastor Jim McClarty titled “Jot and Tittle.” For a more indepth study, go to Grace Christian Assembly.org.

I think Pastor McClarty clarifies this point quite well.

The New Testament tells us that attempting to seek justification before God by keeping any part of the law automatically makes us responsible to keep the entire law (Gal. 5:3, 3:10, James 2:10). You cannot pick and choose. You will either stand before God and be judged by the law, or you will be established in the righteousness that comes by faith (Rom. 3:22, Gal. 5:5). But, you cannot mix and match.

In other words, if you want God to accept you on the basis of your actions – like tithing, Sabbath-keeping, etc. – then you had also better be killing animals every time you sin. That’s the law. And, it’s an all-or-nothing proposition.

Whenever JESUS refers to “the Law and the prophets,” He isn’t just saying “the LAW.” The phrasing is critical here: “The LAW and the prophets” was His reference to what we now know as the Old Testament; the only “Testament” available at the time. JESUS CHRIST is the fulfillment of “the Law and the prophets.” When JESUS spoke the words in verse 18, everything had not yet been accomplished because His Blood had not yet been shed; He had not yet been hung on the cross and killed as the ultimate and final sacrifice for our sins. Only after He was raised from the dead and had ascended into Heaven to rejoin the FATHER was the everything of “the law and the prophets” fulfilled. If we believe that we must live a certain way, or follow the old laws, then aren’t we negating His very sacrifice and death? When we insist that we must submit to some kind of man-required penance or that we justify our salvation through our works, aren’t we saying that His sacrifice wasn’t enough?

As Christians, when we accept CHRIST as our LORD and SAVIOUR, we are not bound by the Law of Moses but we are bound by the Words of JESUS.

And [JESUS] said to him, “You shall love the LORD your GOD with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the Great and First Commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.” – Matthew 22:37‭-‬40 ESV

Here’s the distinction: Under the Law of Moses, you are expected to keep every Jot and Tittle [the smallest letter, the least stroke of a pen] of the Law, including the sacrifice of animals in order to cover your sins with their blood. It’s an ongoing proposition, requiring constant supervision and intervention by the priests in the Temple. Under the NEW Law, the Law of JESUS CHRIST as LORD, His death on the cross is a once-and-done deal! Under Him, we are freed from the burdens of constant guilt and worry, and here’s the best part: even though we aren’t held to the strictures of the Law and the prophets, Moses’ Law, when we truly submit to the LOVE of our LORD, it becomes our desire to please Him by keeping HIS Commandments: First, to Love the LORD our GOD with all of our heart, soul, an mind, and second, to love our neighbor as ourself.

Where do you stand? Freed under CHRIST, or captive to the Law of Moses?

I am FREE, Once-And-Done; All-Or-Nothing – HALLELUJAH and AMEN!

Resolutions

When I place my Hope in the LORD, He takes my fears and replaces them with Peace. I don’t know what tomorrow will bring, but I do know Who controls the future, and it isn’t me – and I’m thankful I’m not the one in control. Remember Who holds the future! I am incredibly Blessed with more than I ever dreamed – and Thankful, because He has provided more than I ever imagined I could have. I have friends, family who actually like me (or they put on a good act 😎 ), and a home to call my own. That’s so much more than many have.

“The plans of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the LORD. Commit your work to the LORD, and your plans will be established. The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps.” – Proverbs 16:1‭,3‭,9 ESV

“The LORD is Good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him. but, though He cause grief, He will have compassion according to the abundance of His Steadfast Love; for He does not afflict from His heart or grieve the children of men.” – Lamentations 3:25‭, ‬32‭-‬33 ESV

“Draw near to GOD, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Do not speak evil against one another, brothers. The one who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks evil against the Law and judges the Law. But if you judge the Law, you are not a doer of the Law but a judge. There is only ONE Lawgiver and Judge, He Who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?” – James 4:8‭, ‬11‭-‬12 ESV

I am so guilty of ignoring these verses! My plans, my work, my tongue ….. how has all that worked out for me? Really, not so good. It’s a new year, a time of resolutions and good intentions. How many times have I said “I resolve …..” only to break the resolution within hours? My resolutions are like my plans. Without the plan GOD has for me, my plans don’t work out very well. To achieve success, we must commit our plan and our work to the LORD. “Draw near to GOD ….”

That’s my resolution for 2019.

“I’m alive, I’m alive, because He lives! Because He lives, I can face tomorrow! Amen, amen!” – Matt Maher sings “Because He Lives” … Such a beautiful truth!

I Will Be With You – In Spite of You!

I will be with you (in spite of you). I can hear the King of Heaven whispering this in my ear, especially when I’m being particularly stubborn and insistent that “I can do it!”

“In desperation, I turned to heaven ….. Hallelujah, Praise the One Who set me FREE!” (Words from “Living Hope” by Phil Wickham)

Proverbs 16:9 (ESV) says “The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps.” – and speaking to Moses, the LORD said to him, “WHO has made man’s mouth? WHO makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the LORD? Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak.” – Exodus 4:11‭-‬12 ESV

We sure are a hard-headed bunch! From Adam, the first man, to the newest baby in this new year, both verses remain true. We are determined to be in charge (HA!) of our lives, and often the lives of those around us. Let me know how that’s working out for you. Generally, all that it accomplishes is to frustrate (and irritate) all parties involved. When we stop for a minute and listen, we hear that quiet whisper, “I AM WITH YOU – in spite of your thoughts and actions.”

Can you hear it? Do you believe it? Listen! Start fresh this year and determine to listen more and talk less. Remember, two ears, one mouth. Must be some significance there…..

“JESUS CHRIST is the same yesterday and today and forever. ….. Now may the GOD of Peace Who brought again from the dead our LORD JESUS, the Great Shepherd of the sheep, by the Blood of the Eternal Covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do His Will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through JESUS CHRIST, to Whom be Glory forever and ever. Amen.” – Hebrews 13:8‭, ‬20‭-‬21 ESV

As the great Martin Luther King Jr. said it so very well: “Free at last, Free at last, Thank GOD ALMIGHTY we are free at last.” (from his speech, I Have A Dream”)


Die Erschaffung des Meschen, von Ephraim Moshe Lilien 1903 (Translated: The Creation of Man) illustration for the book Lieder des Ghetto by Morris Rosenfeld

Unto Us Is Given – and FORGIVEN – Much

There isn’t much – if anything – that I can add to these Words:

“For by Him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through Him and for Him.” – Colossians 1:16 ESV

“And no creature is hidden from His Sight, but all are naked and exposed to the Eyes of Him to Whom we must give account.” – Hebrews 4:13 ESV

“How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has trampled underfoot the SON of GOD, and has profaned the Blood of the Covenant by which He was Sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of Grace? For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine; I will repay.” And again, “The LORD will judge His people.” It is a fearful thing to fall into the Hands of the Living GOD.” – Hebrews 10:29‭-‬31 ESV

And finally, this. If every person professing to be a Christian, a follower of The CHRIST, JESUS MESSIAH, were to live according to this one verse out of all the scriptures, how different a world we would be living in!

“But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the MOST HIGH, for He is kind to the ungrateful and the evil.” – Luke 6:35 ESV

“What then shall we say to these things? If GOD is for us, who can be against us? For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the Love of GOD in CHRIST JESUS our LORD.” – Romans 8:31‭, ‬38‭-‬39 ESV **NO-THING, NOTHING, can separate us from the Love of GOD….

Sing along with Matt Maher “What A Friend We Have In JESUS!”

Photo of the Milky Way, from cnn.com