Be a HUNTER!

Proverbs 2:1-5
My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you,
turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding, and if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding,
and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure,then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God.

Proverbs 2
Moral Benefits of Wisdom
1 My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you,turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding,and if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure,then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God.

Wow, do I "call out" and "cry aloud to understand the things of God? Or do I more often times doubt and shrink away from pressing into God due to my own impatience in wanting my own timetable? I can see both at work within me. What a challenge is laid out here: If I want to understand God's plans and who he actually is, I need to store his word away in my heart, I need to be a "hunter" for his treasure. I need to constantly seek him with urgency. Too often it's too easy to treat our lives, as something other than a God treasure hunt. Let's today decide to take our map (his word) and set out to find him. Lord, help me to call out and cry aloud to you, help me to fervently seek you, not shrink away, no matter what this life throws at me, in Jesus' name, Amen.

What we see in others, Reflects ourseleves

Pulled this from Challies.com
"...

This is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. We should not be like Cain, who was of the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil and his brother's righteous. Do not be surprised, brothers, that the world hates you. We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. (1 John 3:11-14)

Now this specific form of love in verse 12 may seem to you to be totally unneeded. "Don't be like Cain who murdered his brother." Am I really concerned that there will be a spate of murders among Christians? No. And I don't think John feared that either, though it does happen. He doesn't focus on the murder. He asks in verse 12, "And why did he murder him?" That's John's concern. There is something about Cain's motive that he thinks will be relevant to the way believers love each other.

He answers at the end of verse 12: "Because his own deeds were evil and his brother's righteous." What John is saying here is not merely that love doesn't kill a brother, but that love doesn't feel resentful when a brother is superior in some spiritual or moral way. Cain didn't kill Abel simply because Cain was evil. He killed him because the contrast between Abel's goodness and Cain's evil made Cain angry. It made him feel guilty. Abel didn't have to say anything; Abel's goodness was a constant reminder to Cain that he was evil. And instead of dealing with his own evil by repentance and change, he got rid of Abel. If you don't like what you see in the mirror, shoot the mirror.

So what would it be like for any of us to be like Cain? It would mean that anytime some weakness or bad habit in our lives is exposed by contrast to someone else's goodness, instead of dealing with the weakness or the bad habit, we keep away from those whose lives make us feel defective. We don't kill them. We avoid them. Or worse, we find ways to criticize them so as to neutralize the part of their lives that was making us feel convicted. We feel like the best way to nullify someone's good point is to draw attention to their bad point. And so we protect ourselves from whatever good they might be or us.

But John's point is: Love doesn't act like that. Love is glad when our brothers and sisters are making progress in good habits or good attitudes or good behavior. Love rejoices in this growth. And if it happens to be faster than our own growth, then love is humble and rejoices with those who rejoice.

So the lesson for us is: Everywhere you see some growth, some virtue, some, spiritual discipline, some good habit, or good attitude, rejoice in it. Give thanks for it. Compliment it. Don't resent it. Don't be like Cain. Respond the opposite from Cain. Be inspired by other people's goodness.

Love is humble. Love delights in other people's good. Love doesn't protect its own flaws. Love takes steps to change them. What a beautiful fellowship where everyone is rejoicing in each other's strengths, not resenting them! This is what the love of God looks like when the new birth gives it life in the people of God."

This just makes me even more aware of the believers that I surround myself with, and makes me thankfull for the group of guys in my small group. It is a massive level of maturity when you can look at someone take stock in what you think of them/their opinion and then reflect it back on to yourself in a very introscopic way. Who are you surrounding yourself with? Does their presence help you in your faith or hurty you? Are you using them as a way to evaluate yourself, your decisions, your faith?

_SC

The HS Cleaning Service

2Tim2:19-21 "Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness. In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for noble purposes and some for ignoble. If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work."

This passage reminds me that it's not an option to obey Christ. There's a strong promise here too: cleanse yourself from ignoble purposes and you WILL BE an instrument for his noble purposes, you WILL BE made holy, you WILL BE useful to the master, and you WILL BE prepared to do ANY good work. At first glance, this seems hard to accept, why do I tend to doubt the Holy Spirit's power at work inside me. Lord today I ask you reveal and help me surrender any ignoble articles in my house to you. Cleanse me and use me as you say you will. Build up my trust in your ability to use me. In Jesus' name, Amen.

