Self-aware or Spirit-aware

 

11/30/2020

1 Corinthians 15:10 “His grace which was bestowed on me was not in vain.”

I have always struggled with self-esteem and confidence. I even got elected “Class Pessimist” in my high school superlatives. My husband, on the other hand, is a very confident person. He is also an optimist. Our son looks like his father, but unfortunately inherited the low self-esteem gene from me. He is very gifted creatively, and has gotten lots of praise over the years, especially when acting on the stage. He loves to act, but is highly uncomfortable with accolades. He remains humble in his gifts, but truly borders on questioning if they are there at all. Where my husband warmly accepts a compliment with ease, my son and I often cringe or divert such talk away from us.

As I have grown older, I see that my real value does not rest in the opinion – negative or positive – of any person. My value comes from being a beloved child of God. The more I am reminded of the truth that He created me just as I am, the easier it is to be in my own skin, and the easier it is for me to believe that I do have something to offer. God gives everyone gifts; we just need to be open to Him in order to use those gifts for His honor and glory. Chambers writes, “The way we continually talk about our own inabilities is an insult to the Creator. The deploring of our own incompetence is a slander against God for having overlooked us.”

God overlooks no one. We were all created by Him. Of course, the gifts and talents we value as humans are temporal. Our real value comes from the saving grace and mercy of Jesus, and what He suffered for us all. My true value is ultimately found in these words, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

Spirit of Truth

 11/29/2020

John 16:14 “He shall glorify Me.”

Chambers cautions about personal or religious piety. I could be very well intentioned in such areas, but I could also be focused so much on them that I lose sight of Jesus. How can you be pious and lose sight of Jesus, you may ask? When I get wrapped up in the “should haves” and not the Atonement of my Lord, I can easily become distracted. I may seem like I am very devout or faithful, but if I am only going through the motions, it is not enough. I must always seek my God no matter where I am or what I am doing. He must come first. It is more important for me to be a true follower of Christ than any amount of religiosity I am involved with. Although many things can enhance my faith, seeking a deeper connection with God through His Word, prayer, worship, commitment, submission, and praying for the indwelling of the Holy Spirit is of vital importance to my relationship with Him. Nothing that comes from me, or any amount of piety, will help me to share the Gospel with others. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Truth, and in order to share that truth I must be aligned with the Spirit for guidance. I must know the Jesus of the Atonement. Chambers writes, “The type of Christian experience in the New Testament is that of personal passionate devotion to the Person of Jesus Christ. Today He is being despatched [sic] as the Figurehead of a Religion, a mere Example. He is that, but He is infinitely more; He is salvation itself, He is the Gospel of God.” Amen and Amen!

 

 

 

The Gift

11/28/2020

Romans 3:24 “Being justified freely by His grace…”

We decorated the inside of our house for Christmas today. After clearing away the usual tchotchkes, my husband and son grabbed all the bins we have nicely stored, and positioned them in the kitchen. We unpacked everything and – as is our custom – placed every precious, colorful, or silly item on the table and the island. Then we surveyed the area and got moving as we listened to various Christmas CDs. We chose each placement very carefully and tried to make the combinations of items grouped together pleasing to the eye. We hung bells on doorknobs and garland in the doorways. Today we also chose a place for the tree. This year it will be artificial. I never had an artificial tree growing up that I remember, and my son definitely hasn’t. It will be different for sure, but then so many things this past year have been different, so why not one more thing?

This year we have decided not to buy each other gifts. We have threatened this before, but always cave into the joy of giving the ones you love something special. This year, again, there are so many other things to be focused on and thankful for. The Covid-19 pandemic has taught me a lot, and has changed the way I experience the world in more than one way. It has given me quiet time of reflection, and drawn me closer to my Lord. It has made me appreciate every precious moment I have with my husband and my son, and makes me miss others that I love even more, knowing I should never take the time I have with any of them for granted. This unusual time has really helped me to recognize my blessings and pull away from material things of this world. Covid-19 has changed the way I live completely, and our different Christmas is just a byproduct of that change.

Our family feels liberated in this course of action. We are still going to celebrate, but in a very different way. We will focus on what the day truly represents. It is not just the day to celebrate the birth of our Savior, but also to reflect on why He came to Earth. It is a day to celebrate the powerful love of our Lord. It is a day to rejoice in the gift of mercy and grace that has come. It is a time to reflect on the real gift of the season.

Crucified Unto the World

11/27/2020

Galatians 6:14 “By whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.”

As a believer, I am called to live in this world but not of this world. I need to be among other people, for it is the only way to share the Good News of the Gospel. The disciples traveled far and wide to spread the Gospel, understanding it was the single most important thing they would ever do. If I proclaim to be a disciple of Jesus, I too should understand this vital mission and reach out to all those I can. Jesus’ life was their model, as it is mine. Chambers writes, “Our Lord was not a recluse or ascetic, he did not cut Himself off from society, but was inwardly disconnected all the time. He was not aloof, but He lived in another world.” Jesus walked among all people, regardless of status or intellect, and loved them all. Do I live in this same manner? I know it sounds trite to say, but am I truly asking myself, “What would Jesus do?”

