Sharing a reminder given in our faith class this week:
As Abraham climbed the mountain with Isaac…in obedience to what he understood from God…the ram was climbing up the opposite side. If Abraham had stopped short of the summit, he never would have seen the provision of God or understood the Promise fully.
Read the story here: Genesis 22:1-19
Let’s make the testimony of Abraham our own:
Courage, like character, is caught through contact. It is learned through leadership that models, encourages and expects it from others. Heroes matter. We live in a world increasingly falling to fear. As Christians, that ought not be. Perfect love casts out all fear. When we live in the love of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, there is nothing to fear, except as FDR once said, “fear itself.” Fearing fear is not an option for us as Christians.
Fear wreaks havoc in our lives; God created us to live with faith in Him, not fear of the future. Fear actually creates damage in our brains…in our bodies. There are legitimate things to fear…but we are not to fear the fear! We are more than conquerors through Christ who loves us! We are to live in victorious faith that delivers health.
Sharing the testimonies of victory in Christ is one way to glorify God and encourage one another.
What testimonies encourage you? What is YOUR testimony that needs to be told?
Christ, of course, is the greatest hero of all time. Even He looked up to another. Christ never did anything outside of the will of the Father. Following the Father’s will takes a lot of courage. It called Christ to leave the perfect paradise of heaven to be born in a barn–and be rejected by the very people He came to rescue. Heroes don’t do things for applause–they do them because it is who they are.
Too many of our earthly heroes perform for praise; how sad for them. The praise of people is unstable. Popularity waxes and wanes…and eventually death deafens the praise anyway. Performers are not heroes who help us live better. We need more than that.
Examples of courage abound…in and out of the realm of Christianity. Every person is made in the image of God…and that image is glorious. Many who never profess Christ as their hero live with character and courage. As Christians, we owe every courageous person a debt of gratitude because their example is of great value to those of us seeking to live for Christ. Cowards cannot do the work of the King.
In the coming weeks, I will be sharing stories of the victories of faith…stories to inspire courage. I invite you to share yours as well. You can share in writing, or we can set up a time for an interview. Let’s work together to give glory to God by giving the good reports that we need as we walk through this world!
The Gate to see God is being:
Genuine. Accepting. Transparent. Encouraging.
Genuine: Real with God and others. Pat phrases are not what get us through life!
Accepting: God meets us where we are at but loves us too much to leave us there. Accepting doesn’t mean there are no ‘rules,’ it means walking alongside until the better way (His way) is seen and understood.
Transparent: Everyone struggles. No one arrives at ‘perfection’ in this land. Paul boasted in his weaknesses because they are doorways to God’s greatness. Let your struggles be seen…because God is there!
Encouraging: God created us for connection because we need each other. Be a cheerleader for others–it will cheer you and help them become cheerleaders!
Serving God is a high and holy privilege. HIS Hands explores the beauty of Christian servanthood. A companion book is in the works! Sign up for Glory Glimpse News to receive notice–or follow this website or the Facebook Page.
Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Matthew 6:10
Jesus used this statement in the model prayer. It is part of the pattern He used to teach us to pray. It’s been prayed for centuries. There’s some assumptions in that pattern we are blessed to unpack.
First, Heaven is a busy place…the will of God is the motivation for all the action. Jesus modeled that in His life. He did only what the Father said and did. He said He could do nothing on His own.
Then, that the will of God is…or can be known…is another implication of this verse. I attend a church that exhorts us to ‘look into heaven, find out what God says about whatever you are facing and go do it.’
In a recent class, a profound question was asked:
What can I expect to see when I look in heaven?
Well, that is just too fun of a place to camp! I couldn’t resist digging into it and share
some thoughts–and hopefully get some of yours to enjoy as well. So, let’s go!
The physical attributes of heaven are not where my mind naturally goes. Pat Marvenko Smith is an incredible artist who digs deep into Scripture and paints directly from the Word. I love her stuff and have shared a glimpse to the right. Take some time and visit her website for that angle: Revelation Illustrated. You will enjoy it!
For me, that question sends my heart on a quest to find what is in heaven that will help me live out the Father’s will here.
“Only one life, it will soon be passed.
Only what’s done for Jesus will last.”
is part of what drives me to seek to see heaven. The other pressure that makes my heart cry for heavenly vision is the weight of seeing individuals broken and maimed from life. I know Jesus is always the answer…but I can’t always see HOW He is the answer. Pressing in to see heaven opens vistas of hope for me–and for me to share.
I believe God longs for us to press in to heaven. He wants us to ask hard questions–He wants us to know His heart. A verse in Micah (and quoted in other locations) outlines what I find in heaven. I find His ways, His heart and His glory. I love looking into heaven!
