Tag Archives: Jesus

Christian Living, Inspirational, Motivational

“TRUE FRIENDSHIPS ARE HARD TO FIND”

true-friendship“TRUE FRIENDSHIPS ARE HARD TO FIND”

“I have called you friends.” (John 15:15)

Much of what is defined as friendship, today, is the farthest hope we desire to have, with people, from a Biblical world-view. Just yesterday I was getting a haircut and the stylist and I entered into a conversation on the topic of friendship. As an owner-operator not only does his clientele expect a certain level of service and attention likewise his employees are looking, to him, for leadership as well as friendship. While he does set aside time to “team build” he told me he is very careful in his selection of friends to the point where he has to make a distinction between his employees and close social friends.

Truthfully, I have very few friends and I am okay with that because I too have learned the bonds of friendship extend far beyond a visit to the coffee shop or an occasional movie and sporting event. This is not to say I am a hermit or I purposely avoid relationships with others. But what I am saying is I reject what the world, and at times, the church has forced people to accept as a working definition of what friendship is and is not.

Let me give you a personal example: A while back a Christian friend offered me a gift. At first this very generous gift sounded like a blessing but then he followed up his generous invitation with conditions. Can you see what is wrong with this scenario? You have heard similar stories of never letting family borrow money or never tell somebody,  “Pay me back whenever you can” unless you are prepared to end up on an episode of Judge Judy. Gifts are to be gifts, without conditions, and Biblical friendships are to be self-sacrificing not self-serving. If you receive a gift, given with conditions, it is not a gift. Likewise, if you are in a “friendship” that does not possess self-surrender then it will seldom endure.

It is learnt that cialis buy online people rush to do sex just after taking the drug for ED. Even young men love this medicine as it absorb faster in the bloodstream producing better results. cialis bulk The online shops assist in maintaining complete security while getting viagra pfizer 25mg http://www.devensec.com/sustain/eidis-updates/IndustrialSymbiosisUpdateAug_Oct2010.pdf the order and delivering the medicines at the patient’s doorstep. Men are supposed to be well aware that this remedy must not be over-followed or should not be taken without consulting together with General Physician or Urologist. no prescription viagra Earlier this month I titled a blog, You Don’t Get It and You Don’t Have to. But you Have to Respect it! and it’s about a person living and following the call of Jesus on his or her life. That blog, as well as today’s, started me to thinking about how many friends Jesus may have had. How many friends do you think Jesus had? How many people approached Jesus with words like, ‘I will if …’ or ‘Oh well, I suppose I must devote my life to God.’ It sounds like Jesus attracted many “friendships” that lacked the Biblical heart of self-sacrifice.

Have you ever asked, “Why do I have so few friends?” Or have you ever looked over your friend pool and really questioned how many are close and dear? Usually when we are lacking in true friendships we self-examine by saying, “Well, I guess I’m difficult to like?” But more than the “likeability factor” I have come to understand so few people are prepared to abandon themselves to the Holy Spirit, who is able to lead us into right friendships with others based on the joy and truth of Jesus. Honestly, I’m not nearly where I need to be and daily I am reminded how much “ugly me” still exists. But within the context of friendships, led by the Holy Spirit, I now see even my conversations scare people from wanting to be my friend. Certainly going to a movie can be fun or watching a sports event can serve as a relaxing break but the final aim of Biblical friendship is self-sacrifice and laying down our lives for our best friend, Jesus. Few friendships are prepared for that kind of intimacy and honesty.

Jesus stands as our best model of true friendship by setting the example of a life lived in self-sacrifice—“I delight to do Thy will, O My God.” Jesus knew how to go on, with or without, friends because His sacrifice, to the Father, brought exuberant joy. And so I ask myself, and you, have we ever yielded in absolute submission to Jesus? “If Jesus is not the lodestar, there is no benefit in the sacrifice; but when the sacrifice is made with the eyes on Him, slowly and surely the molding influence begins to tell.” (Chambers)

Beware of letting natural affinities delay your walk in Him. Or said another way, be careful of letting “friends” drain you intimate time with the Holy Spirit. Friends are exciting and can even serve as an impressive tally on your Facebook account but how many of these “friends” are built on natural affinities? Love for the Father is not sentimental; to love as God loves is the most practical thing for the believer. When Jesus said,  “I have called you friends.” It is a friendship based on the new life created in us, which has no affinity with our old life, but only with the life of God. This is why I reject what the world and even he church may call friendship and only desire to walk with those who are living a life in the pursuit of humility, holiness and absolute devotion to the Biblical Jesus!

