Another Chapter Closed (20080723)

Posted by Christopher on Jul 24th, 2008
2008
Jul 24

Over the course of the past 2 1/2 to 3 years I’ve come to notice a pattern to how God is working in my life with regard to how I’ve treated others in the past. I’ve been hurtful, envious, lashed out with a vengeful heart, as well as covetous in my previous “incarnation”. None of these things we’re truly evident for what they were in my life until I turned to God. Since turning however, God has made it quite clear of when and where I’ve royally messed up.

My experiences have shown that when you turn to God, you’re going to be hit with some realities about the true condition of your heart. You start to see the bigger picture of where your sins led you, and the consequences; how they negatively impact not only yourself and your relationship with God but with others as well. For me it’s been a slow and methodic process of recognizing areas that I’ve sinned in the past, recognition by way of God’s Holy Spirit speaking to the heart. At least in my walk with Christ, that’s the way He’s dealt it. Instead of revealing all of the major offenses/ wrongs I’ve committed at once, He’s sort of laid ‘em out over a 3 - 4 period; a merciful act I guess you could say. The recognition gen20-10cmmndmnts-20080724-001 itself however means nothing without resolve to act on what’s said about your heart.

About a month ago, I was laying around, not really having anything on my mind (we guys are good at this), when I remembered a past transgression committed from about 5 years ago. Once recalling the event I realized in my heart what needed to be done, an apology was in order; a plea for forgiveness from a wronged fellow human being.

On and off, more off than on; I spent the past few weeks trying to locate this person that I’d crossed. The first few early attempts ended with no leads as to where to locate the person, I had some general info, but nothing concrete. A few calls here and there netting nothing. Due partially to frustration I put the issue on the back burner… until this past week. God may not force Himself on an unbeliever, however I think His Holy Spirit knows how to persistently hammer away on a foot dragging believer. :)

Wednesday evening, about an hour prior to heading off to church, I was “motivated” again by the Holy Spirit to reconcile, so I did some digging around again and eventually got the right lead. Numbers were exchanged and within the hour was a call from the person that I needed to make things right with. As it turned out, my expectations of how this was gong to play out, were way off. No cussing and fussing, no accusations or malice, just a receptive ear on the other end that accepted my apologies. The manner in which the offended handled the situation was nothing short of graceful, something I hope to be able to reciprocate if on the receiving end of an offense. As I close, it occurs to me how the associated thoughts of my wrongs have now become more disassociated with who I am becoming.

Hebrews 9:14
14How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!

Grace and peace be with you.

Minimal musing for Mittwoch (20080722)

Posted by Christopher on Jul 23rd, 2008
2008
Jul 23

Luke 7:13
13When the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her and he said, "Don’t cry."

Nothing deep, nor too contemplative here right?  Just the creator of all, affected by the love for His creation in such a way to want to reach out to it and help.

This happened in a town called Nain, where Luke 7:11 reads; "11Soon afterward, Jesus went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went along with him.".  Read as  "a  town", not "the town"; makes it almost sound unimportant, doesn’t it?  Yet in this town of Nain Jesus Christ resurrects the son of this poor grieving woman (widow).  

Maybe it was "just" sympathy or maybe of being able to directly relate to the woman’s grief from the perspective of the Father.  Whatever the case may be, there was a connection that moved Christ to act on the woman’s behalf; "His heart went out to her".

Cue up John 3:16

Grace and peace be with you.

Providence & Parallels

Posted by Christopher on Jul 22nd, 2008
2008
Jul 22

CRBR005175In the shower, while not singing out loud, I was recalling Sunday’s service. It was an unusual one because there wasn’t a traditional message, instead our pastor opting to share with the congregation the experiences he and 6 other missionaries had almost 2 weeks earlier. What stood out from Sunday besides the different service, was a guest of one of the deacons.

The guest seemed a little apprehensive, maybe feeling a bit out of place not knowing many folks or the “routine”; a discomforting situation I think that many can relate to be it the first day on a new job, or in this case visiting a potentially new church home(optimism on my part for our guest). Throughout the opening part of praise and worship time memories of my own feelings of awkwardness from when I first started going back to church flipped through my mind. Memories of how much easier it would be to not return, to avoid that calling placed on my heart; not wanting I suppose to face God, knowing that to do so meant faults, deficiencies and truths about the condition of my heart being revealed. Having been through that initial struggle, I sympathized with our guest and during the meet and greet portion of the service, I felt compelled by the Holy Spirit to make sure that I introduced myself and greeted our guest (not touchy feely by default). To what end it served I don’t know, I hope to see our guest again this Sunday.

