The LORD has His way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of His feet. - Nahum 1:3b
The current storms that have been blasting across the USA reminded me of a time when I traveled from Arizona to Missouri and half the trip was truly by faith since there was so little to see. The snowstorms they are having in Northern Arizona are one thing but when they have white-outs in areas across South-Central California you know there is a lot of mystified and confounded folk!
And, on her birthday today, a good friend and someone who makes my work easier was just informed that her husband has been put on "administrative leave."
No work.
What about the whirlwinds of disease, disaster, and death. What are we to think when the confusion of having a God who loves and cares but where His blessing seems to have dried up? What about the storms of interruptions, irritations, and ill-treatment? Well, if Nahum's words apply to the heavenly sphere or the place of God's control, they also apply to the earthly - to the heartrending contingencies of daily living which never seem to be timely.
Life is filled with God-appointed storms. I for one never like them. I prefer my personal theology which, though wrong, satisfies my desire for a worry and trouble-free life. My personal theology says, "God loves me and His wonderful plan for my life means it's smooth sailing from now on out!"
"But John! How do you know your theology isn't accurate? Maybe you just haven't discovered the secret formula to a life full of success, health and a deep-pocked bank account?" How about this: a sheet of paper ten times the size of this little blog would be insufficient to list the whirlwinds (Nahum's terminology) of our lives and, for some, would be a one-to-one match for those they have experienced.
But two things should comfort us in the midst of daily darkness; the white-out blinding inability to see every detail of the future clearly. First, we all experience them. Second, we all need them. God has no method more effective to not only get our attention and adjust and change our lives; He also has found it fully effective for us to be able to embrace, love, comfort and care for others and, yes, occasionally provide them with answers and solutions they cannot themselves see. The lack of detail and sight to what's next as well as the massive blows and shattering blasts (not to mention the small, constant irritations) smooth us and humble us and force us to submit to the role He has chosen for us at the moment.
William Cowper, the 18th century poet and hymnodist could take the stand in defense of all I have written. He passed through a period of great crisis in his life. Finally one bleak morning he tried to put an end to it all by taking poison. The attempt at suicide failed. He couldn't even successfully kill himself. He then hired a coach and was driven to the Thames River, intending to throw himself from the bridge but was "strangely restrained." The next morning he fell upon a sharp knife but the blade broke! He later tried to hang himself but was found and taken down unconscious . . . still alive. Some time later he took up a Bible, began to read the Book of Romans, and was gloriously changed forever. Jesus became His treasure. The God of the storms had pursued him unto the end and won his heart.
After a rich life of Christian experiences, Cowper sat down and recorded his summary of the Lord's dealings in the familiar words: "God moves in a mysterious way / His wonders to perform; He plants His footsteps in the sea, / and rides upon the storm."
Before the dust settles, why not ask God to have His way in today's whirlwind and storm? I just reminded myself to be a blessing and comfort to a friend today...tomorrow he will have to do similarly with me.
I remain...
InHISgrip,
~J~
Monday, February 28, 2011
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Exceeding Expectations? Are There Any?
She said to the king, 'The report I heard in my own country about your achievements and your wisdom is true. But I did not believe these things until I came and saw with my own eyes. Indeed, not even half was told me; in wisdom and wealth you have far exceeded the report I heard - 1 Kings 10:6-8
"I'm shocked," said the woman on the phone. "I've just seen your picture. I was expecting a grey haired old man. You are too young to have the wisdom that I read in your messages. And, now, talking to you, I am so impressed!"
That was a few years ago. Today she would just not and look at the white hair and hopefully give experience the credit it is due...
Of course, my point is this, when people meet you, or experience your work life skills, would they say that you far exceeded their expectations? Do you undersell and over produce, or oversell and under produce? Solomon's wisdom far exceeded any man's wisdom and it was evident to others. When people come in contact with you do they come away with a sense of greater appreciation of you after meeting you? I met with a couple last night who were relieved at my level of knowledge and insight into my industry. Is that you?
"Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will serve before kings; he will not serve before obscure men - Proverbs 22:29. Whenever we exceed the expectations of man, we bring glory to our Heavenly Father and He often elevates us among men. You might read a lot of things beyond this into your theology but the thought is straight-forward.
Bezalel was a man who designed the ark of the covenant for Moses. God handpicked him to design it because of his exceptional skill. GASP! God chose him because he was something...Bezalel was actually the most exceptional in his craft and it was this talent that God used.