Blessings – JOSHUA

Christian Apologetics, Inspirational, Motivational

THE LONG AND WINDING ROAD

download (1)“THE LONG AND WINDING ROAD”

If you ever followed the Beatles music one of their most cherished, and last number one, single was “The Long and Winding Road.” Lyrically it is a sad and melancholic song with an evocation of an as-yet unrequited, though apparently inevitable, love. Later Paul was quoted as saying, “It’s rather a sad song. I like writing sad songs, it’s a good bag to get into because you can actually acknowledge some deeper feelings of your own and put them in it. It’s a good vehicle, it saves having to go to a psychiatrist.”

The purpose of today’s blog is not to make good theology out of a Beatles song. But for some reason I have always connected the idea of the long and winding road to the Christian’s walk of faith which, of course, will lead us to the door of Christ. I, like many of you, have walked on some deeply personal “roads” where all I am left with, at the end of the journey, is Him. Truthfully, until we all face these bends in the road we will also never fully appreciate and understand the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Have you ever said, “I am at the end! I cannot do a thing?” If so, then you also know “It’s not over and He is able.” The Father, Son and Spirit have always accomplished marvelous works, on behalf of the believer, that no one else can ever do.

Here to I want to insert another reality regarding the synergistic relationship we have with the Holy Spirit. As the third part of the Godhead, He (the Spirit) is holy! Are you prepared for a Holy intervention from the Spirit? Are you living a life prepared for His outpouring? The Spirit, and for that matter the Son and the Father, will not pour out as long as the unholy is still touching the holy in our lives. And yet, there are those who still beg and plead for an outpouring knowing, full well, there are unclean and un-dealt areas deep within their lives. As lovers of Biblical truth we cannot live our natural walk as if it is somehow separate from our spirit life. We were designed as a “wholly unit” and to live as a “holy unit” unto God.

Physical causes include neurological disease, cardiovascular disease viagra online samples or any other disorder or disease a patient may be suffering from or has suffered from. tadalafil online no prescription The antibody can interfere with the transmission and implantation of early fertilized egg. The cause may be anything, viagra online the treatment is Kamagra. She will canada cialis online get real sexual satisfaction and seeks more lovemaking episodes. Throughout the journey, on the long and winding road, we discover many unsightly and undisciplined areas, in our own lives, that we must be prepared for the Holy Spirit to drag into the light of the Father’s truth. Repentance does not bring a sense of sin, but a sense of incompleteness. When we repent, we realize that we are utterly helpless; and are in need of His intervention. Have we repented like that? Or is there a lingering suggestion of standing up for ourselves? Perhaps the reason the Holy Spirit cannot come into our lives is because we are not willing to walk down the road of repentance?

“He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and fire.” John does not speak of the baptism of the Holy Spirit as an experience, but as a work performed by Jesus, “He shall baptize you.” And like the Beatles song the long and winding road, that is lived with the Holy Spirit, is leading you towards an inevitable love (Jesus). As you continue to stay on the journey always take time to check and, if need be, recheck your life and make sure you are living within the lanes where the Holy Spirit is doing everything.

I indeed baptize you with water … but He … shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and fire. (Matthew 3:11)

Blessings – JOSHUA

Btw….Just in case you never heard the song, Enjoy! “The Long and Winding Road”

Christian Apologetics, Inspirational, Motivational

POVERTY THAT COUNTS FOR SOMETHING

poorPOVERTY THAT COUNTS FOR SOMETHING

Our age, unlike any other, is fascinated with stars, celebrities and fame. TV shows such as American Idol, the Voice, America’s Got Talent, etc…are all built on the opportunity of instant stardom. Every “heart-warming” montage is designed to make you connect with a “nobody”, and pull for them, so they can be a “somebody.” Also this same desire, for fame or recognition, has seeped into the culture of “church USA” and helped create an entire wave of “superstar” ministries, ministers and Christian musicians. But have you ever stopped to consider the Bible notices things which, from our standards, do not seem to count? “Blessed are the poor in spirit,” literally—Blessed are the paupers— is an everyday reality for most Christians. The facts still remain for every “successful” ministry the majority of the Gospel message is still carried on the backs of the poor and unnoticed.