Am I loving and caring to all those around me, always willing to share the truth of the redemptive power of Jesus? Am I bold and unafraid to speak of my God? Is this world “crucified unto me, and I unto the world”?  If I fall prey to the evils of the world, or what society tells us is acceptable, I am not honoring the Cross of Christ. I must always look at everything in this world through the lens of scripture. Whatever does not line up with the Word of God, I should consider crucified unto me. As Chambers puts it, “I am…to be disconnected fundamentally, not externally.” This disconnection should be of the soul, not letting anything of this world interfere with my spiritual walk, connection to God, or the purpose He has for my life. I am a sanctified child of the Most High, and my life should always reflect that amazingly powerful truth, remembering always it is never about me, but Jesus alone. 

 

All In All

 11/26/2020

Galatians 6:14 “…Save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Today is Thanksgiving Day, and even though the tempest of 2020 rages around me and my family (both personally and globally), I am grateful. I appreciate so many things about my life. I have a wonderfully faithful husband who loves me dearly. I have an intelligent, creative, faithful, and caring son. I have an amazing extended family who all share their lives, make me laugh, understand me, and love me. I have an incredible church family, and wonderful friends. I have a job where I am part of a fantastic team with a mission that changes people’s lives. I have a beautiful home and food to eat. I am blessed.

All these tremendous blessing, however, cannot compare to the one thing I am most grateful for, and that is Jesus’ sacrifice on the Cross at Calvary. He saved me, and all people, from the death of sin. He reconnected me, and all people, to the Heavenly Father. He sent the Holy Spirit to dwell with us. He loves me and shows me mercy and grace. He is the Lord of my life, my Savior, and my best friend.

Today, once again, Chambers references Galatians 6:14 and asks me to consider the tragedy of God. He writes, “Cut yourself off from prying personal interest in your own spiritual symptoms and consider bare-spirited the tragedy of God, and instantly the energy of God will be in you. ‘Look unto Me,’ pay attention to the objective Source and the subjective energy will be with you. We lose power if we do not concentrate on the right thing.” How true that is. When I lose my focus on Jesus, I can easily grow weary and let the cares of the world crush in around me. Conversely, when I am focused on Jesus, I have the power of the Holy Spirit and know that all things on this earth are temporary, the sorrows as well as the joy. So, I must be grateful for all of it, and never lose sight of the One who is my all in all.  

To God Be The Glory

 

11/25/2020

Galatians 6:14 “But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

My job is not to impress people, but to love them and live out my faith always pointing to my Savior. Christian posturing is not where I should be, nor is it where I want to be. If those around me view me as anything other than a servant of Christ, then I am doing something wrong. If a person recognizes my faith walk, or some blessing that comes from something they have asked me to pray about, I must always be mindful to give all glory to God.

In this part of Galatians 6, Paul is talking about how being circumcised or uncircumcised means nothing; the only thing that matters is being a new creation in Christ. I should not be concerned with impressing people by means of the flesh, or boast about anything other than the Cross of Christ and what He did there to save me.

Today, my husband had a MAJOR door close to something our whole family, and others, had been earnestly praying about daily for a while now. When we found out about the door being closed, we – especially my sweet husband – were deeply disappointed. This was immediately followed by, in his own words, self-pity. Then came the guilt for having these feelings, because he was supposed to be acting faithfully about God’s will. God understands all these feelings, of course, and does not expect us to be false with them before Him. Chambers writes, “In the apostle Paul there was a strong and steady coherence underneath, consequently he could let his external life change as it liked and it did not distress him because he was rooted and grounded in God. Most of us are not spiritually coherent because we are more concerned about being coherent externally” I know that I am so guilty of this. When things of life press in or do not go the way I want them to, and I react badly, it clearly means that I am concerned more with the external. Paul says in Galatians 6:17 “…for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.” He was actually physically beaten for his faith in the Cross of Christ.

Would I avoid persecution for my faith, as the people in this section of scripture tried to do, or willingly take my stripes? When I have a major disappointment in my life, can I lift it to Jesus in prayer and praise even with a heavy heart?

This evening, my husband walked through a few stages of emotion. Disbelief, sadness, self-pity, guilt, and acceptance. Thankfully, he experienced these in fairly rapid succession. This would not have happened if he did not pour out his heart to God in prayer. Then he contacted some trusted brothers in Christ, and was given the love, support, and encouragement he needed. In each one, he heard Jesus. Though still disappointed, he was pretty much back to being his old positive self within a couple of hours. To God be the glory.