We are IN!

2 Tim 2:13 "if we are faithless, he will remain faithful, for he cannot disown himself."

This verse really struck me this morning in two ways during my quiet time:
1) I am truly IN him- by believing upon Christ, I am literally a part of Christ. I am part of himself! How encouraging as I look at my shoddy track record of being faithful. As 1Peter2:11 states I'm so much a part of Christ that I am an "alien and stranger in this world", and as 1 Cor 7:23 says I was "bought at a price". I am IN Christ no matter how I perform.
2) God is at work in our lives, even if we don't see it- even w/o any faith, he will REMAIN FAITHFUL to HIMSELF (US)! God is at work in our relationships with unsaved friends and family. He's at work in that area that seems insurmountable. Just because you or I don't have faith this current second, be assured that he is remaining faithful, and at work behind the spiritual scenes.
Lord, thank you for great love and your perfect, never ending faithfulness! Help me to rest in that today, Amen.

What's the Use!?

^{1 Timothy1:14} The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.

Grace, why can't I get it? I often struggle with subtely trying to earn the joy of the Lord. It's grace freely given where my joy rests, yet I often forget it.
I like how Oswald Chamber's puts it in today's devo: "We should quit asking ourselves, "Am I of any use (to God)?"and accept the truth that we really are not of much use to Him. The issue is never of being of use, but of being of value to God Himself. Once we are totally surrendered to God, He will work through us all the time."

If I want the joy of the Lord and to have confidence at his work in me and through me, all he wants me to know is "Jamie, you are of value to me, and Jamie stay close, rest in my Grace, and I will lead you and use more than you can even imagine." Thank you Lord for reminding me of your grace, and my value to you in your eyes. Amen.

Turning over a new lead

I've been learning from multiple places that I need to be sensitive to the Spirit's leadings--even in the small things. I tend to not do something unless I can do it full on. That is why I don't write in the blog much. It takes time and effort to put together a thought train that I feel is a blog-worthy. Basically, I'm being led by my perfectionism.

Today, I practiced following the "leads" that came to me throughout the day. "Do the dishes instead of just sitting in front of the tv." "Call ahead for a car appointment instead of hoping they will have an opening." Little, simple things that seem insignificant. However, the lessons learned in those little moments of listening to "voice inside my heart" will help me avoid sin and stay on track with the Lord when temptation is calling. "Don't check Facebook now, go to bed." "Commit your day to the Lord in prayer before rolling out of bed." "Check out the blog even though you don't think you have anything to say.

I have to admit, it's tough taking actions before being able to set up my plans perfectly. However, my perfectionism has not exactly led me to a vibrant, fulfilling life. Instead of following the lead of my own desires, I want to follow the lead of the Holy Spirit.

Galatians 5:16-17 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please.

What are YOU Withholding?

Genesis 22:1-19
1 ... God tested Abraham. He said to him, "Abraham!" "Here I am," he replied. 2 Then God said, "Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about." 3 Early the next morning Abraham got up and saddled his donkey. He took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac. When he had cut enough wood for the burnt offering, he set out for the place God had told him about. . .
9 When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. 10 Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. 11 But the angel of the LORD called out to him from heaven, "Abraham! Abraham!" "Here I am," he replied. 12 "Do not lay a hand on the boy," he said. "Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son." 13 Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. ..
15 The angel of the LORD called to Abraham from heaven a second time 16 and said, "I swear by myself, declares the LORD, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, 17 I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, 18 and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me."

Earlier in Gen, God promised both Abraham and Sarah that they would be the mom and pops of nations, and specifically to Sarah that her son (meaning Isaac) would be the root for that. Imagine the pain, confusion, and suffering that Abraham musta' felt. . .why God why? Well, even though the circumstances were bleak and disheartening, Abe stayed faithful.
Theologans say that when the Angel of the Lord said "abraham, abraham" that was a statement of urgency, meaning that Abraham must have just been about to plunge the knife into the son promised him by God. TALK ABOUT MAKING NO SENSE! It's pathetic for us to even compare our lives being unfair or nonsensical compared to this. But look at vs.16 "because you have not withheld" . . .are we withholding from God right now? Are we staying faithful even if our life situation isn't as favorable as we'd like it to be? Let's take from this example that even when it's really bad, God's still in the end going to bless us as he promises in Romans 8:28: And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Father, help us to stay FAITHFUL no matter where we're at today! Amen.