The preaching of today is apt to emphasize strength of will, beauty of character and the cosmetic changes people can quickly notice. Even in our sharing, of the Salvation message, the phrase we hear, ‘Decide for Christ,’ is an emphasis on something Jesus never trusted. Jesus never asks us to decide for Him but to surrender to Him. This is a very different reality from how many live, preach and hope for today!

“At the basis of Jesus Christ’s Kingdom is the unaffected loveliness of the commonplace. The thing I am blessed in is my poverty. If I know I have no strength of will, no nobility of disposition, then Jesus says—Blessed are you, because it is through this poverty that I enter His Kingdom. I cannot enter His Kingdom as a good man or woman, I can only enter it as a complete pauper.” (Chambers)

True character, of those in love with the Biblical Jesus, speaks for the King and Kingdom in way that never exalts self over Jesus. The Father must always rise above even the glitz and glamour we want to use to speak of Him. Let me provide a brief example: Every 4th of July there are parades, cookouts, fellowship and most of all fireworks. But how many people really stop to think about why we are celebrating this holiday? Sadly many are so enamored with the festivities they miss the truth of the day while believing they have celebrated the event in good fashion. Likewise, this can happen in our churches today. Millions can attend church in love with the lights, music, buildings, outreaches, missions, pastors and even personal relationships but miss the point of why they are gathered in the first place.
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Who are the people that have influenced you most? Not the ones who thought they did, but those who had not the remotest notion that they were influencing you. In the Christian life the implicit is never obvious, bold or even attention grabbing, if it is, it ceases to have this unaffected loveliness which is the characteristic of the touch of Jesus. We always know when Jesus is at work because He produces, in the commonplace, something that is very inspiring.

“Blessed are the poor in spirit.”  (Matthew 5:3)

Blessings – JOSHUA

 

Inspirational, Motivational

SHUTTING OUT THE HATE and FINDING REST, COMPLETENESS and PEACE in JESUS.

imagesSHUTTING OUT THE HATE and FINDING REST, COMPLETENESS and PEACE in JESUS.

Oswald Chambers wrote, “Whenever anything begins to disintegrate your life with Jesus Christ, turn to Him at once and ask Him to establish rest. Never allow anything to remain which is making the dis-peace. Take every element of disintegration as something to wrestle against, and not to suffer. Say—‘Lord, prove Thy consciousness in me’, and self-consciousness will go and He will be all in all.”

It has become increasingly difficult, in the age we are living, to ignore the negativity and hatred bombarding the life of the Christian. Negativity can manifest itself in a variety of behaviors and actions. Perhaps it is a “friend” cut from the same garments as Job’s friends? Or maybe it is difficult season of mental, spiritual or physical weakness? Either way negativity is not born of the Spirit of God!

While negativity can been heard in politics, movie reviews, sporting events and even celebrity gossip it can also mutate into a serious strand of accusation, leading to hatred, that puts sin on steroids. Daily we read of racial hatred, class warfare, anti-Christ and anti-Kingdom ideologies, philosophies and faiths that have all rested at the door of today’s Christian. While most of the media is focused on the struggle for power in Egypt, between the military and Muslim Brotherhood, few are reporting the murder, rape and extreme violence being inflicted on that nations Coptic Christian minority. Why? Clearly the answer is spiritual. Negativity and hatred are two vices, born from the heart and intention of our adversary, Satan, and he is using these tools to steal, kill and destroy God’s creation and even the body of Christ. But the Father has always given us an answer and His solution is far better than a self-help creed or public act of “peace and love.”