A Costly Trickle

11/24/2020

Psalm 123:2 “Behold as the eyes of the servant look unto the hand of their masters…so our eyes wait upon the Lord our God.”

Just as any subordinate looks to a leader for guidance, I should always look to the Lord to guide me. This Psalm begins with “To you I lift up my eyes, O you who are enthroned in the heavens!” If I keep my focus heavenward, the things of this earth will never invade my thoughts and emotions to the point where I am in utter distress. There have certainly been times in my life that have been filled with deep sorrow, but even in these times our Lord can bring peace to my soul. I must always, even in the darkest of times, lift my hands to my God and rise by His strength and grace. 

Chambers writes something interesting today: “Spiritual leakage begins when we cease to lift our eyes to Him.” Isn’t spiritual leakage an interesting term? Usually, anything associated with a leak is not a good thing. It means that something is broken and the contents are seeping out. We never want either a plumber or a doctor to tell us there is leakage, for we know that this can either be expensive or dangerous…or both. Shouldn’t the idea of spiritual leakage bring about the same kind of reaction?

In my walk with the Lord, I must be vigilant in submission, prayer, praise, and the reading of His Holy word. When I begin to falter, become complacent, or even grow weary, the spiritual leakage begins. During these times of being unfocused on Jesus, I am more apt to be pulled in by the lies of the evil one, drawn to behaviors that do not edify others or bring honor and glory to God. Chambers writes, “Whenever there is a leakage, remedy it immediately. Recognize that something has come between you and God, and get it readjusted at once.” Spiritual leakage is by far the most costly and dangerous kind of leakage of all.

A Caution

 

11/23/2020

Psalm 123:3 “Have mercy upon us, O Lord, have mercy upon us: for we are exceeding filled with contempt.”

“The temper of the mind is tremendous in its effects, it is the enemy that penetrates into the soul and distracts the mind from God.”

                                                                                                                   ~Oswald Chambers

 

The “temper of the mind”, as Chambers calls it, takes different forms. I look at it more as the temperament of the mind. This is not always a state of anger, like it sounds in the quote, but it could be many different emotions that take up our mental energy. It could be sadness, fear, worry, greed, confusion, doubt, etc. When we begin to indulge these, or feed the monsters of the mind, we can be drawn away from God and our focus on Him. These temperaments can and will affect those we love, causing even bigger distress. Sometimes the temper of the mind can be all-consuming, which is what happened with me during my illness. I was crippled by the temperament of my mind. It is not a place I wish for anyone to be.

Right now, there are so many areas that mix the cares of the greater world with our personal ones. For many it has been all-consuming, and a major distraction. Chambers writes, “Beware of, ‘the cares of this world,’ because they are the things that produce a wrong temper of soul.” The more we let these emotions take hold, the more Satan can use them to douse our light for Jesus. We MUST make sure our holy armor is on securely and that we are ready to battle all the evil that is raging around us. We must turn to God in all things, especially when we feel those tempers of the mind first creep in.

We must be vigilant in seeking out the Holy Spirit so we can discern the lessons God wants us to learn, even in turbulent times. When discernment comes, it is then that we can share with others in love. However, we should never judge others when they are struggling with the temper of the mind. We should come beside them, pray, and encourage. We should always be willing to share the lessons that God has taught us through faith, and how there is peace for our hearts souls and minds through a relationship with Jesus. 

Honorable Alien

11/22/2020

1 Corinthians 10:31 “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatever ye do, do all to the glory of God.”

“Beware of allowing yourself to think that the shallow concerns of life are not ordained of God; they are as much of God as the profound.”

                                                  ~Oswald Chambers

I write a Blooms post every evening between 5-7 pm, as I am doing tonight. Like many days, as I sit down to reflect on Chambers study and write the reflections that come, God reveals or reinforces what the Holy Spirit has been working on in my soul. Today is a doozy!

If you know me personally, it is clear that I struggle with my weight. This has not been a lifelong battle for me, but became one in my 30s. This morning, like many mornings, I was feeling that Holy Spirit tap of “get it together girl, I am here to help you through, I always am”. This certainly was true during my illness, which was a far bigger challenge, so of course it would be true in this area of my life. Back then, it took total submission and release to Jesus every minute of every day, and the healing came.

This time of Covid-19 and its life consequences has proven particularly difficult for me in this area.  The two areas Satan has always used to undo me are stress and boredom, which I am sure some of you can relate to. On the other hand, my husband – who has had a very difficult thing happen to him during this time – has had quite a different journey. After years and years of me bugging him to focus on his health, he has done so during this time. He wakes up at 5:30 every morning and walks for an hour, and he has adopted a lower carb lifestyle. He has taken to praying during his this time of exercise, so he is literally walking with Jesus. As a result, he has lost 40 pounds!!! To God be the glory. He looks great, feels great, and has his spring back in his step.