Then Moses said to the Israelites, "See, the LORD has chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and he has filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability and knowledge in all kinds of crafts - to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, to cut and set stones, to work in wood and to engage in all kinds of artistic craftsmanship. And he has given both him and Oholiab son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, the ability to teach others" (Ex 35:30-35).
We live in a time and amongst a people of God where, at some level, and with some who have a voice into the larger world stage, there is a push to fully divorce who we are and what we do and/or how well we do it from whether we are acceptable for use by God. Of course, there is another line of thinking, a branch of this if you will, that simply says, "Just be the person you are, God loves you there; accept who you are and it will all be fine because God accepts and loves you where you are!" And, while God loves and realizes who we are, that has always been true! Prior to our coming to Jesus Christ, and our acceptance and embrace of Him as our Lord, Savior, King and Great Treasure, God loved you and realized who you were. It was not however okay with Him and you were not in fact "accepted".
God isn't in the business of leaving us where we are. While God loves us where we are He in fact loves us so much He will never us there and it is His sovereignty that brings into our lives in order to polish the diamond that is our life If there was a Kingdom project to be done would God recommend you for the job? God calls you and I to live our lives and do our work with excellence. He expects our cooperation. He also anticipates we desire, because of our love and realization of who He is, that we will wish to hone and embrace more of our relationship with Him.
Paul once wrote to a people who had come to Jesus Christ these words, We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of your love for all the saints; because of the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, of which you heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel, which has come to you, as it has also in all the world, and is bringing forth fruit, as it is also among you since the day you heard and knew the grace of God in truth; as you also learned from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf, who also declared to us your love in the Spirit.
- Colossians 1:4-8
Jesus brings forth love to the Father. That brings forth a desire to show forth that love to Him and that leads to others seeing the love, the life, and the quality of what it means to be "in Him". Regardless of the voices that cry "just be free!" Freedom means something to those who love not just the freedom but the one who provides it to us moment by moment and day by day!
I remain...
InHISgrip,
~J~
"I'm shocked," said the woman on the phone. "I've just seen your picture. I was expecting a grey haired old man. You are too young to have the wisdom that I read in your messages. And, now, talking to you, I am so impressed!"
That was a few years ago. Today she would just not and look at the white hair and hopefully give experience the credit it is due...
Of course, my point is this, when people meet you, or experience your work life skills, would they say that you far exceeded their expectations? Do you undersell and over produce, or oversell and under produce? Solomon's wisdom far exceeded any man's wisdom and it was evident to others. When people come in contact with you do they come away with a sense of greater appreciation of you after meeting you? I met with a couple last night who were relieved at my level of knowledge and insight into my industry. Is that you?
"Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will serve before kings; he will not serve before obscure men - Proverbs 22:29. Whenever we exceed the expectations of man, we bring glory to our Heavenly Father and He often elevates us among men. You might read a lot of things beyond this into your theology but the thought is straight-forward.
Bezalel was a man who designed the ark of the covenant for Moses. God handpicked him to design it because of his exceptional skill. GASP! God chose him because he was something...Bezalel was actually the most exceptional in his craft and it was this talent that God used.
Then Moses said to the Israelites, "See, the LORD has chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and he has filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability and knowledge in all kinds of crafts - to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, to cut and set stones, to work in wood and to engage in all kinds of artistic craftsmanship. And he has given both him and Oholiab son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, the ability to teach others" (Ex 35:30-35).
We live in a time and amongst a people of God where, at some level, and with some who have a voice into the larger world stage, there is a push to fully divorce who we are and what we do and/or how well we do it from whether we are acceptable for use by God. Of course, there is another line of thinking, a branch of this if you will, that simply says, "Just be the person you are, God loves you there; accept who you are and it will all be fine because God accepts and loves you where you are!" And, while God loves and realizes who we are, that has always been true! Prior to our coming to Jesus Christ, and our acceptance and embrace of Him as our Lord, Savior, King and Great Treasure, God loved you and realized who you were. It was not however okay with Him and you were not in fact "accepted".
God isn't in the business of leaving us where we are. While God loves us where we are He in fact loves us so much He will never us there and it is His sovereignty that brings into our lives in order to polish the diamond that is our life If there was a Kingdom project to be done would God recommend you for the job? God calls you and I to live our lives and do our work with excellence. He expects our cooperation. He also anticipates we desire, because of our love and realization of who He is, that we will wish to hone and embrace more of our relationship with Him.
