Lucky Me!

On September 28, 2021   /   Word of the Day   /   Leave a comment

Proverb 10: 22

It is the blessing of the Lord that makes rich.

I have a friend who constantly talks about luck. She also remarks about how lucky I am. I am not lucky. I am blessed and there is a big difference. Sometimes it is frustrating hearing her talk about luck. I keep hoping she will get a revelation that this is what it means to be “blessed of the Lord.” Too right great things happen for me! It isn’t because of me, and it isn’t because I am lucky. It is because we have an awesome Father who sent His blessing into the earth to hunt us down and shower us with His goodness.

Some of you have seen posts about my bike team. I have said many times, “We are the most blessed of all bike teams,” and I mean it. If you could live in my shoes and see how our sponsors have blessed us, you would understand. We have the most fabulous sponsors, and they are terrific not because we have done anything to earn their kindness but because they have the love and joy of the Lord in their hearts. They just bless us because of Jesus. Man, it is totally awesome. And now, we just won a drawing from a local business. They are giving us 50 mini-Bundt cakes for our team tent! Wow! Lucky? I don’t think so. That is the blessing again. It is chasing us down in the street piling God’s love on us. There were over 2000 entries. Some teams had over 200 entries. We had only 60, but we won. It isn’t about statistics. It’s about the blessing.

It is the blessing of the Lord which is at work. The blessing of the Lord makes rich! My friends and family raised $3000 for MS. Are you kidding me with this? That is not luck. That is the blessing at work and all of you who donated, you have your part in the blessing. I just love seeing how the pieces fit together and how the Father is at work wrapping us all up in His blessing. You see, that was His financial plan all along. This is how Kingdom finances work. We keep moving in Him and He generates the flow.

I am not lucky, but I must be one of the most blessed people on the planet. I am overwhelmed by the goodness of our team sponsors, all of you who donated and all the kindnesses which keeps flowing to me and towards our team. I pray that our beloved Father continues to show Himself and the effect of the blessing on each and every one of you so that your unenlightened friends call you the luckiest person they know. May the blessing overtake you.

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Healing Truth

On September 27, 2021   /   Word of the Day   /   Leave a comment

Proverb 17: 22

A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.

Do you want to know the truth about good health? I ask because I am not sure most people really want to hear the truth. They want to act foolishly and still have God give them miraculously good health. If you know God, you know that is craziness. God steers you to good health. He does not condone our bad behaviors standing by like an on call doctor just waiting to heal us of our own self-imposed diseases. Don’t misquote me. I believe in Divine Healing. I just also believe that God is trying to lead us into health every minute and to direct us away from things which endanger our health. There are so many opportunities to bless our bodies. Today we look at an oft overlooked health hazard – Attitude.

Rain happens in every life. Things don’t always go our way but the way we react to those things can have a direct and extremely powerful effect on our health. I do not want you to hear me say that God is not compassionate when you have trouble nor am I unsympathetic. What I wish to stress today is that there are times when we can manage the impact an event has on our lives.

Let me tell you this. Stress in itself isn’t always a bad thing. In fact, it can be empowering in an emergency, but I wish to put that kind of stress aside and focus only on stress which is unnecessary and harmful. Every moment we experience that internal tension we “stress” our bodies. Think about construction. You never want to put undue stress on a structure. It could snap immediately due to the strain, or it may fatigue over time so that the life span of the structure is reduced. That is how it is with us. As I watch people deal with life’s ups and downs there are times I think I can almost see the damage they are doing to their bodies.

I have to confront this too. I am a person of strong passion. My highs are very high but my reactions to negatives can be very strong too. I really have to watch this. I am learning to talk to myself and remind myself how great my God is. Instead of having a big reaction to a situation, I need to backoff and pray. I need to renew my mind with the Word of God so that I have confidence that He is on the job and taking care of me and my needs. My ability to put the situations in His hands and not worry makes those situations work out better and it guards my health.

We must confront life with joy and faith rather than fear and worry. Since I have mentioned fear, let me tell you that is one of the worst health deteriorating factors we encounter. Fear absolutely dries out the bones. You will become feeble of mind and body if you entertain fear.

If you want a healthy body, then you need a joyful heart. Many people believe joy is a matter of circumstance and chance. It is not. It is a practiced art whereby one learns to speak wisdom, truth and life to one’s heart. They learn how to react to challenge so that it does not cripple them. We must all learn mechanisms for dealing with stress, worry and fear. Developing a closer walk with the Father certainly inspires confidence. That often comes from time spent talking with Him, time in His word and prayer.

If you feel yourself getting anxious, stop and breathe. Don’t let that stress persist. It will dry out your bones.