The fact is that no amount of my encouragement (nagging) ever worked; it actually had the opposite effect. He had been given a gift he has never had in all his years of hard work supporting our family: time. He concentrated first on his relationship with God, and devoted much more time to praying and being in God’s Word. Then he started focusing on his health and other areas of his life that had taken a backseat. He has always been a man of deep faith and integrity who is not afraid to share the truth of the Gospel, but now his life and how he treats his vessel definitely brings glory to God.

Now there is me, and all day long I have been feeling a deep rebuke in my soul. It started with our church service. Our pastor, Dan, is going through the Book of 1 Peter. (If you have not read it in a while I would encourage you to do so, as it is very timely.) His message was packed with wonderful teaching and wisdom, as always. The focus today came from Chapter 2: 11&12 (Yes, my amazing pastor can do a challenging and impactful sermon on only two verses!): “Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.” (NIV) These verses, like several in the Bible, speak of believers being in the world but not of the world. We are mere sojourners traveling this earth until we are finally home. Some translations call us aliens belonging to someplace else (which I quite like). Dan spoke of many challenges for us to implement in our daily lives, but the most powerful one for me was to live my life as an alien with honor and excellence for the glory of God. Bam, right between the eyes!

Then I read this verse tonight with Chambers words and, BAM again! Chambers is speaking today of God being in the shallow as well as the deep things in life. I think I often try to focus only on what I perceive as the “profound”, but Chambers advises to be careful of this, stating: “Beware of posing as a profound person; God became a baby.” Thwack! When God is trying to get my attention in any area of my life and I am not listening, He certainly finds a way to finally get it through my thick head.

So, does my current weight, and how I treat the temple God has given me, bring honor and glory to Him? Absolutely not! Now, I am not declaring that this is true for everyone, but because it is an area of my life the Holy Spirit is clearly bringing to light in my soul, it is true for me. I am not in alignment with what God is expecting of me in this matter, and I would imagine others’ matters as well. My relationship to food can certainly be a sinful desire that wages war against my soul. I have not yet truly submitted this area of sin and weakness to Jesus.  I have not trusted that He will give me the strength and power I need to fully yield it over to Him. I KNOW that when I do, He will carry me though. In this journey, however, I must also remember these wise words of Chambers: “Be careful of the production of contempt in yourself, it always comes along this line, and causes you to go about as a waking rebuke to other people because they are more shallow than you are.” Kaboom! I am pretty certain this was EXACTLY the way I was treating my husband through my “encouragement. “ I must be careful to always seek God in all things, and make my mess my message without bringing judgement on others. I should only bring support and the love of Jesus. I should always be an excellent and honorable alien who brings glory to God.

I covet your prayers in this area, my dear readers, for I am, as always, a work in progress.

The Very Reason

 11/21/2020

John 17:4 “I have finished the work which Thou gavest Me to do.”

There is nothing in history akin to the Cross of Calvary, and no one else could have endured and accomplished what happened there but Jesus. There is a Christmas song called “Mary Did You Know?” It is about how Mary’s little baby would perform miracles, and was destined to be the Savior of the world; that the baby she delivered would be her deliverer, and that when she kissed her sweet little baby, she was kissing the face of God. It is an extremely moving and powerful song, especially if you happen to be a mother. She was there when God became flesh, and was there when He gave His life.

The little baby’s birth that we celebrate every December 25^th changed the course of everyone’s lives. It brought about the one and only event that breaks the bonds of sin – Jesus’ death at Calvary – and reconnects us to Almighty God. All of us are able to yield to Him and ask for mercy, and it is only His sacrifice that redeems our souls. It was His purpose for coming and walking among us. Amazing grace. We should, as believers, NEVER take any of the lessons Jesus taught during His life, or certainly His death, for granted. We should never get comfortable with the price that Jesus paid for us, but meditate on it as part of our worship in abject gratitude.  Chambers writes, “Jesus became a curse for us by Divine decree. Our portion of realizing the terrific meaning of the curse is conviction of sin, the gift of shame and penitence is given us—this is the mercy of God.”

So dear readers, as we all prepare to go into this unusual Christmas season, let us not only rejoice over Jesus’ birth, but also solemnly remember the reason He came: to forgive our sins and give us eternal life with Him in Heaven.

 

Mary, Did You Know?

(Lyrics Words and Music by Mark Lowry and Buddy Greene Arranged by Tom Fettke)

 

 Mary, did you know that your baby boy

 Would one day walk on water?

Mary, did you know that your baby boy

Would save our sons and daughters?

Did you know that your baby boy

 Has come to make you new;

This Child that you delivered

 Will soon deliver you?

 

 Mary, did you know that your baby boy

 Will give sight to a blind man?

 Mary, did you know that your baby boy

 Would calm a storm with His hand?

 Did you know that your baby boy

 Has walked where angels trod,

 And when you kiss your little baby

 You’ve kissed the face of God?