Paul once wrote to a people who had come to Jesus Christ these words, We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of your love for all the saints; because of the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, of which you heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel, which has come to you, as it has also in all the world, and is bringing forth fruit, as it is also among you since the day you heard and knew the grace of God in truth; as you also learned from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf, who also declared to us your love in the Spirit.
- Colossians 1:4-8
Jesus brings forth love to the Father. That brings forth a desire to show forth that love to Him and that leads to others seeing the love, the life, and the quality of what it means to be "in Him". Regardless of the voices that cry "just be free!" Freedom means something to those who love not just the freedom but the one who provides it to us moment by moment and day by day!
I remain...
InHISgrip,
~J~
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Can I Even Wrap My Mind Around It?
Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know. - Job 42:3b
Today, in my Bible reading I came upon old Job. You remember Job. He was the guy to whom it must have seemed that God was really ticked at him. He was of a time that seems great superstition and personal interaction (albeit quiet) between God and man occurred. If I understand my historical sociology correctly (Boy! That class goes back a few years.) mankind would judge God's love and acceptance of them (or "the gods") by virtue of how their lives were going. If they were farmers, and there was no rain in the growing season then God was not happy with them. If they were cattlemen and their animals got some animal disease live the mange or scurvy or something then clearly they were out of favor and they better repent and start doing good things.
Of course when their "luck" changed then God's wrath had been satisfied.
Job seemed unique though. Nonetheless, during the time of the story that we have about him if there was any one man on earth who had reason to question God's love, it was Job. He lost it all... his family, his health, and his wealth-all at the same time. His friends came to his side only to question his spirituality. God had already answered the question of his integrity. Job was described in the opening verses of the book as "blameless and upright" (see Job 1:1). This makes the story that much more confusing. You see, Job's calamities weren't born from sin. Job's theology was spot on and in line (if only he had known) with the rest of the Bible (Uh, Job wouldn't have known about a Bible) But Job acknowledged God's right to do or allow anything in his life. But Job, like you and I, had a breaking point. And one day he could take it no longer. He questioned God's motives.
*GASP*
God smote him and that's the end of the story!
er...
No....
God answered Job, but not in the way he wanted to hear. God answered him with a series of questions that represents the most incredible discourse of correction by God to any human being.
Three chapters later...
Job realized that he had questioned the motives of the Author of the universe, the Author of love..the intimate and personal God. Job responded appropriately however as he fell flat before his Creator and realized his total depravity. Now, I use the word depravity here purposely. Job recognized that without God's insight he would not only judge and question others (He had questioned his friends while in deep sorrow and pain. That can't be a good place to see things clearly and certainly not a good place to see God's point of view easily.) Depravity, for my purposes here is simply thinking, and acting out of one's own viewpoint apart from God and without His blessing and agreement.
When Job spoke these words, "Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know." He was acknowledging more than just God has more information than he did. Job was recognizing that God, in the midst of our suffering and pain and sorrow is somehow showing a level of love, care, concern, and desire for us that provides to us insight and growth into who we are and how we also are, "in His image." Later Jesus would come on the scene and this lesson would become more apparent as a Father gave His Son on behalf of everyone for all time a lesson in the use of earthly pain and suffering that takes us beyond the veil of our existence and into eternity.
Have you ever questioned God's activity in your life? Have you questioned His love for you based on circumstances that came your way? The cross at Calvary answers the love question. He sent His own Son in replacement for your sin. You don't have to like God's methodology but you do have to embrace it's reality to make it pay off for you. And, embracing it will mean you are grateful to the Son for having been willing to do it just for you.
If you were the only person on earth, He would have "done Calvary." His ways cannot always be understood or reconciled in our finite minds. The explanation, as in the case of Job, might come directly after the catastrophic events. They may be left for a future time when all will be understood. For now, entrust your life to Him completely. Embrace Him in the hard times and the good.
I remain...
InHISgrip,
~J~
Today, in my Bible reading I came upon old Job. You remember Job. He was the guy to whom it must have seemed that God was really ticked at him. He was of a time that seems great superstition and personal interaction (albeit quiet) between God and man occurred. If I understand my historical sociology correctly (Boy! That class goes back a few years.) mankind would judge God's love and acceptance of them (or "the gods") by virtue of how their lives were going. If they were farmers, and there was no rain in the growing season then God was not happy with them. If they were cattlemen and their animals got some animal disease live the mange or scurvy or something then clearly they were out of favor and they better repent and start doing good things.