This afternoon I received a Facebook invite from a high school classmate. Three years ago,maybe even two, I’d without a parakaleo-got-fruit(?) doubt have deleted the invite without so much as a second glance. Today though was different, I didn’t feel as though I was reacting from a carnal need to be liked or wanted, but rather to accept someone’s attempt to reach out to me; someone saying “Hey, I care and was thinking about you and just wanted to let you know.”. Thanks “JH”.

E. Barrett wrote a piece today yesterday [more link love for R3 ;) ] that kind of parallels these same thoughts of mine. No… I don’t believe it’s that the “universe is conspiring” as presumed new ager Neal Walsch would have you believe, rather God just doing what He does. :)

Hebrews 3:13(NIV)
13But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.

Hebrews 3:13(KJV)
13But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.

Grace and peace be with you.

Hidden in plain view

Posted by Christopher on Jul 21st, 2008
2008
Jul 21

I’ve been reading Matthew for the past few days and a thought popped into the ‘ole noggin as I was into chapter 11, more like a follow-up thought to Bible on the brain.  Jesus is denouncing the cities in which most of His miracles had been performed in Matthew 20-24, telling the people that if the miracles performed amongst them had been performed in Sodom, it (Sodom) would still be standing. Jesus then addresses the weary:

Matthew 11:25-27
25At that time Jesus said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. 26Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure.
27"All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.

ear-20080721-001

Now the Pharisees were already bent out of shape and plotting in their hearts against Jesus, accusing him of being of the devil.  The "Hmmm, that’s interesting!" is from this snippet in Matthew 11:25: "because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children."  I think that Jesus (The Word) was referencing the Pharisees and Jews that rejected Him for who He claimed to be as an obvious, but I found it an interesting thought also that with the Bible (God’s Word), people can reject it’s truths which are often plainly seen.  I guess I should count myself blessed as not being "wise and learned".


The Lord makes it so easy for us all to receive Him though, if we’re willing to.  Not by proof or evidence, which the religious leaders of the time experienced, and by which people today demand,yet still reject Christ.  So in an ironic sort of way God uses something so simple, "a silly little book" to show Himself.

John 3:16
16"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

The unfortunate reality for so many:

Acts 28:26-27
26" ‘Go to this people and say,
   "You will be ever hearing but never understanding;
      you will be ever seeing but never perceiving."
27For this people’s heart has become calloused;
      they hardly hear with their ears,
      and they have closed their eyes.
   Otherwise they might see with their eyes,
      hear with their ears,
      understand with their hearts
   and turn, and I would heal them.’

eye-iris-20080721-002

Grace and peace be with you.

Sunday morning tidbits (20080720)

Posted by Christopher on Jul 20th, 2008
2008
Jul 20

Quote…

We can not make good news out of bad practice
`Edward R. Murrow

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Co-inky-dink? I think not…

Looking back over yesterday’s post I found it rather timely that the post preceding it and the post following (God Honors Those Who Honor Him - Blackaby Devotional) both dealt with friendships.

The Lucado devotional (Almighty - Not High & Mighty: Lucado Devotional) was read about a week earlier, with the intention of posting when “moved” to.

Man! Who directs this stuff?! ;)

coincidence-20080720-001

On the Tech side of things…

For anyone interested in adding Bible study software to their arsenal of learning you might want to check out E-SWORD. The software by default is loaded with the KJV and is free; other versions are also available via a download from the site. I haven’t done much with the application yet, but will try to follow up with a review once I get my feet wet; waiting to get the NIV version. Hat tip to Downloadsquad.

Brewing on the brain…

coffee-pot

  • Shooting the messenger
  • Jesus & Judas: Two different spirits

Around the blogosphere…

  • Saved from Mediocrity writes on God given gifts
  • Walk 2; one of Got-Fruit(?)’s regular groupies returns
  • Food for thought from R3

Grace and peace be with you.

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