 Mary, did you know?

 

 The blind will see, the deaf will hear,

The dead will live again,

The lame will leap, the dumb will speak

The praises of the Lamb!

 

Mary, did you know that your baby boy

 Is Lord all creation?

 Mary, did you know that your baby boy

 Will one day rule the nations?

 Did you know that your baby boy

 Was Heaven’s perfect Lamb,

 And the sleeping Child you’re holding

 Is the great, the Great I AM?

 Oh, Mary, Mary, did you know?

 

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The Cost

11/20/2020

Ephesians 1:7 “In whom we have…the forgiveness of sins.”

 

“The only ground on which God can forgive us is the tremendous tragedy of the Cross of Christ; to put forgiveness on any other ground is unconscious blasphemy                                                                                                                                      ~Oswald Chambers

Today’s study warns of viewing God the Father as so loving and kind that He, of course, will forgive me just because He loves me. Chambers calls this unconscious blasphemy. Again, it is not about me at all, for I will never be worthy. It is only about the atoning sacrifice of Jesus that came at the greatest cost imaginable. Jesus, ever obedient to the Father, endured horrific agony on the Cross of Calvary. I should never be caviler in my faith or forget that cost, ever. 

I have a blended faith of sorts. I was raised Roman Catholic, then began my evangelical journey in my twenties. I have always felt that the evangelical world usually focuses on victory or “feel good” preaching. It certainly is a lot easier to focus on the Risen Christ and God’s blessings, but we cannot have those things without the crucifixion of Christ. I was raised with a massive crucifix hanging in every Catholic Church I ever attended, and boy does that image have power! It always draws me into the immense love of the Savior’s sacrifice for me.

 I have always believed that I need to focus on all of Jesus’ ministry, but particularly so His death and resurrection. Then last year for my birthday, my brother and sister-in-law gave me a very special cross that I cherish. I have written about it before. It depicts both the crucified and risen Christ. I had never seen this any other time, and was so moved by the gift that I cried. It is a physical representation of the two most important and transforming moments in all eternity.

The deep gratitude I feel for my Lord’s sacrifice, and the saving grace it gives, is immeasurable and indescribable. It is nothing that I have earned or that I deserve, but He gives it to me freely. I will never be able to repay such a debt, but all He asks of me is obedience to His word, and to love Him and others. When I come to Him with a contrite heart for my sin, He always has forgiven me and always will, for He paid my ransom. I will leave you with these compelling and moving words of Chambers. “When once you realize all that it cost God to forgive you, you will be held as in a vice, constrained by the love of God.”

 

 

The Depth of Sin

11/19/2020

John 16:8 “And when He is come, He will convict the world of sin…”

Today Chambers is once again writing about sin. If you have your own copy of My Utmost For His Highest, I would definitely recommend reading his words today. He writes challenging things, and as I often say, they are not for the faint of heart.

My first annotation on today’s lesson (yes I write in the margins and underline all my devotional books) is, “Sin is not against man but God.” When we sin, the Holy Spirit convicts our souls; if not for this we would not recognize our sin. This is why non-believers enter into certain behaviors that we would never dare to. Sin is very clearly outlined in the Bible. Sometimes, however, even people that claim faith do not think they need to adhere to every one of God’s commands.

When I was a teenager, a friend of mine that was raised is the same church I went to had very promiscuous behavior. She still received communion every week, though. In my family, we were taught that we could not come to the Lord’s Table before confessing our sin. That was good and sound teaching, and I am grateful to my parents for upholding that boundary when I was young and developing in my faith. Anyway, when I asked my friend how she could be having physical relationships before marriage (I did not ask her this with a judgmental spirit, I was just truly curious), she told me she did not consider it a sin. She had made that determination based on her own standers, not God’s. Her answer, obviously, has never left me all these years later, and I can remember the conversation like it was yesterday. I have heard others, especially recently with all that is going on in our country, take a similar posture/use a similar line of thinking.

So, how do I personally view sin? Well, the short answer is this: sin is when I have not acted in love, or hurt someone, or I have not kept one of God’s commands. Some sin may seem to only hurt me, but there is always collateral damage when I sin. Should I seek forgiveness from others? Absolutely. Who, though, am I truly sinning against? Chambers puts forth that my sin is ultimately against God. I surely do not deserve His forgiveness, but He extends it to me through the Atonement. Chambers writes these powerful words: “God does forgive, but it cost the rending of His heart in the Death of Christ to enable Him to do so. The great miracle of the grace of God is that He forgives sin, and it is the death of Jesus Christ alone that enables the Divine nature to forgive and to remain true to itself in doing so.” It is only through the Atonement of Christ that I can come before God in repentance and seek forgiveness. I should NEVER take the depth and ultimate solemnity of this truth for granted—EVER! Chambers adds, “The love of God means Calvary, and nothing less; the love of God is spelt on the Cross and nowhere else. The only ground on which God can forgive me is through the Cross of my Lord.”

