In Between

The In Between Places

Are you looking for God in those in between places?  Those places where we would, at least in our minds, not find Him.  Broken down on the side of the road, cleaning up vomit, waiting in line, while conflict is ensuing, cleaning the ice off your windshield making you late etc.

Oh sure at church during preaching and worship, and when I was holding my sweet granddaughter and looking into her innocent face, but what about those in between places?

"[I always pray] that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may grant you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation [that gives you a deep and personal and intimate insight] into the true knowledge of Him [for we know the Father through the Son]. And [I pray] that the eyes of your heart [the very center and core of your being] may be enlightened [flooded with light by the Holy Spirit], so that you will know and cherish the hope [the divine guarantee, the confident expectation] to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints (God’s people), and [so that you will begin to know] what the immeasurable and unlimited and surpassing greatness of His [active, spiritual] power is in us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of His mighty strength which He produced in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His own right hand in the heavenly places,..."  Eph. 1:17-20

Sin Trivialized

Trivializing Sin

Been there done that and have the mental, emotional and spiritual scars to prove it, unfortunantely. All I lack is a T-shirt.

Listen to what Bishop J.C. Ryle said:
" We are too apt to forget that temptation to sin will rarely present itself and its true colors. Never when we are tempted will we here sin say to us, "I am your deadly enemy... I want to ruin your life." That's not how it works. Sin, instead, comes to us like Judas with a kiss... but we cannot alter its nature and character in the sight of God."

Isn't it interesting how little things, seemingly insignificant little tiny sins, can be the litmus test of our love for Jesus. 

J.C. Ryle goes on to say " of all the things that will surprise us in the resurrection morning, this, I believe will surprised us the most: that we did not love Christ more before we died."

All because of a "little" sin(s) that we just pushed aside as insignificant.

I was reminded of this today from a little book written by Joni Erickson Tada entitled "Finding God In Hidden Places" Get a copy and read her stories of vulnerability and grace. 

My Way

I Did It My Way

How often have I done this.....regretfully more times than I care to recount.

"......and [foolishly] did not ask for the counsel of the Lord."  JOSHUA 9:14

BUT

But

Usually more negative than positive, this little conjunction can pose a real problem.  So lets purpose to eliminate the negative buts and make sure we have positive but statements about our lives, actions and attitudes. 
The children of Israel had just marched around Jericho in Joshua chapter six and the walls fell and it was an astounding....then verse one of chapter seven....BUT

Your Favorite Idol

Idols

No not those little wooden things that sit on a shelf and not the American Idol either.  Although the American Idol may be closest to our problem. 

Let all those be [deeply] ashamed who serve carved images, Who boast in idols. Worship Him, all you gods! PSALM 97:7

Notice it says we will be shamed when we serve idols.  Have you ever been embarrassed because of your own actions?  There it is, God was shoving us off the shelf.  We are usually the biggest IDOL in our lives. 

Less

Less

Less than the least of these, am I willing to.be that? Less than a mere drop in the bucket. Less the the least, the poorest, the sickest, the weakest.  No in reality I want to be the best, the top, number one, recognized, popular, spoken about...remembered.

Oswald Chambers put it this way...
"It is one thing to follow God’s way of service if you are regarded as a hero, but quite another thing if the road marked out for you by God requires becoming a “doormat” under other people’s feet. God’s purpose may be to teach you to say, “I know how to be abased…” (Philippians 4:12). Are you ready to be sacrificed like that? Are you ready to be less than a mere drop in the bucket— to be so totally insignificant that no one remembers you even if they think of those you served? Are you willing to give and be poured out until you are used up and exhausted— not seeking to be ministered to, but to minister?"

Be Holy?

Holy

"The greatest miracle that God can do is take an unholy man put of an unholy world, and make that man holy and put him back into that unholy world and keep him holy in it."  Leonard Ravenhill

because it is written, " You shall be holy, for I am holy ."  1 Peter 1:16  Apart from the miracle of God's work in our lives, we don't stand a chance on our own.

Stones

Got Any Stones From 2018?

I was reminded again today in scripture about leaving markers set up for others to see the Glory of God at work in our lives.  As Joshua took the children of Israel over the Jordan and God demonstrated His power, Joshua left behind stones as a memorial to the greatness of God. 
Joshua chapter 4 gives the account. 
"And those twelve stones which they had taken from the Jordan, Joshua set up in Gilgal. He said to the sons of Israel, “When your children ask their fathers in time to come, ‘What do these stones mean?’ then you shall let your children know, ‘Israel crossed this Jordan on dry ground.’ For the Lord your God dried up the waters of the Jordan for you until you crossed over, just as the Lord your God did to the Red Sea, which He dried up before us until we had crossed; so that all the peoples of the earth may know [without any doubt] and acknowledge that the hand of the Lord is mighty and extraordinarily powerful, so that you will fear the Lord your God [and obey and worship Him with profound awe and reverence] forever.” JOSHUA 4:20‭-‬24

Step In

What Is Your Jordon River?  Step In!

We all have had a Jordon River in front of us at one time or another.  Impassable from a human perspective, and God simply says just step in by faith and I will part the water and see you through on dry ground.  Whatever your Jordon River is in front of you; raging, out of control and overwhelming; God will see you through, just step in.  Listen as Joshua repeats to the children of Israel the promise. 

When the soles of the feet of the priests who carry the ark of the Lord , the Lord of all the earth, [come to] rest in the waters of the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan flowing down from above will be cut off, and they will stand in one mass [of water].”  JOSHUA 3:13