I cannot say it better than Charles Spurgeon. Here is some of his discussion on these two important verses, Psalm 123:1-2:
“We ought to be thankful for spiritual eyes. The spiritually blind of this world cannot see our God, for in heavenly matters, they are without sight. Yet, we must use our eyes with resolution, for they will not look up to the Lord by themselves. They are inclined to look down, or inward, or anywhere but to the Lord. Let it be our firm resolve that our heavenward glance will not be lacking.
…Servants stand at the end of the room, their hands folded, watching their master…the domestic fixes his eyes on the master, or he might miss a signal and fail to obey. In the same way, sanctified saints lift their eyes to God, endeavoring to learn the divine will from the Lord’s every sign. Creation, providence, and grace are motions of Jehovah’s hand. We should study them carefully to discover the divine will.
…True saints, like obedient servants, look to the Lord their God with reverence. They have a holy awe and inward fear of the great and glorious One.
…Perhaps it is profitable to ask this question, “Are you trained to serve?” Though we are children, have we learned the full obedience of servants? Have we surrendered our will to the heavenly Majesty? Do we desire to be at the Lord’s disposal?
…Waiting on a covenant God is sweet because He will show mercy…waiting on the Lord is a posture suitable for earth and heaven. It is, in every place, the right and proper position for the servant of the Lord.”
I pray that this simple little Scripture song will help you to memorize and live out these important verses. Chords are included below for those who’d like to join instrumentally in worship.
“The Man After God’s Own Heart” was ecstatic. A promise made to him so very long ago, when he was just a shepherd boy, had finally been fulfilled. It had taken years to see the fulfillment of that promise, and those years had been hard. The Giant Slayer had received accolades, yes, but he had also been hunted like a dog, forced to find refuge in the wilderness. And in the end, he had lost his best friend–the man who was closer than a brother, a loss that would pain him for his whole life. But the love-relationship formed between the Shepherd Boy in the wilderness, and his All-Loving God was unbreakable, and now, the boy was the King.
David was wise beyond his years and knew that the God of Israel must be the center of his kingdom. The people must learn to honor, worship and praise Elohim, and David wanted to be sure that his reign as the King of these great people was one focused correctly, on God. His heart was right before Yehovah as he ordered the Ark of the Covenant returned to Jerusalem, that it might have it’s rightful place in the heart of the city of David.
The people were assembled, the ark was loaded on the cart, and the parade of celebration began. But who could guess that an ox would stumble? Who could know that a man would reach out to protect and steady the Ark? And who could have prepared for that horrifying moment when the man would be struck dead for that simple spontaneous reaction?
The joyous festivities were instantly transformed into a moment of shock, disbelief and terror. The procession was halted. The dead man was gathered into the arms of his people. The Ark was temporarily sheltered in the house of Obed-Edom, and the King returned to Jerusalem, devastated, angry, afraid and confused. How could he ever rule as King of Israel when his actions had caused a man his life? Everything he had done, he had done to honor God. How had things gone so terribly wrong?
We don’t know exactly what happened next, but I believe that someone wiser than David pointed him to Deuteronomy 17: 18-19, a passage written especially to the King: “When he takes the throne of his kingdom, he is to write for himself on a scroll a copy of this law, taken from that of the priests, who are Levites. It is to be with him, and he is to read it all the days of his life so that he may learn to revere the Lord his God and follow carefully all the words of this law and these decrees…” I believe that David did exactly that. He wrote for himself a scroll–a copy of God’s law, and in doing so began a love affair with God’s Word that would later be memorialized in the musical masterpiece that we know as Psalm 119. [We do not know who authored Psalm 119, but I believe it speaks David’s heart] For David discovered that, even though his heart was in the right place, he had broken God’s law. He had placed the Ark of God on an ox-cart, as he had seen the Philistines do (1 Samuel 6:7-8), when God had clearly stated in His Word, that it was to be carried only on the shoulders of the Levites (Exodus 37:5, Numbers 4:15). David had tried to honor God “man’s way” instead of “God’s way,” and the repercussions of that decision were deadly. But now, David could rejoice again, for the scroll written in his own hand would guide him, would teach him God’s ways and he would not make such a costly mistake again. It is no wonder that David loved the Torah so much, for it was a lamp to his feet, showing him how to walk in holiness before his beloved God. David was finally able to bring the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem because his prayers to God had been answered. God taught David through His Word, the way to walk in righteousness. David declares to his people: “No one but the Levites may carry the ark of God, because the Lord chose them to carry the ark of the Lord and to minister before him forever.” He told them also, “It was because you, the Levites, did not bring it up the first time that the Lord our God broke out in anger against us. We did not inquire of him about how to do it in the prescribed way.” (1 Chronicles 15: 2, 13) The prescribed way…
When I first read this story, my heart broke for David. He truly was trying to do the right thing, and even Uzzah’s actions seemed to be meant for protection of the Ark. But the actions which seemed right in man’s eyes, were deemed irreverent in God’s eyes. There is a “prescribed way,” prerecorded for us in the Scriptures, a way that is higher than our own ideas, thoughts and ways. In Isaiah 55:8-9 we are told: ” ‘For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,’ declares the Lord. ‘As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.’ ” This is a key verse that tells us we must constantly consider whether or not our actions are following God’s ways or man’s ways. To help you memorize it and hide it in your heart, I’ve set the Scripture to a melody found in the video at the beginning of this article. Read it, sing it, commit it to memory.