When I first yield my life to Jesus, I must come to the foot of Jesus’ Cross at Calvary, and confess before Him that I am a sinner; acknowledging and accepting His ultimate sacrifice for me. If this is done in full faith on a soul level, it is the single most transformative moment of any life. It is the moment that the bridge between God and His wayward child is mended through Jesus; for if I am in Christ, I am a new creation. My life no longer belongs to me, for I become a servant of the Most High.

So as I journey through the time God gives me on this earth, I must realize that all sin is against Him. Will I ever reach perfection this side of Heaven? No, but being sensitive to the Holy Spirit, and knowing that my sin is ultimately against God, should be enough to keep me going vertical and seeking Him always and in all ways.  

 

Emancipation

 

11/18/2020

John 8:36 “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.”

In our world today, individuality is celebrated…or seemingly so. However, if you pause to look closely at today’s society, there is very much a hive mind mentality going on. “If you are not with me, then you are totally against me!” This attitude can be found in every social construct there is right now. So we have the paradox of celebrating the individual unless they do not act and think like you. It is a crazy time indeed.

In today’s study, Chambers talks about our individuality as it pertains to our relationship with God. Here is where we can often fall out of step on our journey with Him. It is true that He made us all beautifully different with diverse gifts, but we are supposed to have a shared mindset when it comes to the essentials of the Atonement of Christ and God’s Holy Word. We are also supposed to, after yielding to Jesus, have the same purpose: sharing the Good News of the Gospel. It is in our individuality—or self—that we go astray. Chambers writes, “We are designed with a great capacity for God; and sin and our individuality are the things that keep us from getting at God.” I know that as soon as either sin or my self-seeking attitude rear their ugly heads, I am not aligned with the Holy Spirit. It is a visceral feeling, and a truth that I cannot escape. Chambers continues, “God delivers us from sin: we have to deliver ourselves from individuality; i.e., to present out natural life to God and sacrifice it until it is transformed into a spiritual life by obedience.”

There is the O-word again, and one that I certainly struggle with. Being a “naturally” hyper emotional creature really hurts me in this area. It is not so much that I am being willfully disobedient to God, but in my emotional state, I often try to fix things or intervene in areas that He has not called me into. Because this is an area of struggle for me, I need to be even more vigilant in actively and consciously releasing it to Jesus in obedience. Chambers adds, “God will not discipline us, we must discipline ourselves. God will not bring every thought and imagination into captivity; we have to do it.” It is part of our spiritual emancipation. When Christ frees us, we are free indeed!

Lastly, I will leave these words of Chambers for us to ponder. “It is what Paul means in Galatians 2:20—‘I have been crucified with Christ,’ his natural individuality has been broken and his personality united with his Lord, not merged but united.”

By Any Road

11/17/2020

Genesis 22: 16-17 “By Myself have I sworn, saith the Lord, for because thou hast done this thing…that in blessing I will bless thee…”

God blessed Abraham because of his devotion and faithfulness. He obeyed God up to the point of preparing to sacrifice his own son. Now that is an immeasurable amount of faith. Chamber quotes an old hymn today that has the words, “My goal is God Himself…At any cost, dear Lord, by any road.” These words truly reflect the faith of Abraham, and other Biblical heroes of the faith.

I falter in my faith so very often. I never question God’s existence, or the truth of being saved by the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Where I am weakest is in the waiting. That is happening as I write these words. A situation or opportunity arises, and I think it will go one way because I am sure that God has opened a door. All the signs are there, and just when I think an answer is eminent, God asks me to wait once again. It is in those times of trusted silence or emotional weariness that I am weakened, and my armor slips a bit. That is just the opportunity Satan is looking for to bring on doubt and discouragement. Most of the time I pick up my sword and shield right away, but sometimes I don’t. It is then that the sadness and fear invades, and I turn into a little kid who is kicking at the dirt. 

These words of Chambers at once encourage and rebuke, “By the discipline of obedience I get to the place where Abraham was and I see Who God is.” Clearly, I still need to work on the discipline of obedience. The miracle is that God never gives up on me, even when I fail over and over again. Amazing grace. So my journey continues, thankfully, and I am brought to a place of asking for forgiveness once again. Let these be my thoughts, Dear Jesus, and my every prayer: “My goal is God Himself…At any Cost, dear Lord, by any road.”

"My Goal is God Himself "

Frances Brook 1869

 My goal is God Himself, not joy, nor peace,

Nor even blessing, but Himself, my God

‘Tis His to lead me there—not mine, but His—

At any cost, dear Lord, by any road.

 

So faith bound forward to its goal in God,

And love can trust her Lord to lead her there;

Upheld by Him, my soul is foll’wing hard

Till God hath full fulfilled my deepest prayer.