When today’s Christian attempts to answer the questions of negativity and hatred by degrees of self-pity and individual justifications then we have bought into a plot and ploy of Satan. ‘Well, I am not understood; this is a thing they ought to apologize for; that is a point I really must clear up.’ are just some of the many excuses and justifications a world, without Jesus, uses to dismiss and avoid the root of negativity and hatred: SIN! Likewise, there are too many “prophets” who insist on speaking for the Lord in their personal desire to correct or prove a point important to them but not born of the Spirit.

If one is sincerely burdened by the sin of negativity and hatred then pray and leave others alone while you ask the Lord to give you Christ-consciousness. If we truly are given a Throne Room perspective then He will poise you, at a time of His choosing, to speak for Him. Only then will His completeness be absolute and negativity and hatred will be replaced by genuine hope and love.
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“The complete life is the life of a child. When I am consciously conscious, there is something wrong. It is the sick man who knows what health is. The child of God is not conscious of the will of God because he is the will of God. When there has been the slightest deviation from the will of God, we begin to ask—‘What is Thy will?’ A child of God never prays to be conscious that God answers prayer, he is so restfully certain that God always does answer prayer.” (Chambers)

If we try to overcome negativity and hatred by any commonsense method, we nurture and develop, tremendously, that which is destroying and dividing us. Jesus says “Come unto Me and I will give you rest,” i.e., a Throne Room perspective will take the place of self-consciousness, self-pity and justifications. Wherever Jesus comes He establishes rest in the life of the believer. He is perfect and the perfect work of the Holy Spirit is to abound in our lives. Therefore resist the negativity and hatred and run to Him in times of such hardship because He will give you rest, completeness and peace.

“And I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)

Blessings – JOSHUA

 

Inspirational, Motivational

THE BEAUTIFUL GIFT OF THE NEW BIRTH

THE BEAUTIFUL GIFT OF THE NEW BIRTH

[wallcoo_com]_Black_and_white_newborn_baby_photo_A baby sleeping cozily_ISPC006042This week, for many children and youth, marked the beginning of a new school year. At our house the morning starts with dropping a freshman off at the high school and a first grader at the elementary school. It may sound a cliché but it really does feel like just yesterday when they were both babies in my arms. With each season my children enter into a new birth as they grow from one stage to another. Likewise, as adults, we too can experience new births in our professions, relationships and even our spiritual walk. But how does a person experience a new birth spiritually? Or asked another way, How can a man be born when he is old?

At some point in our life we can all look back and find unpleasant seasons. Whether it be moral failures, personal disappointments, immature behaviors and attitudes these past events represent the rags of a former life and an old way of thinking and living. By contrasting a past life with a new birth I am referring to what the Apostle Paul called the “Old Man” and the “New Man.” For the follower of Jesus the old man still has the power to resurrect, very quickly, and with his life come his old virtues, his own religion and the incessant desire to satisfy self above anything else. But the “New Man”, one who is born of the Holy Spirit, manifests itself in conscious repentance and unconscious holiness.

Is your knowledge of Jesus born of internal spiritual perception, or is it only what you have learned by listening to others? Is there a moment, in your life, that connects you with Jesus as your personal redeemer? Just as every person has a natural history, that explains where they are from and the story of their life, so to every person must have a spiritual history and personal knowledge for their foundation. To be born again or to be living as the “New Man” means that you live the life of Jesus and people see Jesus living in you. “As many as received Him.” (John 1:12.)

Have you ever stopped to consider what Jesus meant when He said, “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” (John 3:3.) Do you look for signs of the Kingdom? Do you seek out opportunities to live your life with Kingdom hope, truth and principle? Do you possess a Throne Room perspective and perceive the Father’s promptings? The new birth gives, every believer, a new power of vision whereby he or she begins to discern God’s way of living. The Father’s rule is present all the time, but true to His nature; those who are born again have now received His nature and can see His rule.
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Here is an intriguing thought posed by Oslwald Chambers regarding the new man and being born of the Spirit. “Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin,” (1 John 3:9.) Do I seek to stop sinning or have I stopped sinning? To be born of God means that I have the supernatural power of God to stop sinning. In the Bible it is never—Should a Christian sin? The Bible puts it emphatically—A Christian must not sin. The effective working of the new birth life in us is that we do not commit sin, not merely that we have the power not to sin, but that we have stopped sinning. 1 John 3:9 does not mean that we cannot sin; it means that if we obey the life of God in us, we need not sin.” (Chambers)