Of course when their "luck" changed then God's wrath had been satisfied.
Job seemed unique though. Nonetheless, during the time of the story that we have about him if there was any one man on earth who had reason to question God's love, it was Job. He lost it all... his family, his health, and his wealth-all at the same time. His friends came to his side only to question his spirituality. God had already answered the question of his integrity. Job was described in the opening verses of the book as "blameless and upright" (see Job 1:1). This makes the story that much more confusing. You see, Job's calamities weren't born from sin. Job's theology was spot on and in line (if only he had known) with the rest of the Bible (Uh, Job wouldn't have known about a Bible) But Job acknowledged God's right to do or allow anything in his life. But Job, like you and I, had a breaking point. And one day he could take it no longer. He questioned God's motives.
*GASP*
God smote him and that's the end of the story!
er...
No....
God answered Job, but not in the way he wanted to hear. God answered him with a series of questions that represents the most incredible discourse of correction by God to any human being.
Three chapters later...
Job realized that he had questioned the motives of the Author of the universe, the Author of love..the intimate and personal God. Job responded appropriately however as he fell flat before his Creator and realized his total depravity. Now, I use the word depravity here purposely. Job recognized that without God's insight he would not only judge and question others (He had questioned his friends while in deep sorrow and pain. That can't be a good place to see things clearly and certainly not a good place to see God's point of view easily.) Depravity, for my purposes here is simply thinking, and acting out of one's own viewpoint apart from God and without His blessing and agreement.
When Job spoke these words, "Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know." He was acknowledging more than just God has more information than he did. Job was recognizing that God, in the midst of our suffering and pain and sorrow is somehow showing a level of love, care, concern, and desire for us that provides to us insight and growth into who we are and how we also are, "in His image." Later Jesus would come on the scene and this lesson would become more apparent as a Father gave His Son on behalf of everyone for all time a lesson in the use of earthly pain and suffering that takes us beyond the veil of our existence and into eternity.
Have you ever questioned God's activity in your life? Have you questioned His love for you based on circumstances that came your way? The cross at Calvary answers the love question. He sent His own Son in replacement for your sin. You don't have to like God's methodology but you do have to embrace it's reality to make it pay off for you. And, embracing it will mean you are grateful to the Son for having been willing to do it just for you.
If you were the only person on earth, He would have "done Calvary." His ways cannot always be understood or reconciled in our finite minds. The explanation, as in the case of Job, might come directly after the catastrophic events. They may be left for a future time when all will be understood. For now, entrust your life to Him completely. Embrace Him in the hard times and the good.
I remain...
InHISgrip,
~J~
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Does God Have Motives?
He brought me out into a spacious place; He rescued me because He delighted in me. - 2 Samuel 22:20
I have the opportunity to hang around nonbelievers all the time. I love it. I also choose to hang around believers online that quite often disagree with me deeply. Often, when I engage this group the reason I do so is called into question. At first I became righteously indignant. Well, I did until it had nothing at all to do with righteousness and more about my just wanting to be right. I work on it daily now and attempt to do what Paul encouraged us to do...I believe the admonition to "try the spirits" and to "check our motives" whether they be of God can be viewed as two sides of the same coin.
Questioning someone's motives for their activities can become an overriding response to those with whom we interact. Wrong motives can result in broken relationships, poor business decisions, patterns that lead to alienating ourselves from others but also from right thinking and good judgement. Often, when we practice junior psychology on others we skim the surface of their intentions. Often they don't fully understand why they do what they do. I am of the sincere and biblical opinion that most often, without the guidance and illumination of the Holy Spirit to our spirits do not know the motive of another person. It is wrong for us to assume what their motive is until we have confidence that we know their intentions. When we respond or react prematurely, we become judge and jury over them. We were never given either office.
God has a motive for every one of His children. His desire is to bring us, as the opening verse states, into a spacious place. He wants us to go beyond our borders of safety and security so that we might experience life at a level that goes beyond ourselves, and our narrow perceptions. What do you think of when you think of a "spacious place"? No limitations? A large, grassy field? Open air? Perhaps the evening sky? These are positive images. They can be quiet, serene, and massive!
Sometimes these spacious places, simply by their size and the spark of creativity that the Holy Spirit lights up, encourage us to step out in faith into areas where we've never ventured.