 

No matter if the way be sometimes dark,

No matter though the cost be ofttimes great,

He knoweth how I best shall reach the mark,

The way that leads to Him must be straight

 

One thing I know, I cannot say Him nay;

One thing I do, I press towards my Lord;

My God my glory here, from day to day,

And the glory there my great reward.

To God Be The Glory

11/16/2020

1 Corinthians 10:31 “Whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.”

If you have visited Blooms more than a couple of times, you would have seen me write “To God be the glory” quite often. As I travel on my faith journey, this phrase has become my song of praise as I see His hand in all things.

This verse, however, is not talking about God’s hand in our lives and His blessings. It speaks about how the way I live should bring glory to God. Am I keeping His commandments? Is it evident to others that I love Him with all my mind, my heart, and my strength? Am I actively loving my neighbor? Can the Fruit of the Spirit be identified in me?

In my Bible, this verse in 1 Corinthians is found under the heading “The Believer’s Freedom.” It speaks of what we can do, but cautions us to be wary of behavior that is not beneficial or constructive. After all, our purpose as believers is to share the Gospel of Christ with others, and not live a life that is spiritually haughty. Doing everything to bring God glory is not just beneficial, but critical. We are ambassadors of the Gospel.

The passage also speaks of no food being off limits because everything in the earth belongs to God, but we must always be aware of the intent with which it is offered. We must also always be thankful. Verses 31-33 – “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jew, Greeks or the church of God—even as I try to please everyone in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved.” Again the lesson is- it is not about me but only Jesus.

Even when life is uncomfortable, even when something is difficult, even when we do not feel up to doing what is being asked of us, we can ask God for strength. As long as we prayerfully focus on God and His will, we will bring Him glory with our thoughts, words, and actions. We cannot do such things alone. Chambers writes, “It takes Almighty God Incarnate in us to do the meanest duty to the glory of God. It takes God’s Spirit in us to make us so absolutely humanly His that we are utterly unnoticeable.”

I must always remember that it is not about me, only Jesus. To God be the glory.

 

 

Good Intentions

11/15/2020

John 21:21-22 “Lord what shall this man do?...What is it to thee? Follow thou Me.”

Staying out of other people’s business is oftentimes difficult for us. Some people just like to know all the gossip and dirt, because it may put their lives in a better light. Some people desire to be in the know because they want to be a rescuer or protector. Some people want to prevent others from suffering if they can. I will admit that I have, at different points in my life, fit into all of those categories. As believers we are not to take pleasure in other people’s suffering, nor are we to try to be another person’s savior. We are, however, called to point everyone in the direction of the One who can save them and bring them peace: Jesus. Chambers writes, “One of our severest lessons comes from the stubborn refusal to see that we must not interfere in other people’s lives…You see a certain person suffering , and you say—He shall not suffer, and I will see to it that he does not. You put your hand straight in front of God’s permissive will to prevent it, and God says—‘What is that to thee?’”

We have to allow others to walk the road that God has laid out before them. Sometimes that road is paved by the consequences of choices made, and sometimes difficulties happen through no fault of their own. God can use every circumstance in our lives, however, to teach us what He wants us to learn and bring us to where He wants us to be. Even someone who loves us and is well-intentioned in his/her intervention may thwart our ability to learn. Refiner’s fire, in my experience, is essential for growth. I know this has been, and continues to be, true of my faith journey.

We can either lift our suffering to God and search for the meaning and message, or we can give into it. When I went through my dark night of the soul, I first gave in and spiraled out of control. Only when I was at my very lowest, where no one, not even a doctor, could truly help me, did I fully surrender and release it all to Jesus. No one, not even those that love me most in this world, could pull me out of the darkness; only God could do that. This time not only taught me how to rely fully on Jesus, but it taught me that others have to lean into Jesus as well so they can also truly learn and heal.

We can, and should, always be there to help in practical ways, such as the giving of time and resources. We should also always be willing to listen and pray, but we should never take the place of the Savior. When we feel the need to save someone form there painful situation, it is then that we need to share the mercy, grace, peace, and love of Jesus. It is at these times when we can effectively make our mess our message. To God be the glory!

Matthew 11: 28& 29 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”

 

In The Way

For my little brother.

I am so thankful for your love, support, and friendship.

Thank you for always making me laugh when I need it most.

I thank God for you every day.

You're the BEST!

11/14/20

Genesis 24:27 “I being in the way, the Lord led me…”

I am of the belief that if you are knowledgeable on the subject, sin is not done without knowing it is sin. It may not be done premeditatedly, although some sin certainly is, but there is always a sense of knowing. I may sin in a reactive way to a situation and not realize it right off, but if I am a child of God I will feel it quickly. If I am aligned with the Holy Spirit the fruit will be there. The more I surrender to Jesus and His will on my life, the less reactive I will become.