“Ye must be born again.” (John 3:7)

Blessings – JOSHUA

 

Christian Apologetics, Inspirational, Motivational

FROM JEWELRY TO REAL IDENTIFICATION

“From Jewelry to Real Identification” 

For those of you who do not know me I’ll let you in on a little secret. I like to wear trendy jewelry. By trendy I don’t mean expensive. What I consider trendy is wearing five silver rings, on one hand, three rings on the other, two necklaces and a leather cuff, if “the mood” strikes me right. Well today I was in one of those moods and decided to wear a necklace that has more of a rocker feel than the life changing symbol is carries. What is the symbol? The Cross. At some point in time we have all owned a cross. Perhaps it is a cherished heirloom or a beautiful accessory but somehow the Cross has slipped into just another symbol, lost in a sea of logo’s and icons, for today’s popular culture consumption. But today I asked myself a challenging question, “What if the Cross moved away from accessory status and returned to a sign of true life, forgiveness and freedom?”

Oswald Chambers said it best, “We are too much given to thinking of the Cross as something we have to get through; we get through it only in order to get into it.” For the believer, in the Biblical Jesus, the Cross should stand for one thing and one thing only – complete, entire and absolute identification with Him!

Every year, when I re-read the Passion of Jesus, I am struck by how much time He spent praying leading up to the Cross as well as dying at Calvary. Are the Father and Son trying to reveal to us a truth about the power of prayer and true identification, of the oneself, with the Cross? I believe so.

“Your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask Him.” Unfortunately, much of what we have been taught ,on prayer, is much like a “drive thru” mentality. Think about it: We make the line, place an order of what we want and then expect the order to be properly taken and given with our total satisfaction guaranteed.
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The purpose and power of prayer is not to get answers from God; prayer is perfect and complete oneness with the Father. Guess what? God is always speaking and answering every time, but not always in the way we expect. And when we do not get what we have asked for our spiritual immaturity shows a refusal to identify ourselves with Jesus in prayer and on the Cross. We are not here to prove God answers prayer; we are here to be living testimonies of the Father’s grace.

Again Chambers asks an important question we all need to answer: “Have you reached such an intimacy with God that the Lord Jesus Christ’s life of prayer is the only explanation of your life of prayer? Has Our Lord’s vicarious life become your vital life? “

I hope and pray “at that day” you will be so identified with Jesus that there will be no distinction between you, Him and the Cross.

Blessings – JOSHUA

Inspirational

GETTING LOST IN THE CASTLE AND THE SIMPLE WAY THROUGH

“Getting Lost in the Castle and the Simple Way Through”

Over the past few years theologian NT Wright has written a series of books titled: “Simply Christian”, “Simply Jesus” and “How God Became King.” Of course he has written many wonderful works but these three recent books stood out because their titles offered a simple approach to a complex God and faith.

I remember, as a young boy, visiting several great castles in England and Germany and I was always amazed by the inner workings of these massive fortifications. Each structure had their share of hidden passages, great walls, majestic works of craftsmanship and if one did not stay on the tour path you could get quickly lost. In much the same way our Christian faith reminds me of these great castles, and not from a negative perspective. Our ancient creeds, doctrines of faith, confessions, prayers and theological opinions have made for a rich and varied Christian faith without equal. However, if one does not stay on the tour path you can get lost in all of the hallways and side doors that, before long, may end up leading you outside of the walls of the castle. Today there are many who started, their journey of faith, behind the great castle walls and over time walked off the tour path managing to not only exit the castle but now try to tear the down the walls that once protected them.

So I turn back to NT Wright and his “Simply” series of books. Certainly there is great danger in dumbing down the Christian faith, to such a level, where it may appear to be a castle but is not any stronger than a house of cards. Likewise we also risk making this faith so complex that all of the gates, windows and doors remain shut to where no-one is allowed inside. While there are many doctrines, with the Judeo-Christian faith, that are complex and worth studying we also need to encourage each other to remain on the simple walking tour through the great castle of Christianity. This is what NT was attempting to convey through his “Simply” series. Yes, there are some hard and challenging areas we need to study and comprehend. But there are also some simple, not elementary, truths we do not need to overcomplicate.