Since studying this moment in David’s life, I have found myself in the same place as the Shepherd King, forced to examine my actions in the light of this verse. Like David, I was frightened, for I realized for the first time, that even though my heart might be in the right place, my actions might be an offense to the very One I was trying to honor and bless. Like David, I dived into Scripture, searching for answers. And so began my journey of praying for discernment to understand and be obedient to God’s ways, rather than following blindly in man’s ways, no matter how long I had walked in those traditions, and how “right” they seemed because of their familiarity. I began to question why I was doing what I was doing in my Christian walk, in every detail, including my prayer life, how I worship Him, how I serve Him, how I “do” church, even how I eat and drink. Was I walking in a way that merely imitated what I saw the people around me doing (as David had done when he placed the Ark on the cart)? Or was I walking in a way that was clearly outlined in God’s own Word–His written declaration of how we are to live our lives in a way that is pleasing to Him?
Throughout Psalm 119 the reader is admonished again and again to walk in God’s ways, and it is imperative that we try to examine what that really means in our Christian culture today. For example, the 8th verse of the Psalm declares: “I will obey your decrees….” The Hebrew word used in this verse (and frequently in Psalm 119) translated as “obey,” is “shamar.” The root of this word means to exercise great and diligent care over, and to “watch,” “guard,” and “keep.” One Hebrew lexicon states that “The observance of God’s laws was not to be a matter of theory only,” but something “kept in the heart.” We are commanded to exercise great and diligent care over His prescribed ways—all that is written in His Holy Word. We are not to take them lightly, for it is clear that God doesn’t. Jeremiah declared that one day there would be a new covenant, one in which the Lord declares, “I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts.” (Jeremiah 31:30-34). With this new covenant comes the forgiveness of sins through the blood of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Now, through the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit, His law is in our minds and in our hearts, and He teaches us and enables us to walk in His ways.
So that is the question we must consider on our journey through life: are we quenching the power of the Holy Spirit by ignoring in disobedience God’s inner prompting to walk in His ways? Are we thinking our hearts are right, and yet continue to offend Him as we daily walk in man’s ways? Or are we daily, moment-by-moment, submitting our flesh and our will to the leadings of the Holy Spirit? Are we blessing our God through our obedience? The choice is ours…will we walk in man’s ways? Or God’s ways?
Every October we are blessed with kaleidoscope skies–the International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta. Rainbow colored tear drops rise from the earth and dot the heavenlies along with an assortment of cartoon silly shapes that bring smiles to every fiesta go-er. Mesmerized by the beauty above us, we sometimes forget what a risky sport it is. There is no way to “steer” a hot air balloon. The pilot can heat the air in the balloon causing it to rise, or release some air, causing it to sink. Other than that, the movement is completely dependent on the wind currents swirling above the earth. An experienced pilot observes the effects of this invisible power and can do his best to “catch” a current, but ultimately he or she is still vulnerable to the whims of wind and submits in complete surrender to whatever direction the basket will be carried upon it.
Several years ago, I felt compelled to open “The Golden Key,” (my ebook on prayer found here) with a description of the wind, for I knew that both the Hebrew and the Greek words for Holy Spirit are related to this phenomena. John 3:8 says, “The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”
In this verse, the Greek word used for “wind” at the beginning is the same word used for “Spirit” at the end…”pneuma.”
Like a roller coaster ride on the wind, our lives are meant to reflect the exhilarating experience of a Holy Spirit led existence. Like the fragile kite, we can soar to the heights when we release control over to Him. It is frightening to surrender our control completely to an Existence that is by His very nature completely unpredictable, yet there is the promise of an indescribable adventure.
The Golden Key opens with an illustration of the wind because His wind-like presence blows through every page of the story.
The Truth expressed in John 3:8 has blown through every page of my own story, as well. I added a melody to this important Scripture so that I might memorize it, hide it in my heart, and walk it out in my life. I’ve included a video of this Scripture-song below, as you may choose to take this particular Scripture to heart, too, and maybe this little musical version will be of help to you.