Proverb 17

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Who is my Brother?

On September 24, 2021   /   Word of the Day   /   1 Comment

Psalm 119:63         TLB

Anyone is my brother who fears and trusts the Lord and obeys him.

In these confusing times, it is nice to have theological guidance from the one who is best qualified to teach us, the Lord Himself. It is so easy for humans to divide ourselves into cliques. In religious circles we call them denominations. The denominations work to help likeminded individuals worship God in patterns which agree with their personal philosophies, habits and even comfort. We are different but have similarities with others. We congregate around those similarities.

In today’s verse, God shows us the one similarity that is important to Him. We can overlook a great number of differences when we have this one in common; that we each love God, having given our trust and obedience to Him. Interestingly, this guiding principle leads us to communion with Jews as well as Christian denominations because they, too, love the God we love. So, it turns out that the real test for communion is love of the one true God. How we serve Him and how we worship Him is less important than our zeal for Him.

I have adopted this philosophy though not so much intellectually as organically. By that I mean that I really did not make a decision to believe this way. I simply found myself attracted to others who love God even if we don’t believe exactly the same. I am also learning that I do not have to persuade them to my way of thinking. The Holy Spirit is the teacher and is leading us all on the journey to full enlightenment. It is his responsibility to teach us. I may have some revelation another doesn’t, but they may have learned some things I have not yet learned. It is even okay to be wrong if you love Yahweh. Our Lord is revealing all truth to us bit by bit and will lead us all to the fullness of the knowledge of Him. The one thing God cannot do is mandate our love and devotion. The decision to love and serve Him is uniquely our own. Once that decision is firmly settled down in one’s spirit, the decision to love others becomes easier and easier.

You and I both have witnessed disagreement between Catholics and Protestants, between Jews and Christians, and disputes amongst Protestants. When I imagine myself sitting in the throne room, beside God looking down and witnessing these disputes, I do not perceive them as important. In truth, today’s verse is an excellent reflection of Jesus’ theology. When asked which was the greatest commandment Jesus answered, “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 foremost commandment. The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ Upon these two commandments hang the whole Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 22: 37 – 40). Jesus was teaching that all of the law and all the teaching of the prophets, the entire canon of law and the entire theological doctrine from the beginning of humanity until that very moment was contained in those two commandments. Jesus then went on to synthesize and express the entire law and doctrine of his coming and ascension, or the complete embodiment of New Covenant theology. He said, “I am giving you a new commandment, that you love one another; just as I have loved you, that you also love one another,” (John 13: 34). This is the sum of Jesus’ theological argument. This is New Testament, resurrected savior theology. The rest of the New Testament is there to lead us to this revelation.

I am not Catholic, but I love Catholics. I am not Baptist, but I love Baptists. I do not cling to any one denomination, but if you love Jesus and if you revere God, then you are my brother and I love you. My job in God’s service is to teach but first, I must love. If you get a revelation because of something I have taught, fabulous! But, if you draw closer to Yahweh in your own relationship with Him because you have seen the love of God in me, Hallelujah! That is the glory of God.

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Spirit Guide

On September 23, 2021   /   Word of the Day   /   Leave a comment

Romans 8: 26

Now in the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know what to pray for as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.

This verse describes my prayer over the last year and a half. If ever there was a time I have not known what to pray or how to pray, this has been it. Yet, never has there been a year when the need for prayer has been so great. Many times, I began praying just to find myself out of words, lost and frustrated. I thank my God, as did the Apostle Paul, that we have the Holy Spirit to help us pray as we ought.

The Spirit helps us pray and brother, we need the help like never before. The Spirit can lead us in prayer in our known language or in an unknown language, though it takes a certain amount of surrender to utter syllables you don’t personally understand. I used to pray in what sounded like French. It was beautiful but I didn’t understand it. He can also inspire your prayer with pictures. That can be quite helpful. During the Covid crisis, the Holy Spirit gave me an image of angels with flame throwers. That picture conveyed a lot of meaning in an instant. Later I was able to wrap words and prayers around it.

Some of us are more in our heads when we pray than others. I find some people are adept at connecting with their spirits and, subsequently, with the Holy Spirit within. I have found it an immense relief to be able to pray with the Holy Spirit and to let him give voice to my desires and emotions, especially over the last year and a half.