Here are some “simple” questions worth asking: “Am I simple enough to identify myself with my Lord in the way I live my life?” “Is He getting His wonderful way in me?” “Is God realizing that His Son is formed in me, or have I carefully put Him to the side?”
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Today we live in a generation of great clamor. We hear stories of people who claim they were failed by the Christian faith. We read stories of what Millennials want and desire. And we listen to panels of theologians and pastors saying, “I believe…” It seems like today everyone is clamoring and I ask, “For what?”

While debate is healthy and very productive it can also close many doors. While opinions and theories are intriguing they can also serve to add additions, to the great castle, that will aid people in getting lost and confused. So, in an age of “sound and fury” do we risk signifying nothing? (Shakespeare, Macbeth) I want to encourage you to ask, and answer, some of the simple questions. Said another way, stay on the “walking tour” before you get exploring too far. Once on the tour you will discover simple but life-changing questions like: “Is the Son of God praying in me or am I dictating to Him?” “Is He ministering in me as He did in the days of His flesh?” “Is the Son of God in me going through His passion for His own purposes?”

Oswald Chambers said, “The more one knows of the inner life of God’s ripest saints, the more one sees what God’s purpose is—“filling up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ.” There is always something to be done in the sense of “filling up.”

Blessings – JOSHUA

Christian Apologetics, Inspirational, Motivational

COMMONSENSE NEED NOT APPLY

“Commonsense Need Not Apply”

Earlier this week I posted on respecting the call of God on a persons life. In that post I mentioned how commonsense can get in the way of Kingdom perspective and how the Spirit of the Father is very different than the spirit of the world.

Yesterday Jeannette and I were talking about this very point and came to another truth I wanted to share with you: Commonsense can get in the way of faith. Often we are told , and encouraged, to have faith in trying circumstances, faith for better opportunities, relationships, finances, etc…But how often do we apply faith, to the call, when often we judge the call according to commonsense?

Today we live in a generation that can’t help but judge everything by outside appearances. Success, happiness, struggle or sorrow is all determined by what our eyes tell us and our commonsense adds up. We look at the circumstances, do the math and make a commonsense judgment. But could we be totally wrong? Are we undercutting one’s faith? Are we torpedoing our own faith with commonsense? These are questions worth considering.

When it comes to faith, in the plans and purposes of the Father, commonsense need not apply. Please do not misunderstand that statement. I am not advocating complete wreckless abandonment to the wisdom of the Father. The Holy Spirit is present to lead you in all truth and it is the truth of the Father that builds your faith in His plans and purposes. This attitude and lifestyle is very different from one that relies just on commonsense.
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Oswald Chambers asked, “Is Jesus being abundantly satisfied in your life or have you got a spiritual ‘strut’ on? Never let common sense obtrude and push the Son of God on one side. Common sense is a gift which God gave to human nature; but common sense is not the gift of His Son. Supernatural sense is the gift of His Son; never enthrone common sense. The Son detects the Father; common sense never yet detected the Father and never will. Our ordinary wits never worship God unless they are transfigured by the indwelling Son of God. We have to see that this mortal flesh is kept in perfect subjection to Him and that He works through it moment by moment. Are we living in such human dependence upon Jesus Christ that His life is being manifested in our mortal flesh?”

As you consider this morning’s reflection seek the Lord as to how you are being led. Ask Him by what standards you are making your life choices. Are you trusting in His Holy Spirit or is commonsense getting in the way?

“Father, I thank Thee that thou hast heard Me.” (John 11:41)

Blessings – JOSHUA

Christian Apologetics, Motivational

IT’S NOT ABOUT YOUR GLORY OR MY GLORY…IT’S ABOUT HIS GLORY!

“It’s Not About Your Glory or My Glory…It’s About His Glory!”