"Drinking" is Good, But From Which Cup?

John 18:10-11
10Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's servant, cutting off his right ear. (The servant's name was Malchus.) 11Jesus commanded Peter, "Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?"

Peter, trying to control the situation as the soldiers came to collect Jesus, struck out in wrath, in defense; it's hardly a stretch for us to put ourselves in Peter's shoes. Defend the one you love! We don't know for sure, but I seriously doubt Peter prayed or was led by God to cut off the servant's ear. He was acting on his own power. But Jesus says: "Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?" So on one end we have Peter acting in his own power trying to control an outcome that isn't his to control (drinking from his own cup); and on the other hand we have Jesus drinking from the right cup the one his Father gave him. . .

Let us today abandon our self-controlling ways of our lives by putting down our cup, and drink out of the cup the Father has given us! Even though in Jesus' case, it wasn't to be a particularly pleasant experience, it was God's will, and he did so much through it. Trust that God's cup in our lives will be used to accomplish his purposes as well.

Fill me up

Every once and awhile, I have a flashback to how poorly I handled things in my last dating relationship. The cause of the flashback this time was something that Dr. Tom Barrett shared at First Light this week. He talked about what a toll it takes on a family when they never know what mood you are going to be in when you come home from work. Although I've never had the true experience of being the man of the house, I did have a simulated version for almost 2 years. Most of the time that I was dating Ohio (kind of like raising Arizona but with less responsibility), I headed straight to her family's house from work. It was the easiest way for us to hang out, and I got a lot of free meals. In hindsight, this was hard for an introvert with a stressful job. I brought a lot of my frustrations there with me. I could usually put on a good face for the fam, but a lot of days my demeanor toward the one I was closest too--the girl--was miserable.

It got my attention when she would bring it up, but I didn't really think too much about it back then--we had other problems and I justified my demeanor by my crappy job. It hit hard, however, when I had the flashback on Wednesday. I felt hopeless seeing my past and looking to the future. Was the way I acted then--up one day and dour the next--the inevitability of any future family experience that I might have? Life has ups and downs--how in the world was I going to always put a consistent, joyful face on as I walked in the door from work? Then it hit me--it's possible with God's help. I know, I deserve a trophy for such an ingenious idea--everything is possible with God...but it goes a little deeper than that.

Think about the ocean floor. Basically, there's a whole other world down there with mountains and trenches--miles and miles worth of ups and down. But what does it look like from above--pretty flat, right? The water fills in perfectly so that the top is consistently flat (well, except for that pesky moon and it's effect on the tides). I saw my life that same way (sans pesky moon): my internal emotional ups and downs may be as extreme as the ocean floor; however, if I allow the Spirit to fill me up each day, I can present a level surface to those who see me from the outside. Suddenly, it was possible to be different--to not have to relive the past failures of being a question mark as I pulled into the driveway every day.

So now the challenge is to let the Spirit have enough access to my life so that He can fill every trench and cover every mountain with His presence. I need to be so close to the Lord that He fills me completely and my own strivings never rise above the presence of His peace in my life.

Acts 13:52 And the disciples were continually filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.

What, me worry?

Philippians 4:6-7 (New International Version)
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

Brothers, let this passage wash over you when you're anxious or feeling impatient with life's circumstances. Pray and with thanksgiving believe God. He will help you find peace no matter whats going on. You won't necessarily be able to understand or explain why you have that peace, but it'll be there.

Truth Speaks Us Out of Confusion

John 16:12-15: 12"I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. 13But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. 14He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you. 15All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you."

