What Is Your Will In Christ?

True to tradition I'm long winded, but the point is worth making if it stirs one heart to repentance ... "Then the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground. He breathed the breath of life into the man’s nostrils, and the man became a living person."  Genesis 2:7 (NLT) What we can know right now with our own human eyes and ears is that we live in a world lost - a world full of suffering, disease and evil. It's a world that once knew nothing of suffering, disease or evil, but it's now suffering all of these things because of a destructive cancer that mankind himself allowed into the world by - choosing to sin. That one choice brought God's judgment against the species of mankind for that one choice made in defiance and disobedience against the God who created mankind for Himself ... and it's only resolution carries with it a judgment of death - ours. The truth is that every child of mankind born since Adam and Eve made that terrible decision in th...

From the beginning of time God's said and related many things in order to create - bringing into being things that didn't exist prior, and also to give man knowledge of the ultimate truth. But somewhere along the way, what God's said and is still saying, seemingly lost it's power ... but only in the minds of some preoccupied and ignorant men. "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was formless and empty, and darkness covered the deep waters. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters.Then God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. And God saw that the light was good. ..." Genesis 1:1-4 (NLT) ... But there are those that say that God doesn't exist and that the earth, everything in it, and indeed all of the heavens, essentially created themselves. "God is not a man, so he does not lie. He is not human, so he does not change his mind. Has he ever spoken and failed to act? Has he ever promised a...

 I think there are times when some of us might forget - overwhelmed by all of the evil and trying things in the world, why we're here and who we are if even just temporarily. But one thing I can assure you of, is that there's one who never does. We might be brought to think of Him when called to worship or if we come across something or someone that spurs our thoughts toward Him, but He never has to be reminded of us or of what His heart desires and longs for from us - our love and attention. His heart waits, longing to hear us call out to Him ... "Let me hear of your unfailing love each morning, for I am trusting you. Show me where to walk, for I give myself to you." Psalm 143:8 (NLT) The sweet innocent laughter of a child - something that touches the heart of a loving parent deeply, is no less endearing to the heart of the divine Father. The tender sweet words of a faithful, selfless lover uttered with passion are no less impacting and profound to the heart of the d...

Sometimes out of nowhere someone will say something that sums up thoughts or understanding that I've carried with me for a long time, but have labored to convey myself. When it happened this morning, it caught me off guard and thrilled my own heart because it reiterated a perspective that I've carried with me for years, but one that I don't hear often with the same clarity or emphasis as I did this morning. I participate in a morning bible reading group every week, Monday through Friday. For about a year and a half now, we've read one chapter online together every morning for about a  half hour   and shared our thoughts and perspective regarding what we've read. One comment made after reading the sixth chapter of Ephesians one morning summed up a message and perspective that the Lord put on my own heart long ago and it's one that has some serious implications for hearts and minds drowning in current worldly cares and consumed by this temporary life. The comment:...

  ethos  noun : the distinguishing character, sentiment, moral nature, or guiding beliefs of a person, group, or institution. Synonyms for ethos: ethics, morality, morals, norms, principles, standards - Merriam-Webster At the center of every human being, behind every emotion, bias, desire or habit, there's a core foundation - a set of basic principles that tend to guide everything else in that person's life. A wise person will periodically walk their responses and reactions to life back to determine where and what their foundation is and whether those reactions and responses are honoring what they claim to hold true of themselves at their core.  It's an examination of one's own true face - one that God can see clearly without any possibility of our   self  employed deception, cloudiness or distortion. It's who we truly are. I've been forced to do it many times in an effort to be honest with myself about who I am, where I'm standing and where I'm headed. ...

"And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him." Hebrews 11:6 (NLT) I'm not about to preach religion here, I'm all about "relationship" with the God that created you and me and what He requires of those who want to know Him and have relationship with Him. You may follow any sect of Christianity or none at all, but unless you have a relationship with God based on His requirements as opposed to just practicing a religion, or nothing at all, you might never actually know Him ... but you will answer to Him. The "altar call" - I've heard it so many times. My first memories of it began in my youth and it was repeated for years in different church buildings that I've attended in the past. It was the call to anyone desiring to accept Christ as their Savior - to come forward and have the opportunity to be prayed with - often to repeat ...