“Let them that suffer according to the will of God, commit the keeping of their souls to Him in well-doing.” (1 Peter 4:19)

I’m not much for thrill rides. In fact just seeing them makes my blood run cold. But this summer I took my family to a theme park and so thrill rides were part of the journey. One such experience was walking up the endless flight of stairs, with my son, and ascending the 6 story slide to find ourselves resting on a straight drop. For me the worst part was sitting on the slide waiting for the all clear, but by the time I got there is was too late. I was committed and down the slide I went. Within seconds it was over, and I survived while leaving my stomach somewhere between the third and fourth story. It seems kind of silly but that water slide taught me a little more about myself and this morning I want to place my summer journey within the context of suffering. To be honest a water slide is the farthest test of suffering, but if you knew I have a fear of heights then you would know every step, I took, I was suffering.

Let’s face it! We all cringe at the very idea of any type of suffering. Questions of fairness, why me and God’s silence are just a few of the many thoughts that arise during such times. Guess what? To choose to suffer means there is something wrong; but to choose God’s will even if it means suffering is a very different thing.

No healthy believer ever chooses suffering; he or she chooses God’s will, as Jesus did, whether it means suffering or not. And here is another “guess what moment” NO OTHER Christian should interfere with the suffering of another saint. This is not to say we don’t offer words of encouragement, aid or love in a trying season. But our role is not to rationalize their trial or play armchair theologian to help them dismiss their season. Our role, as the disciples at Gethsemane, is pray and stay on watch.
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The man or woman who satisfies the heart of Jesus will make other believer strong and mature for God. Oswald Chambers said, “The people who do us good are never those who sympathize with us, they always hinder, because sympathy always deprives strength. No one understands a saint but the saint who is nearest to the Savior. If we accept the sympathy of a saint, the reflex feeling is—‘Well, God is dealing hardly with me.’ That is why Jesus said self-pity was of the devil (see Matt. 16:23). Be merciful to God’s reputation.”

Questions of God’s goodness are hard for the heart of flesh and the spirit of this world to comprehend. In fact, at every turn, the anti-Christ spirit will always try to blacken God’s character. Exercise great caution if you believe Jesus needed sympathy in His earthly life. Jesus refused sympathy from man because He knew few understood His call or purpose. Jesus took sympathy from His Father only. (Cf. Luke 15:10.)

Likewise, according to the judgment of the world, God plants His saints in the most useless places and often seems to waste their talents. This is NOT Throne Room perspective or Kingdom thinking! For the true believer, in the Biblical Jesus, we say—‘God intends me to be here because I am useful.’ God puts His saints where they will glorify Him, and we are not in the position to judge where that is.

Blessings – JOSHUA

Inspirational, Motivational

THE LOUD VOICE OF GOD IN WHISPERS

Not long ago I was having a conversation with a fellow Christian and the question came up, “Have you ever heard God speak?” This fascinating question has been mulled over by Christians, in every walk of life, for generations and still we continue to ask as if there has never been an answer. While modern movie magic has gone a long way in making God’s voice as a big, booming, earth-shattering event, the voice of the Spirit can be so gentle, that unless you are living in communion with the Father, you never hear it.

In our marriage Jeannette and I communicate many different ways. Sometimes we have long running discussions that may last days or even weeks. Other times we just having passing one-liners which plant a thought that later require an action. In the same way we should live expecting the full spectrum of conversations with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Have you ever heard a person say, “I just had a check of the Spirit?” For me it can be a feeling, deep within, of peace or caution. Either way such an encounter becomes a prompting of how to act in that moment. In short: this brief conversation is a prompting, by the Spirit, of how to live in the Spirit. The Holy Spirit comes in the most extraordinarily gentle ways, and if you are not sensitive enough to detect His voice you will quench it, and your personal spiritual life will be impaired. His checks always come as a still small voice, so small that no one, but he or she who is in communion with the Father, notices them.

