Into Every Life

I've heard people say "now that you are a Christian, everything will be great." Such statements make me cringe. Saying the Sinner's Prayer is not like clicking one's heels three times and leaving Oz for Home. Bad things happen to good people -- even Christian people. Bad people happen to good people -- even Christian people. It's part of life. In fact, truth be told, Bad happens more often to the Christian than the non-Christian. Why? Because the Evil One wants to mess us up!

The Evil One has been trying to mess me up lately. To do so, he used some very unfriendly people who are the worst kind of Yankees. You may have run into ones like them: arrogant, rude, condescending, fast talking, I'm-better-than-you attitudes, and did I mention rude? If you live in the Little River, SC area, you may have actually met these people. They are the owners of a second-hand store called Bloomingdeals located off Hwy 9. They advertise heavily on the Myrtle Beach Craigslist. We had purchased a refrigerator from them which turned out to be in the death rattle of refrigerators. What has followed has been months of them acting like they were doing us a favor when they were not. Finally, I just wanted to end the relationship. That turned into a huge mess with them talking to me like I was dirt. After a good cry, I went and enlisted my Pastor's help to see if they would be more reasonable in the presence of a man of the cloth. Apparently, they have no respect for anyone with a southern accent, even a Pastor. With the help of my Pastor's son and another gentleman in the church, I was able to return the refrigerator to Bloomingdeals and get the money back that I originally paid but not the other $70 for repair calls I should not have been charged for. I am now refrigeratorless. But, I have the Evil One off my back. It is worth it.

Here's the thing, while the Evil One brings his minions along to try to torment us, God brings human angels along to bless us. Sometimes, they are people we already know --like my pastor, his son Tyler, and Mr. Hardy from my church. Sometimes, they are complete strangers who's kindness catches us off guard. God brought such a person into my life today. This gentleman is a retiree --probably also from north of the Mason Dixon but with a completely different attitude -- who is looking to sell his refrigerator. A very nice refrigerator. Only 5 years old and with all the bells and whistles my mother could hope for. And it is situated just two miles from our house. He spoke words of encouragement to me this morning as we discussed refrigerators and mean people. He spoke kindness and more encouragement to me this afternoon. He is accepting partial payment now (whenever we can catch each other over the next few days) and the rest next week. "It's fine, Tina, don't you fret." He said. And all I could do was pray for God's blessings on him. And cry - this time happy thankful tears. An angel in disguise? Possibly!

Good and bad. It happens. There isn't any avoiding it. When we are in the middle of the bad or dealing with bad people who attack our value as a person, it is easy to think that God has forsaken us or is punishing us for something. It can seem like the world is falling apart around us. In those times, remember to look up to where our help comes from -- it comes from the Lord! He does not forsake His children and any trials He allows us to walk through are intended for our good, not our destruction!

The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. Matthew 12:35
 I lift up my eyes to the hills--where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. Psalm 121:1-2

Agenda 21 & Man's Place in Nature

There are those who think Man is on the same level as any other mammal within an ecosystem controlled by "Nature" and that all lifeforms--be it rabbits or whales or Man--are the same. If that were the case, then Man is free to do as Man pleases without consideration of other lifeforms because the Law of Nature is self-preservation. You don't see other mammals limiting their predation or consumption or reproduction based on the "collective good of all creatures".

There are others who think Man is supreme and as such free to destroy the world to suit his needs. He only will succeed in destroying himself in the end. (And, I've read the end of the book and the END is not pretty -- but thankfully there is a New Beginning!)

Then, there are those, of whom I'm one, who believes that Nature was created by God Almighty and that God gave Man dominion over nature. Dominion does not mean "free to destroy" but rather stewardship. I do not worship Nature but rather the Creator of nature and in His Name I steward the earth and it's creatures. I do
not consider other creatures to be on the same level as myself because the scriptures say they are not. I do consider it my duty to be humane in my treatment of them. If I act to preserve the earth and it's ecosystems so that I benefit, "nature" will benefit as well because our mutual good comes from that proper stewardship. So, being "above" does not make me free to destroy but rather responsible to care for and preserve.

Promises and Books Read

As the year comes to an end and a promise of new beginnings illuminates my future, I have been pondering the changes I'd like to make. I've pondered myself right into a short list of promises I'm making to myself for the coming year. 

The first promise is to draw closer to God. I've said for years that I want to be close enough to God to hear His heartbeat. I've struggled with the how of that desire. But, I sense that I'm in a new season of my life and I hope to move closer to Him. I will nurture several disciplines this coming year in pursuit of that desire: Bible reading, Bible study, prayer, worship, silence/listening, etc. Now that I'm using Professor Horner's Reading system, my daily Bible reading has been both consistent and more meaningful. But, as meaningful as it is, it is not an indepth Bible Study so I want to set aside time for indepth Bible study using the Inductive Study Bible. Daily times of prayer, Monday fasts, First Friday Fasts (F3), and a few longer fasts are planned to keep me in communication with the Lord. Worship and times of silence and solitude will be aspects of my prayer time since prayer is as much (or more) about worshiping and listening to God as it is about asking.

The second promise is to follow the promptings of the Spirit to be actively involved in ministry through the Reaching Our Community Ministry, starting a teen Sunday School class, music ministry, and Intercessory Prayer Group (WIN). After almost 8 years of being hobbled at the former church, my spirit is more than eager to spread it's wings.