I know we've discussed amongst us some degree of confusion and haziness about where God is calling us and what he's taking us through right now in our walks with him. This passage is very encouraging as it reminds us that the Holy Spirit guides us into all truth, that he will tell us what is yet to come, that he will make known to us what is God's. Those truths, bring encouragement and renewed patience in a time that can feel lacking in that department. Lord, help us to press into your holy spirit. Let us journal to You, let us pray to You, let us press into you by faith, and hear that still small voice. Help us to trust our next step for your light is right here with us, Amen.

Heroes, Heroines, and the Holy Spirit

I want to be a hero. I love the story lines of the unassuming and unnoticed guy who is capable of tackling any obstacle in order to save the day. Even better, these heroes usually have a hot to quite hot girl who plays a significant role in their heroism. She's often in trouble and he, just as often, seems to be in the right place at the right time. She's often the only one who knows his true identity, making the bond between hero and hottie even stronger. She's often the motivation behind his greatest triumphs--one glimpse of her in need is all he needs to crank up the hero-juice just enough to once again be the hero.

Wait a minute...who's the hero again? Is it the guy smashing up the town with the villians, or is it the girl who is motivating him? Something I had failed to see before, is how the girl in the hero's life is actually his hero--or rather, his heroine. This stood out to me as I watched the Incredible Hulk. When Dr. Elizabeth Ross jumped on the Hulk during Mr. Blue's antidote party, I was jealous. She put her life on the line in an attempt to save Bruce, and I thought--"I want that." I don't just want someone to save...I want someone who will save me too. I wish I had a girl who had my back: track me down in the rain, give me some cash for a bus ride, and buy me some purple stretchy pants. Well, I could do without the pants...but the point is, I realized that as much as I want to be a hero, I want to have a hero.

Then it struck me...I do have someone who plays that role in my life. It's not a hottie, however. It's the Holy Spirit. If I'm looking for a hero, I have to look no further than the part of the triune God who lives inside of me. As believers, we have the Holy Spirit living in us. Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? (I Cor 6:19). I act like I don't know this--far too often for being a veteran believer. When am I going to stop looking for someone to save me and start looking to the One who already has? When am I going to realize that everything I need or want can be supplied by the Source that lives within me? Whenever I do, I'm confident that I will find the true satisfaction--the true salvation--for which I've always craved.

There is a Hero living inside of me... If I latch on to that reality, there is nothing worthwhile that I won't be able to do, and there is nothing that I will crave but loving Him more and bringing Him glory.

(Let the Spirit) Pull Yourself Up by Your Bootstraps

This is the only thing I want to find out from you: did you receive the Spirit by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? Galatians 3:2-3

I love the way Paul breaks this down. No true believer thinks that he was saved by anything other than faith in Christ. Yet, when it comes to growing and maturing in our Christian walks, so many of us rely on our own efforts. It's foolish to think that even though we begin our spritual walk by the Spirit that we would be able to sustain it by any of the "good" that we do.

We need to go through each day in the power of the Spirit. This is how we grow...this is how we live powerfully in obedience to our Lord. Paul goes on to say in Galatians 5:16 that if you "walk by the Spirit...you will not carry out the desire of the flesh."

Trying to get an area of your spiritual life on track? Give up trying and give it over to God. If He has the power to save us, He has the power to perfect us.

Either Or

Galatians 1:10

For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ.

I want to be a servant of Christ, but this passage makes it clear that it is not possible to be a servant of Christ while still trying to please men. Wow. I know being a people-pleaser is not a good thing, but I hadn't seen it as being in direct competition with my ability to serve Christ until this morning.

I think this realization will help me when as I look for opportunities to share my faith. Holding back in conversation is a means of trying to please people and that holds me back from being a true servant of Christ.

"God, You know how much I am struggling with proclaiming the Gospel to those around me. Thank you for showing me what's really at stake. I want to serve You, and my fear of people is keeping me from doing that adequately. I come before you too weak to do this on my own. But I know from 2 Cor. 12:10 that "when I am weak I am strong" in You. Empower me to be the man I need to be for Your glory. Amen."

Being IN STEP

Galatians 5:22-24 "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit"

I especially liked the last part, which reminds me a life with desire/and my passions crucified, and with proper fruit of the Spirit HAS TO BE IN STEP WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT. This just reinforces the desperate must for us to stay in the scripture and prayer, and to spend consistent daily time with God. We MUST stay in step w/ him! So discipline up!