  You can find a fair amount of mention in some classic literature about fearful sailors in wooden sailing vessels - desperate to avoid the crushing devastation of contact with rocky shores or the geologic leviathans hiding just beneath the waves in their path. Such perils had the potential to bring about the sudden loss of precious cargo or much more concerning, the terror inciting fear of the loss of their own lives.  It was easy for me as an avid young reader to place myself in the stories of those long written chapters. I could spend hours engrossed in well written tomes of adventure - experiencing with those hearty adventurists of each tale to varying degree, the emotions they themselves felt as the words streamed from the pages through my eyes - gleaning every word in an almost transfixed state. This was my means of escape from other unwelcome things that inserted themselves into my childhood and a habit that often kept me engaged for hours at a time. What I di...

There's a lot of turmoil in the world - that's not news to anyone that doesn't have their head in the sand. There are so many things going on that are disturbing, disheartening and even potentially threatening to people with good hearts and a desire for good. For those raising children in a world of uncertainty, it's even more so as they consider the future prospects of their young ones facing a world seemingly more ominous than the one they themselves were raised in. So there are a lot of fears out there to be had if you want them. Not everyone is sharing them, but many have them just the same. I don't. Recently a number of people were present   in a group chat  while a few of us were discussing the current state of things - the seeming rise of evil, the decline of security and of good as a societal goal. These things and so many others are concerning to many right now and the comments in that chat touched on the need for preparations and the defense of home and fa...

 We likely know what the word 'icon" refers to in computer terms or we probably wouldn't have found each other here. Whether by traditional computer or our overly intelligent phones or tablets, we click on "icons" to navigate a number of functions.  "An icon is a picture on a computer screen representing a particular computer function. If you want to use it, you move the cursor onto the icon using a mouse." - Collins English Dictionary The word has has more than one definition with a variety of potential designees available to wear the title. Pushing back and casting aside human lusts, societal fad and fickle whim, there's only one designee in all of this crazy world truly worthy to bear it though... and getting it wrong could cost more  than the human mind might be able to imagine. "Icon ... 2. - an object of uncritical devotion : idol." - Merriam-Webster We have more than a tendency to assign importance to people places and things in thi...

The Lord God is always faithful to His word. Unlike a parent who voices a threat of punishment or offers a promise of reward and then fails to follow through, we can count on our God to honor what He says without fail.  "God is not a man, so he does not lie. He is not human, so he does not change his mind. Has he ever spoken and failed to act? Has he ever promised and not carried it through?" Numbers 23:19 (NLT) What many seem to miss though are the requirements connected to His promises that have to be met in order to realize the fruit of what He's offering. There's a key - a prerequisite, that activates every promise God has made. Without the key, the power and fulfillment of the promise might never be realized. Once I acknowledged and understood that for myself, things began to change in my own life and heart and I began to pay attention to those things that essentially untie the Lord's hands and allow Him to fulfill what He's promised. If God has made a p...

 We might often tell someone that we love them, but what does that love mean in real terms? If that love were tested - with a cost applied, how far would you be willing to go for them ... really? And what value would our definition of love have against God's? What if God called us to love someone loud, un-bathed and shabby, destitute and begging for our compassion? What if they came from a foreign nation, bearing a different skin color - a color that Father God chose for them like He chose for each of us. Even to the very least in all of humanity's suffering eyes, they would have been created by God and if they belong to Him ... they'd be royalty and under His watchful eye. Who would we have to think we were in order to judge or reject them because of our own personal bias? Would we dare? We tend to recognize family through our own personal definitions. We might define it by blood, relational longevity, marriage, a combination of all of these or some other personally define...