The third promise relates to two other Christian/spiritual disciplines: simplicity and frugality. I've been "moving toward" these but not consistently and purposefully as I wish I had. What is voluntary simplicity and frugality? It is making the conscious choice to reduce and/or minimize one's personal possessions and spending habits for the purpose of having more to use for the Kingdom. There is a quote that I think explains it well:

The bread you do not eat is the bread of the hungry; the garment hanging in your wardrobe is the garment of the one who is naked; the shoes you do not wear are the shoes of the one who is barefoot; the money that you keep locked away is the money of the poor; the acts of charity that you do not perform are so many injustices that you commit. ~Basil of Caesarea

I've been reading and listening to audiobooks lately. They are building my understanding of prayer and who we are in Christ. I highly recommend the following: "How to be a Prayer Warrior" by Derek Prince, "Intercessory Prayer" by Dutch Sheets (audiobook), and "Lioness Arising" by Lisa Bevere (audiobook). I intend to reread the Prince book and take notes. I was so taken by Dutch's book that I listened to it twice and ordered the workbook. Lisa's book is so inspiring! I finished it today and started listening again. I intend to order the "Safari Guide" for that one as well. It felt like Lisa was speaking to me, to my spirit and my spirit responded with a "YES" and "AMEN".

I continue to read my 10 chapters each day -- it is just really a PITA to keep noting which chapters so forgive me for abandoning that aspect of the blog. The corporate fast starts January 2nd and I will be aiming at 20 chapters per day...we'll see how that goes!

Merry Christmas

It was a humble birth -- an incarnate Creator King Messiah in a bed of wood and straw rather than silk and gold. He traded the smell of sacred incense for the stench of livestock. He stepped off His throne and out of Glory to become part with His creation and so to be the only sacrifice capable of reconciling His creation to Himself.

He came into the world rough. He left brutal. In between, He taught us how be in relationship with Him. It is this that He came for -- to restore the relationship between Himself and us. But, this relationship requires more than a twice yearly appearance at church. It requires more than showing up and warming a pew each Sunday morning. It requires more than doing "good deeds". It requires everything that really matters. It requires reverent intimacy. His gift to each of us was blood stained salvation. Our gift to Him is a living sacrifice of ourselves.

(I know I haven't been posting my daily readings but I have actually been sticking to the plan. During the upcoming 21 day corporate fast in January, I hope to double up my readings.)

Because of the Angels

And every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head--it is just as though her head were shaved ...For this reason, and because of the angels, the woman ought to have a sign of authority on her head. (I Cor 11:5,10)

Chapter 11 of 1st Corinthians has been a point of repeated pondering for me over my decades of walking with God. I find myself coming back to it often and wondering if it does or does not apply to me. Oh, I know the standard position of the church teachers today: that was situational for one church in one place at one time. This seems to satisfy most. I wish it could satisfy me. I don't know why I can't be content with that answer. It would certainly be easier for me if I could accept that and move on.

Scripture tells us that God the Father is head over God the Son (Jesus Christ) and that Christ is head of The Church which in turn is head of man and man is head of his wife. It is this hierarchy of headship, and submission, that seems to be difficult for modern men and women to accept. Men seem to get all "Lord and Master" about being the head of his home. Women get all "I'm not going to submit to anyone" about being asked to submit to the authority of her husband. I have been in that place earlier in my life where the idea of submitting to anyone was unthinkable. If I can not submit to a man whom God has placed over me -- be it a husband or a shepherd -- how can I submit to Christ Jesus? Am I willing to submit to Christ? If I can not humble myself and submit to Christ and to His order of authority, then, have I really made Him Lord.

And, what does this have to do with the angels? Why did Paul say that covering my head is for the sake of the angels? I have no clue. Does it have something to do with Christ being over the angels and also over me? I don't understand this saying. I do not know.

I don't think that this issue should be one of legalistic requirements. I admit I ponder how to apply this scripture teaching to myself and my relationship with God. It will be a decision made between me and God....which is as it should be because it is to Him that I submit.

Today's Reading: Matt 28; Gen 28; 1 Cor 12; 1 Pet 1; Job 28; Ps 28; Prv 28; Jdg 4; Isa 28; Acts 28
Saturday's Reading: Matt 27; Gen 27; 1 Cor 11; James 5; Job 27; Ps 27; Prv 27; Jdg 3; Isa 27; Acts 27
Friday's Reading: Matt 26; Gen 26; 1 Cor 10; James 4; Job 26; Ps 26; Prv 26; Jdg 2; Isa 26; Acts 26

His Train Fills the Temple

Isaiah 6:1 tells of Isaiah seeing Jesus "high and lifted up and His train fills the temple". This verse is oft quoted amongst Christians. It is a favorite of mine as well. Lately, I've found myself meditating and pondering on this verse.

What temple? The first point I've pondered is about the temple. What temple is filled with His train? Some say it was the heavenlies. Others suggest the temple in Jerusalem. They may be right. But, in the New Testament, we are told that we -- believers -- are His temple. As His temple, are we filled with His train? If so, what does that mean?

Royal trains are long and majestic to symbolize the ruler's glory. The longer and fuller, the more grand and glorious and by extension, the more regal and glorious the ruler who wears it. So, if Christ's train fills us, His temple, what does that mean for us? It seems to suggest that we are filled with his glory. We are vessels to hold and display His glory to the world. As we lift Him up high, His glory is revealed to the world.

How do we best function as his glory vessels?

Today's Reading: Matt 25; Gen 25; 1 Cor 9; James 3; Job 25; Ps 25; Prv 25; Jdg 1; Isa 25; Ac 25

Day 24

Today's Reading: Matt 24; Gen 24; 1 Cor 8; James 2; Job 24; Ps 24; Prv 24; Jsh 24; Isa 24; Ac 24