Before and After

Nehemiah 2:8 And the king granted them to me because the good hand of my God was on me.

Remember this guy? Good old Nehemiah. I remember one of the nuggets of that book was Nehemiah's constant willingness to give God the cred. When I read his words in v.8 (and similar words in v.18), it seems legit. However, when I often hear rappers or athletes saying the same things after a recent success, it seems a little...less than legit. What's the difference?

I think the difference is what happens before. We see in Nehemiah 2:4 that when faced with a chance to request help from the king for rebuilding Jerusalem, he paused and went to God in prayer before he went into action. Then the king said to me, "What would you request?" So I prayed to the God of heaven (Nehemiah 2:4). It was natural for Nehemiah to give God credit after a success because he had actually gone to God for help before he entered the playing field.

What about me? Am I simply paying lip service to God when something good happens, or am I setting myself up to legitimately give God the glory in everything I do? I need to pay more attention to the "before" so I can more appropriately give God the glory "after".

EZEKIEL: Connecting to Intencity

Ezekiel 36: 24-26 - "For I will take you out of the nations; I will gather you from all the countries and bring you back into your own land. I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh."

So we learned last night to pray intercessorily for compassion/desire for the poor. In Ezekiel, God promises to take away our heart of stone and give us a fleshly, feeling heart. We need to believe the Lord for this. Also, God promises to cleanse our diseased thinking and impurities. He gives us continually/daily a new heart and a new spirit. Do you believe that today you are really a NEW PERSON spiritually in Christ? We need to. . .what holds us back? Disbelief, shame, fear? Lord, my prayer is that today you remove all impurities and idols from me literally, and give me a heart of flesh. May your love invade my heart in a new way today. In Jesus name, Amen.

Language Lesson

This Sunday, April 20th, Todd was talking about Isaiah 53. As he was teaching I noticed a peculiarity. Every time Jesus suffering and death was discussed it was in the past tense. These prophecies were talking about a man who was to appear 300 years in the future, but his death and payment for sins were being discussed as though they already happened.
In addition, any positive connotation had a present tense. Verse 10: he will see his offspring and prolong his days. Verse 11: ..he will see the light of life...my righteous servant will justify.
I wonder why that is? Is it because God isn't bound by time? Did they write in that manner because an event that was to happen in the future, to their eyes, had already taken place in God's eyes? If that is so, then they too were offered the gift of salvation through grace. As hard as it is for us to grasp the concept of someone dying in our past to save us from sins we are now committing, how much harder would it be to say, 'There is someone coming in the future who has already paid for my current sins.'

Putting Flesh on Christ (aka- My circumstance is not unique)

Hebrews 10-18: In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering. Both the one who makes men holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them (us) brothers. He says, "I will declare your name to my brothers; in the presence of the congregation I will sing your praises."And again, "I will put my trust in him."And again he says, "Here am I, and the children God has given me."
Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham's descendants. For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. 18Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted."

First off, vs18 is one of my memory verses and really encapsulates the truth that Jesus really understands what I go through! It's faulty thinking to believe that culture and time have changed so much that Jesus can't relate. Clearly Jesus knows our nature and specifically helps us! Not only did God love us so much to give us eternal life, but he made his son suffer temptations (vs18) and be completely human in every way (16) so that Jesus would be able to minister to us perfectly as our High Priest! No longer can we think God can't SPECIFICALLY minister to us, because he was made human in everyway, he's been there, and more importantly he will provide the way out.

Mental confusion

I have found that if I sit down to do a little quite time and my mind is too cluttered or frantic to grasp onto the words I'm reading, I probably need to read a bit more. Today, for instance, I'm trying to read 1 John 2:24-25. The verses themselves just flow over me like water, not taking hold and no understanding being presented. See, it's even hard to express how nothing is taking hold.
So I do when I don't grasp the verses I'm reading, I read the surrounding verses. A little context might shed enlightenment. But still no knowledge.
More time and prayer is all I can do. Hopefully God will calm my mind and share with me the truth He has for me to learn.