"All heaven will praise your great wonders, LORD ; myriads of angels will praise you for your faithfulness. For who in all of heaven can compare with the LORD ? What mightiest angel is anything like the LORD ? The highest angelic powers stand in awe of God. He is far more awesome than all who surround his throne. O LORD God of Heaven’s Armies! Where is there anyone as mighty as you, O LORD ? You are entirely faithful." Psalm 89:5-8 (NLT)  I was participating in an online, midweek church service when the words of a song grabbed my attention - "...whatever it costs me...". It's easy to just sing those words, but the reality of the potential cost in singing them in earnest honesty, might not be so easily made comfortable to our flesh. Coming to a place though, where consciously and honestly meaning those words in relation to putting God first above all other people, places, situations and things and following Him wherever He might lead, brings us in closer proximi...

Tradition: "an inherited, established, or customary pattern of thought, action, or behavior" - Merriam Webster  There are all kinds of traditions to be found in the multiplicity of character types and personalities among the throng of humanity. Human traditions - some are amusing, some are mere perfunctory habit, and some are even repugnant, but among all of the possible traditions to be found, there are some that have far more power and importance than we give them credit for ... and losing them - a far higher cost. In a society that seems bent on leaving traditions behind and forging a new way forward, I beg for a moment to consider where the trashing of some former traditions has brought us. Take manners, the consideration of others and courtesy for example. Where did leaving genuine courtesy and politeness behind get us as a human society? It doesn't take too much thought to recognize that the erosion of such simple and easy traditional values have helped generate a s...

 There are times when in discouraged reflection, I wonder whether the words I've ever written or the things I've done have any real worth or value ... but it's then that I'm confronted to admit a humbling truth: MY words aren't  the ones that really matter ...  The LORD's words are those that instigate and perform the work of His Kingdom - bearing light and life to a world in deep peril. They're true and they strike a chord in a heart and call attention to an inner issue of divine importance - a matter to be reconciled. They provoke and speak to the inner soul of a person bringing understanding, healing, unity and discernment. They bring about repentance, sanctification and new life - writing " forgiven" over the old. He might choose to speak them through us on occasion, but the glory of anything He might choose to accomplish whether in words or deed through any of us, still belongs to Him. It's our purpose fulfilling pleasure simply to serve...

A Psalm of David ... "O LORD, our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth! Your glory is higher than the heavens. You have taught children and infants to tell of your strength, silencing your enemies and all who oppose you. When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers— the moon and the stars you set in place — what are mere mortals that you should think about them, human beings that you should care for them? Yet you made them only a little lower than God and crowned them with glory and honor. You gave them charge of everything you made, putting all things under their authority — the flocks and the herds and all the wild animals, the birds in the sky, the fish in the sea, and everything that swims the ocean currents. O LORD, our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth!" Psalm 8 (NLT) A wise person reserves their highest praise for The King who rules over their future destiny, in part because such respect serves toward saving their own life, but the lack of ...

 If only we truly understood God's heart, felt His joy, understood the depth of His love and the reasons for His plans... The Apostle Paul:  "I was chosen to explain to everyone this mysterious plan that God, the Creator of all things, had kept secret from the beginning.  God’s purpose in all this was to use the church to display his wisdom in its rich variety to all the unseen rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. This was his eternal plan, which he carried out through Christ Jesus our Lord.  Because of Christ and our faith in him, we can now come boldly and confidently into God’s presence." Ephesians 3:9-12 (NLT)  Paul wrote of one glorious plan that Father God kept secret until the time was right for it to be revealed, but this was only one of His plans, one among countless others - plans intended to give us a bright hope for the eternal future. "O LORD my God, you have performed many wonders for us. Your plans for us are too numerous to list. You h...

 For those looking for a foundation on which to build a fruitful life, especially for men - because of my own experience, but applicable to any life, I have some simple advice.  As a young man I became enamored of a certain book of the bible that quickly became the anchor that I've relied on for much of daily life since. It's served so often as a guide to properly respond to the things that life's confronted me with - to keep my feet from walking some of the paths that would have only led to causing my heart later regret.  Admittedly, at times I've allowed myself to drift on the slack of my chain to it and felt myself suddenly jarred by hitting against my inattention to its immovable wisdom, but this book's wisdom has never failed to provide safety when I've hauled in the slack and stayed tightly tethered to it. The jarring of my unfaithfulness to keep the line of my life taught to the book of Proverbs has honestly only ever caused me unnecessary pain. Sometimes...