He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you
But to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your God.Micah 6:8
To do justice is to know–and render into this world–the verdicts God has already declared. It reminds me of the verses in Matthew that say bind (and loose) what is already bound (or loosed) in heaven. We only see in Heaven what God has revealed in the Word. Being diligent students of the Holy Bible is a vital need for any who long to peer into heaven.
To love kindness goes a step beyond simply knowing the Word. The Pharisees knew the Law but they didn’t understand the heart of love inherent in every word. There are a lot of Pharisees today, too. Being touched personally by the Word is another vital need for those who want to see into heaven. The personal application of the Law — knowing that the Word is said to ME and knowing that I fall so short — leads me to LOVE kindness. My desperate need for the kindness of God comes into start view when I spend time looking to Him.
And when I know how God works and what He is like, walking humbly is all I can do. He is God and I am not! Spending time peering into heaven makes that so abundantly clear. Walking out what He shows me when I am in heaven completes what God requires of me. I am not to be a Dead Sea that receives without giving!
I find a righteous and holy God who created everything from His wisdom and love. I find a God who allows suffering because it is the most merciful act available in some cases. I find a God unafraid of establishing–and maintaining boundaries. I find a God who loves me more than I love myself…who loves the ones I love with greater faithfulness and wisdom than I love. When I look into heaven, I find the answers to the hurts in my heart–and the harm I see done in the world. And I find the courage to share what I find with others.
I could go on and on…and so can you. There are eternal treasures in heaven…some are yours to find and share. Some are mine to find and share. They are the inheritance Jesus came to give to those who would believe in Him. They are our shared riches. What has He been showing you?!
“Pride cannot live beneath the cross. Let us sit there and learn our lesson, and then rise and carry it into practice…
…Stand at the foot of the cross, and count the purpose drops by which you have been cleansed…And if you do not lie prostrate on the ground before that cross, you have never seen it: if you are not humbled in the presence of Jesus, you do not know Him.” Spurgeon
Taking the right stand for the wrong reason does not give glory to God, and it can place us in a precarious position. We live in a very vocal world that tends to elevate opinions far above their value. The current cultural controversies generate a tremendous amount of debate, and God’s Name is often invoked to prove a point. It is dangerous ground to elevate one’s opinions to the level of Scripture. Our opinions should be the same as God’s–but we don’t get to pick and choose which of His opinions we support. As Christian’s the glory of God must always be our highest priority.
When we are defending our opinions, we must take great care not to trample the prohibition of Exodus 20:7, ‘Do not take the Lord’s Name in vain.’ Taking the Lord’s name in vain is much more than uttering cuss words. The word ‘vain’ refers to the hasty, deceptive and empty use of His Name. The ‘stamping’ of an opinion with Scripture is not a new thing. God has been dragged into many unholy opinions and actions since the beginning of time. In both the spiritual and earthly courts, this is treacherous ground.
The Christian Law Association provides free legal services to Christians facing legal battles because of their faith. They stand firmly on the side of God’s righteousness in the courts of America. They also plead for Christians to know what they believe.
“…We are coming to a day when people are being put on trial for their faith. How much of the Bible are you living by? The courts are gearing up like never before to put your faith on trial. Are you ready? do you hold Biblical convictions–unmoveable decisions based on Scripture–that live by on a daily basis?”
It is an interesting paradox that the unholy climate we live in will push us to purify our faith–and bring us into greater alignment with God. It is a paradox revealed in Scripture and history: persecution purifies.
CLA explains that the American Courts demand that individuals being tried for their faith must be able to verbalize their beliefs. They must also be able to explain what they believe and not simply mouth phrases or opinions. The Courts do not accept a religious defense based on: “It seems to me…” or “I think…” because thoughts change. It also does not accept descriptive terms or pat phrases. Defendants must be able to explain what it means to believe what they say they believe. Convictions are required to be supportable by Scripture and evidenced in life.
One cannot go into an American Court and give empty words to defend a conviction.
One cannot go before God and give empty words either.
America was founded on Christian principles, but maintaining integrity to the foundation is a necessity. What is vital for our nation begins in individual lives. As Christians, the very glory of God is ours to protect. It is a high and holy privelege. Developing convictions instead of opinions will help us build lives of integrity–and may deliver our nation. Perhaps the moral decline of our nation will even deliver some from the horror of Matthew 7:21:
“Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter.”
In all things, we can give thanks to God…because giving thanks is His will for us. We are not to be troubled or dismayed as we go through this life–but we are to give God glory in all things…even American 2016.