Oswald Chambers said, “Beware if in personal testimony you have to hark back and say—‘Once, so many years ago, I was saved.’ If you are walking in the light, there is no harking back, the past is transfused into the present wonder of communion with God. If you get out of the light you become a sentimental Christian and live on memories, your testimony has a hard, metallic note. Beware of trying to patch up a present refusal to walk in the light by recalling past experiences when you did walk in the light. Whenever the Spirit checks, call a halt and get the thing right, or you will go on grieving Him without knowing it.”
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Maybe you are in a crisis, a dry season or feel as if you haven’t head from the Spirit for far too long? Suppose God has brought you to a place of encounter and you nearly engage Him but not quite? The Father will engineer the encounter again and again but it will not be as it was before. If we are not discerning, of the Spirit, than we will miss the awesome opportunity of obedience to His will. But if you go through the encounter, listening to the Spirit, there will be a testimony of praise to God. “Never sympathize with the thing that is stabbing God all the time. God has to hurt the thing that must go.” (Chambers)

BLESSINGS – JOSHUA

Christian Apologetics, Motivational

“FROM BIG WHEELS TO TRAINING WHEELS TO RIDING A BIKE”

“From Big Wheels to Training Wheels and Finally  Riding a Bike”

Do any of you remember big wheels? If so, then you probably owned one at some point in your childhood. If not, then the picture (below) shows you all you need to know and I can still remember pedaling all summer hearing the sound of pavement grinding underneath those large plastic wheels. Then, I experienced the training wheels phase of learning to ride a bike and though I can’t remember this time too clearly I am reliving it, in some ways, as I am teaching my daughter how to ride her bike. Eventually, she like I, and millions of others will learn how to ride a bike.

In our journey with Jesus we too have to learn how to mature from big wheels to training wheels and eventually riding a bike. Using God’s intended spiritual pedal system (the Holy Spirit) you begin to mature to a place where the training wheels are no longer necessary to hold you up and this is demonstrated in the life of Elijah and Elisha.

The great prophet Elisha who, in some ways, experienced more miraculous events than his mentor, began learning on the “training wheel” of Elijah. As a mentor Elijah was there to help, guide and instruct Elisha through his “training wheels” season because  it was necessary for Elisha to learn how to pedal. However, a time soon came when Elisha was ready to pedal on his own and he would have to let go of Elijah.

But why? Isn’t it better to always have Elijah close by? Wouldn’t it have been best for Jesus to stay with His disciples a little bit longer? It sounds like a flawless plan, perfect and without error but that is not the plan of the Kingdom. God’s plan for our life is not keep us pedaling on big wheels or training wheels but to prepare us solo bike journey (with Him). We would all say, “Something is wrong?” if we witnessed a grown adult, on a professional bike, still needing training wheels which is why God’s Kingdom intention is for you to let the Holy Spirit guide you in all truth and when you say, “I cannot go on without Elijah.” God says you must.

Oswald Chambers spoke of three alones every believer must face in their walk of faith. The first is the “ALONE AT YOUR JORDAN.” This is the place where there is the type of separation, and there is no fellowship with anyone else, and where no one can take the responsibility for you. It is at this season in life you have to apply what you learned when you were with your Elijah. “You have been to Jordan over and over again with Elijah, but now you are up against it alone. It is no use saying you cannot go; this experience has come, and you must go. If you want to know whether God is the God you have faith to believe Him to be, then go through your Jordan alone.” (Chambers)
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 “ALONE AT YOUR JERICHO.” Jericho is the place where you have seen your Elijah do great things. “When you come to your Jericho you have a strong disinclination to take the initiative and trust in God, you want someone else to take it for you. If you remain true to what you learned with Elijah, you will get the sign that God is with you.” (Chambers)

 “ALONE AT YOUR BETHEL.” At your Bethel you will find yourself at commonsense’s failure and at the beginning of God’s perspective. “When you get to your wits’ end and feel inclined to succumb to panic, don’t; stand true to God and He will bring His truth out in a way that will make your life a sacrament. Put into practice what you learned with your Elijah, use his cloak and pray. Determine to trust in God and do not look for Elijah any more.” (Chambers)

We all face alone times in our life. It feels great when the company of friends, family and allies hold up your arms, co-labor with you and press toward the goal of the Kingdom. And yet, as wonderful as these times are, we need to remember they are training seasons preparing you for those alone times where it is just you and God. In those seasons the Holy Spirit is never far off and God’s silence should not be mistaken for His absence. It is the alone times we remember what God has done, for us, and promised to do. So, boldly get off your big wheels, or training wheels, and start riding your bike.

He is with you at Jordan, Jericho and Bethel…and He is with you now in your next season!

Blessings – JOSHUA