If you are not accustomed to praying with the Holy Spirit or just think you would like to encourage a closer communion in prayer, it begins with asking the Spirit to join you. Then try to open your senses to the Spirit’s presence. He is there right now. That I can guarantee. I am not the most sensitive person, so I run with the understanding that he is there and that is my anchor. Knowing he is with me moves me towards sensing his presence and guidance. Then pray and as you pray, try to relinquish some of the control. Don’t hold on so tightly. Try to be in the river, floating along with the current. Relax, breathe, pray. That is your model. Let God’s Spirit guide you and life will get easier. This, I promise you. And do not be surprised if it takes a little practice. Just pray every day asking for the Spirit’s assistance and then intentionally try to flow with him. Let the Spirit intercede for you. You really can’t beat having God pray for you. It is as good as it gets.

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Simple

On September 22, 2021   /   Word of the Day   /   Leave a comment

James 5: 13

Is anyone among you suffering? Then he must pray. Is anyone cheerful? He is to sing praises.

Here is a primer on the Christian life. When things aren’t going quite right, pray. When they do go well, praise. Do you think life is complicated? It has just been simplified. Just in case you didn’t think about it when you saw the verse citation, this was written by Jesus’ brother. James grew up seeing how Jesus responded to situations. In trials, he prayed. In victory he praised.

What is happening in your world right now? You need to do one of two things. Which is it?

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Slow Down

On September 21, 2021   /   Word of the Day   /   Leave a comment

Proverb 16: 3 & 9

Commit your works to the Lord, and your plans will be established. The mind of a person plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps.

I can speak on this subject with some authority having messed it up many times. Here is my former model. God would open my eyes and give me a tremendous idea. I would know beyond doubt what He wanted me to do having received a vision of this idea. Now I don’t mean a mystical vision. I mean that God gave me an idea that unfolded before me so that I could picture where it was going. Working with God often means that plan unfolds with time, but you can get an overview in the beginning, the details to follow. Well, I would grasp the idea, become enthused with it, and start running. As you see, that is not the model this verse teaches. Sometimes the vision is not for this moment. It could be for tomorrow, and it could be given to you now so that you recognize something that comes into your hands as a piece of the whole.

When we begin a new project or God gives us an idea or goal, the very first thing we should do is run to our prayer closet. I get all excited and want to “DO” something. I want to get the ball rolling. What a bad idea that is. The worst thing about it is that I have done it over and over. Praise God, I am finally learning. God will do a lot of the work for you, put the right people with the right assets right in front of you if you will do your job. That is to pray.

Take this vision God has given you and commit it to Him in prayer. Seek His wisdom and guidance. Instead of planning the project out yourself, be still and let Him reveal the plan. He will direct your steps. You can do a lot with your energy and strength but in the end you are worn out and the project is never as full as if you had let Father direct your steps. Believe me! I know what I am talking about. And, I am still preaching to myself a bit today. Slow down a little and enquire of the Lord. If you will commit your works to Him, He will give you a good plan and establish your steps.

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Finding Good

On September 20, 2021   /   Word of the Day   /   Leave a comment

Proverb 16: 20

One who pays attention to the word will find good, and blessed is one who trusts in the LORD.

I wrote last week on how the Word of the Day got its name and its start. Now here is this verse reminding us that the Word brings goodness to our lives. That is why we must develop our relationship with the Word.

God gave us His Word to guide us. Surely, the guidance of the Lord takes us to places of goodness, refreshing and blessing. I often think of the Bible as a How-to manual. We can get direction about everything in life. The problem is that sometimes we treat it too much like a sacred document or a piece of literature. While it is both, it is first and foremost a functional document and those other aspects can take away from its primary function.

Another problem many of us have is that we were raised on the King James Version. Let’s be honest, most of us don’t understand old English that well. I mean, read the Canterbury Tales and tell me what they mean. While I still like the King James for Luke 2 and Psalm 23 I just can’t use it for everyday enlightenment. If I want it to lead me to good, I need to understand it and for me that is best done with the NASB. In truth, while the NASB is my daily go to Bible, I use a lot of translations so that I can reap the most out of a scripture.

As to the second phrase of today’s verse, I find when we get comfortable with the Word and learn how to find God in it, our level of trust grows exponentially. When I need God, I know He is always waiting for me and will reveal Himself in His Word. I cannot recount the number of times I was desperate to hear from God, opened up my Bible and He spoke to me.

My advice is to get a translation of the Bible with which you are comfortable. Maybe a NIV or NLB will work for you. Then begin to read. Don’t start with Genesis though. Begin with Matthew 1: 1. Read the Psalms and read the Proverbs. If you will read the first four chapters of the New Testament, the Psalms and Proverbs, you will have a great foundation poured. Then, read the rest of the New Testament. By the time you finish, you will be ready for the Old Testament, and you will see it with renewed eyes. There is a lot of great stuff back there but don’t let it overwhelm you. Lay a foundation first. Find your Bible and in so doing, find goodness and blessing.

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