As CLA says, “Faithful Christians might as well become accustomed to the courtroom because they are going to spend increased amounts of time there defending things that they have always taken for granted.” May we be ready for the opportunity as Paul was when taken to Rome…may God be glorified in us, not used by us.
Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14
For a great article on the dangers of false faith, check out this piece from John Piper, “You Can Believe the Promises of God and Still Be Lost.”
Any who know me, know I love serving. It is a selfish love in many ways. There is so much God does in us as we serve. Putting together a training video to help people catch a vision of the beauty of serving has been a project I have worked on for some time. A book and workshop by the same name is available.
This was my first published powerpoint, and there are some choppy spots. But I believe you will be challenged and blessed in the content overall. And it has been the perfect example of service as described: a bit frustrating, not all that I envisioned and yet surrendered to God, so I know immeasurably more will come from it than I put in it! ENJOY!
I’d love to hear your thoughts…and your stories of service.
I think perhaps this is the most common question folks have. The short answer is YES! His Word is the place to begin, but He speaks individually as well. You will find other pieces on this blog–and many other places–to help you explore the topic. This is a recent compilation of tips on hearing from God. How does He speak to you? Share your experiences in the comments!
Hearing from God is the interpreting of life in the context of God. It requires the Holy Spirit, so looking at the arrival of the Spirit is useful. In Acts 2, the Spirit filled the ‘house.’ When God is all around, hearts are set on fire. When your heart is on fire, your life speaks that God is real.
You hear from God and you speak in a way that helps people understand GOD IS REAL. BUT not all people will understand. Some of the people at Pentecost thought the disciples were crazy or drunk. The timing may not be right for another, but that does not negate what you hear.
BEWARE: “God told me to tell you.”
God is all about relationship. He prefers to speak directly to us, but sometimes God will ask one person to deliver a message to another. Be cautious as the speaker or the hearer when you hear, “God told me…” Remember, humanity is prone to error. “God told me” can border on a manipulative tactic.
The advice I like best about the idea that God is telling you to speak to someone: if you want to do it, it probably is not God nudging you. If it is a message you don’t want to deliver—that’s probably God. (Think Samuel or Moses).
If someone is telling you “God said…”, go talk to God. What is the reaction of your spirit—your gut response? Do you know it is right but you don’t want to do it? That’s God. However, when in doubt, don’t. If their message doesn’t resonate in you–follow your peace. Don’t let someone put their burden on you. Listen to God.
Don’t automatically negate another’s word for you…God has been known to speak through donkeys. At the same time, refuse to negate their burden. God, indeed, may have given it to them. Just because it is not yours does not mean it is not valid.
HEARING IMPAIRMENTS
Know that the devil does not want you to hear. God’s goal of speaking is always relationship & unity. He calls us closer to Him so we will know Him more. “How shall they know unless they hear?” There are any number of things that can interfere with hearing from God: stuff of life, busyness, worries, fear, resentments, unforgiveness, sin… The very things that block our hearing are the things God stands ready to use to transform us.
The things you struggle with are the places God is speaking to you. Don’t run away. Don’t throw out accusations at others (or God). Don’t fall into despair. Seek His face in the darkness; He is there.
God speaks all the time. He is the great I AM who is always present. He is LIFE itself. The pure in heart see God…and when you see Him, you will speak LIFE and others will hear. You will know He is present as you share in worshipping Him with others.
Here are some verse vitamins for every day that reminds you WHO YOU ARE in CHRIST!
| You are accepted in Christ. | You are secure in Christ. | You are significant in Christ. |
| Ephesians 1:5 | Romans 8:28-39 | John 15:16 |
| 1 Corinthians 12:27 | Philippians 1:6 | Acts 1:8 |
| John 1:12 | 2 Timothy 1:7 | 2 Corinthians 6:1 |
| Colossians 1:14 | 1 John 5:18 | Ephesians 2:10 |
| Romans 5:1 | 2 Corinthians 1:21,22 | Matthew 5:13,14 |
| Colossians 2:10 | Hebrews 4:16 | 2 Corinthians 5:17-21 |
Do you ever struggle with the idea that you must ‘be more’ and ‘do more?’ I sure do. Nothing seems quite enough sometimes. The longing to be of value is innate in every human being. It is a longing that only God can fill. One of my favorite devotions is Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest.
The content of the devotion for today from My Utmost reminds me to enjoy just being. Just as the lilies standing in the field give glory to God by BEING, so do we. Know that YOU bring beauty to the world today. Enjoy the beauty that is around you. Living in that way gives glory to God and transforms the world.
As believers in Jesus Christ, we are enough because HE IS! Enjoy Jesus today!