Sometimes we need to be rescued by the Lord...
When Peter walked on the water, God was inviting him to a spacious place. He went beyond the borders of his boat and ventured into a whole new world. He didn't have complete success in his venturing out, but it was a process that would lead him to the next victory in his faith walk with Jesus. Stepping out leads to criticism. Stepping out will also lead to blunders for both those watching and those attempting it. Sometimes failure is what is needed in order to move us to the next level of faith with God and just as likely, when we are struggling with our faith we move out into the great unknown without great direction. What I am learning is for some they must be willing to fail and let God rescue them. Doing "something", "anything" is better than the place they were at.
I have concluded that the Lord delights in the process of His kids going forth into spacious places, into big projects and growing. He also embraces and I am sure, as only God can delights when we learn the lessons of "great going" with "great listening" to His voice. But in this God has a motive for each of us. Generally speaking His motive for His children is always loving. And, as I watch others grow and go one thing becomes evident on that subject: In the going He is always desiring to bring us to a new level of trust and dependence on Him so we become more deeply involved and intimate with Him!
I remain...
InHISgrip,
~J~
I have the opportunity to hang around nonbelievers all the time. I love it. I also choose to hang around believers online that quite often disagree with me deeply. Often, when I engage this group the reason I do so is called into question. At first I became righteously indignant. Well, I did until it had nothing at all to do with righteousness and more about my just wanting to be right. I work on it daily now and attempt to do what Paul encouraged us to do...I believe the admonition to "try the spirits" and to "check our motives" whether they be of God can be viewed as two sides of the same coin.
Questioning someone's motives for their activities can become an overriding response to those with whom we interact. Wrong motives can result in broken relationships, poor business decisions, patterns that lead to alienating ourselves from others but also from right thinking and good judgement. Often, when we practice junior psychology on others we skim the surface of their intentions. Often they don't fully understand why they do what they do. I am of the sincere and biblical opinion that most often, without the guidance and illumination of the Holy Spirit to our spirits do not know the motive of another person. It is wrong for us to assume what their motive is until we have confidence that we know their intentions. When we respond or react prematurely, we become judge and jury over them. We were never given either office.
God has a motive for every one of His children. His desire is to bring us, as the opening verse states, into a spacious place. He wants us to go beyond our borders of safety and security so that we might experience life at a level that goes beyond ourselves, and our narrow perceptions. What do you think of when you think of a "spacious place"? No limitations? A large, grassy field? Open air? Perhaps the evening sky? These are positive images. They can be quiet, serene, and massive!
Sometimes these spacious places, simply by their size and the spark of creativity that the Holy Spirit lights up, encourage us to step out in faith into areas where we've never ventured.
Sometimes we need to be rescued by the Lord...
When Peter walked on the water, God was inviting him to a spacious place. He went beyond the borders of his boat and ventured into a whole new world. He didn't have complete success in his venturing out, but it was a process that would lead him to the next victory in his faith walk with Jesus. Stepping out leads to criticism. Stepping out will also lead to blunders for both those watching and those attempting it. Sometimes failure is what is needed in order to move us to the next level of faith with God and just as likely, when we are struggling with our faith we move out into the great unknown without great direction. What I am learning is for some they must be willing to fail and let God rescue them. Doing "something", "anything" is better than the place they were at.
I have concluded that the Lord delights in the process of His kids going forth into spacious places, into big projects and growing. He also embraces and I am sure, as only God can delights when we learn the lessons of "great going" with "great listening" to His voice. But in this God has a motive for each of us. Generally speaking His motive for His children is always loving. And, as I watch others grow and go one thing becomes evident on that subject: In the going He is always desiring to bring us to a new level of trust and dependence on Him so we become more deeply involved and intimate with Him!
I remain...
InHISgrip,
~J~
Friday, February 4, 2011
Seeing Inside a Heart
"...looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." - Hebrews 12:2
Almost every week I come into contact with people who have been misled, thinking that success combines the earthly gifts upon our Rolodex, talent and/brilliance and education.
But the list doesn't end there. For some it's getting the breaks, pulling the right strings, having the right personality, being in the right place at the right time, and again, knowing the right people, playing their cards right.
You see, it is our natural tendency to focus on the external, to be overly impressed with the trappings of this world.