I had a terrible temper when I was younger, especially when it came to my little brother. All of his bugging and mischief was just a cry for attention from me, but I never saw it that way. (We have talked about this as adults, and my heart breaks knowing that I should have shown him so much more love than I did.) I very often reacted to him with nothing but frustration, and would let everyone within earshot know of my displeasure with him. (What can I say? I was quite a dramatic child.) One time I put my foot through the wall in our hallway. Another time I threw a rock in anger and it hit him in the face (I know, horrible). Did I mean to do damage or cause him injury? Absolutely not, and it makes me ill just thinking that I reacted to him in this way. I knew how I was treating him was wrong, but I felt justified because he was bugging or teasing me. There have been so many other times in my life where I have felt justified for not loving someone, usually because of a treatment I did not appreciate. I am so grateful, however, for forgiveness.

As an adult, most people who know me would never believe I had a problem with anger. This is, thankfully, an issue with my soul that God cleansed me of after I fully yielded my life to Him. It is not something I prayed to have happen, or even thought I needed at the time, it was a product of my sanctification. I was taught that my anger was a sin, and I spent many hours in a confessional because of it. Only when my faith became my own did I understand how damaging my anger was. True understanding, after all, comes from the Holy Spirit. Now my sin is very evident to me…glaring, actually. Even when I am reactive at all to any degree that is not loving, I feel that right away. If I am truly listening to God and focused on Him, I immediately seek forgiveness.

Chambers had two statements that resonated with me today. The first is, “In the spiritual domain the intuitive jar is the monition of the spirit of God.” I always feel the Holy Spirit’s rebuke whenever I enter into sin. Do I ignore that reprimand sometimes? I am not proud to admit I do, usually when self takes over, when I am in the way. After all, selfishness is the basis of all sin; when my desires come before God in my life.

The second Chambers statement is, “Beware of making a fetish of consistency to your convictions instead of being devoted to God.” I can also get in the way with my own piety, this line of thought and behavior is destined to fail because, again, it is me not focusing on God and giving Him the glory for all things. If I feign humility, mercy, and grace, but do not truly receive those things from my relationship with Jesus, I will be found a charlatan. It takes a lot of time in God’s word and in prayer to be mindful of what I am called to do and how I am called to live, and it is not about me getting in the way.

So, as I sit here many years removed from that time I drew my brother’s blood with a stone out of sinful anger, I think of how sad that still makes. I know he forgave me decades ago, and I am so grateful for his support, friendship, and love. The truth is, I would do absolutely anything within my power for him, as I know he would for me. In his struggles, I pray for him; in his joys, I celebrate with him; in his sorrows, I mourn with him, as he always has with me. God has blessed us so richly with each other. My brother is so very dear to me that I often refer to him as my Scarecrow. Now, instead of shedding his blood, I love him so much that I would take a bullet to save him. That is truly God’s grace in my life. 

Always remember little brother, I love you very much and God loves you even more. 

 

Heavenly or Earthly Focus?

 

11/13/2020

Galatians 2:20 “The Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me.”

Just when I think I am finally starting to grab onto a mustard-seed-amount of faith, I read these words form Chambers and am duly rebuked. He writes, “Think Who the New Testament says that Jesus Christ is, and then think of the despicable meanness of the miserable faith we have—I haven’t had this and that experience! Think what faith in Jesus Christ claims—that He can present us faultless before the throne of God, unutterably pure, absolutely rectified and profoundly justified.” Wow! In my faith, do I think about the truth of these statements? That my faith, although called for work here on earth, is not of this earth at all? My faith in Jesus as Savior is fully and wholly about restoring me back to Almighty God through sanctification. Am I always grateful for the grace and mercy extended to me? Always. Do I walk this mortal coil aware of being sanctified by my Savior? Most of the time I do not. I hold tightly onto being saved by faith, but I do not truly meditate on sanctification.

Unfortunately, the pull of the world and my own emotions (hurt, doubt, and fear) get in the way of this heavenly focus. These are the evil one’s tools of distraction in my life. Chambers writes, “We have to get out into faith in Jesus continually; not a prayer meeting Jesus Christ, nor a book Jesus Christ, but the New Testament Jesus Christ, Who is God Incarnate, and who ought to strike us to His feet as dead.” Why do I continue to let myself become distracted, when I know that continual faith brings so much more than anything this world has to offer? Why does fear so often shake me to my core when I know exactly Who is in control of all things? Why is it so difficult for me to stay in a place of absolute devotion and abandonment to Jesus? Chambers asks, “How can anyone who is identified with Jesus Christ suffer from doubt or fear! It ought to be an absolute paean of perfectly irrepressible, triumphant belief.”

I am still, and will always be, a work in progress. I am so thankful that Jesus takes me as I am, even in all my lack and brokenness. I may let Him down, but He will never let me down. There is no greater Love than the Love that my Savior has for me.