But, just between you and I, wouldn't it be wonderful to develop the ability to look at a heart? Wouldn't it be wonderful to have perfect spiritual vision and insight into our own heart? Wouldn't it be awesome to be able to understand as you look on a group meeting at your work to know what was going on in the hearts of the participants? Wouldn't it be great to be free of the limitations of strictly physical sight so that we could read hidden character traits; to be able to look on what truly matters?
Frankly, I think those who are physically blind, the light of day is something they have perhaps never seen, often seem to see more than those of us who are sighted. They often perceive much more than we can in the tone of a voice or in the sound of approaching footsteps or in the grip of a handshake. But we who have sight usually lack this insightful depth perception; the ability to detect the deeper things, the unspoken, the character, the hidden condition of the unspoken. And although God is able (and willing) to give us this ability, it isn't something we're born with. I'd like to make three significant observations.
First: Age has little to do with achievement and nothing to do with commitment. Trusting in the Lord and not leaning on our own perception and getting what we desire because we align with God's plans and direction happens from the child to the grandfather.
Second: A godly walk is basic to a positive life. There truly are no limits to the powerful effect a man or woman can have if it is a life that walks uprightly in Christ Jesus. What is an upright walk? One that gets up each morning and just loves on Jesus, speaks it, sings it, plays the recording of their life and where God touched it...it is those who have lives of power.
Third: Convictions are a matter of choice, not force.Your convictions don't show in what you are guilty about or for or what you have done...No. Guilt is the result of NOT being fully convinced of how you are to act and fighting over it in your mind. Those things you are fully convinced of will be the leading elements of life in you and through you.
We must keep on continually pursuing - seeking to see life from the heart. You see, my prayer is this, that you pray to have a heart that is exposed to the world, that I have the eyes of my understanding enlightened that you and I can see what Jesus see's when He looks on you and He looks on me and...and when He looks on those whom we come in contact with every day:
Lord! Help us to lead rightly, from your perspective, from your wisdom...help us to see what you see when you look on the hearts of men and women and then touch them as you would have us do. I remain...'
InYOURGripO'Lord,
~J~
Almost every week I come into contact with people who have been misled, thinking that success combines the earthly gifts upon our Rolodex, talent and/brilliance and education.
But the list doesn't end there. For some it's getting the breaks, pulling the right strings, having the right personality, being in the right place at the right time, and again, knowing the right people, playing their cards right.
You see, it is our natural tendency to focus on the external, to be overly impressed with the trappings of this world.
But, just between you and I, wouldn't it be wonderful to develop the ability to look at a heart? Wouldn't it be wonderful to have perfect spiritual vision and insight into our own heart? Wouldn't it be awesome to be able to understand as you look on a group meeting at your work to know what was going on in the hearts of the participants? Wouldn't it be great to be free of the limitations of strictly physical sight so that we could read hidden character traits; to be able to look on what truly matters?
Frankly, I think those who are physically blind, the light of day is something they have perhaps never seen, often seem to see more than those of us who are sighted. They often perceive much more than we can in the tone of a voice or in the sound of approaching footsteps or in the grip of a handshake. But we who have sight usually lack this insightful depth perception; the ability to detect the deeper things, the unspoken, the character, the hidden condition of the unspoken. And although God is able (and willing) to give us this ability, it isn't something we're born with. I'd like to make three significant observations.
First: Age has little to do with achievement and nothing to do with commitment. Trusting in the Lord and not leaning on our own perception and getting what we desire because we align with God's plans and direction happens from the child to the grandfather.
Second: A godly walk is basic to a positive life. There truly are no limits to the powerful effect a man or woman can have if it is a life that walks uprightly in Christ Jesus. What is an upright walk? One that gets up each morning and just loves on Jesus, speaks it, sings it, plays the recording of their life and where God touched it...it is those who have lives of power.
Third: Convictions are a matter of choice, not force.Your convictions don't show in what you are guilty about or for or what you have done...No. Guilt is the result of NOT being fully convinced of how you are to act and fighting over it in your mind. Those things you are fully convinced of will be the leading elements of life in you and through you.
We must keep on continually pursuing - seeking to see life from the heart. You see, my prayer is this, that you pray to have a heart that is exposed to the world, that I have the eyes of my understanding enlightened that you and I can see what Jesus see's when He looks on you and He looks on me and...and when He looks on those whom we come in contact with every day:
Lord! Help us to lead rightly, from your perspective, from your wisdom...help us to see what you see when you look on the hearts of men and women and then touch them as you would have us do. I remain...'
InYOURGripO'Lord,
~J~
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