For those who might like to play and sing this song during your own time of worship, I’ve included the words and chords below:
Charles Spurgeon tells us that like the wind, the movement of the Holy Spirit is unexpected, it is inexplicable, it is mysterious and wonderful. Spurgeon explains that the Holy Spirit is absolutely free in His operations, but He is not arbitrary–His will is Infallible Wisdom. And he encourages us thusly: ” If you have received the Holy Spirit into your heart, you cannot tell where He will carry you…Commit yourselves to it—be not disobedient to the heavenly vision. Be ready to be borne along as the Spirit of God shall help you, even as the dust in the summer’s breeze. And O child of God, you do not know to what heights of holiness and degrees of knowledge and ecstasies of enjoyment the Spirit of God will bear you.”
Here is what Walter Brueggemann has to say about the Holy Spirit Wind:
“We hear the story of the wind at Pentecost,
Holy wind that dismantles what was,
Holy wind that evokes what is to be,
Holy wind that overrides barriers and causes communication,
Holy wind that signals your rule even among us.
We are dazzled, but then – reverting to type –
We wonder how to harness the wind,
how to manage the wind by our technology,
how to turn the wind to our usefulness,
how to make ourselves managers of the wind
Partly we do not believe such an odd tale
because we are not religious freaks;
Partly we resist such a story,
because it surges beyond our categories;
Partly we had imagined you to be more ordered
and reliable than that.
So we listen, depart, and return to our ordered existence:
we depart with only a little curiosity
But not yielding;
we return to how it was before,
unconvinced but wistful, slightly praying for wind,
craving for newness,
wishing to have it all available to us.
We pray toward the wind and wait, unconvinced but wistful.”
May we somehow find it within ourselves to yield to the Holy Wind, and go beyond wistfulness. May our praying and craving be satisfied. May we all have the courage, like the pilot of the hot air balloon, to release our lives to the power of the Holy Spirit wind, in complete surrender, allowing Him to bear us on the breeze of His wisdom where ever He pleases.
Welcome to the second series of articles in my F.A.I.T.H journey. This series will focus on appealing to God. I want you to know that I was thoughtful in my choice of this word over the word prayer to describe this part of my own faith journey. Appealing to God does involve prayer but it also encompasses so much more. When you look at the definition from Miriam-Webster’s dictionary you see that appealing means to seek guidance in three distinct areas: help for the needs of your life, corroboration that you are moving on the right path, and decision making. I believe, as with everything else in my life, that God led me to use this particular word because of the layers of meaning that it carries.
Through prayer we cry out to God for aid or assistance. God expects us to turn to Him in our hours of need. He wants to lift us up through difficult times. He never promises to take away those burdens from our life but He does promise to help us carry them. As we become closer and closer to God we begin to turn to Him for all our needs, big and small. I tell the story in my book about my first car, a Ford Pinto that toward the end of its life behaved a bit erratically. On one particular night it decided to break down on a lonely stretch of backcountry road. A friend and I were in the car returning from a youth ministry that emphasized the power of prayer. “What the heck…” we both thought maybe if we pray God will get this car moving. We laid hands on the dashboard and prayed. To our delight the car began to move. It would travel forward a little bit and die again and we would repeat the process. Eventually the car died completely but just about that time a neighbor and friend drove up and offered us a ride. I’ll never forget that experience because it taught me that no matter how small the issue God hears all our prayers and answers them if we trust Him.
As you rely more and more on God, your relationship with Him changes. Your eyes are opened to His teachings in a new way. Appealing to God offers corroboration of how God wants you to live your life and of the plan He has for you. He will supply examples for how to conduct yourself through both his word and through the people that he brings into your life. If you are seeking God, focus on Him you will find confirmation of his will in your life through these examples. The closer we become to God the more in tune to His will we become but we need to constantly seek the corroboration through prayer that we walk God’s path and not our own.
Through God’s help and corroboration our spirit is built up. Decisions that once might have overwhelmed us are now made in partnership with the Holy Spirit. As we learn to appeal to God daily and he unfolds examples of faith for us we will begin to have the ability to make better, faith-driven decisions. Appealing to God like focusing on God is about building that personal relationship with Him. We cannot begin to imagine the hidden potential of our lives or to transform ourselves if we don’t first have that personal, intimate relationship with Him.
Through the work that I do with teachers I recently attended a workshop on becoming a better facilitator of collaborative groups. In this training the attendees were shown the difference between dialogue and discussion. Dialogue is talking to gain common understanding while discussion is talking to come to a decision about something. So my prayer for you as you read through this series of articles is that you come to have rich dialogue with God in your life that leads you to a deeper understanding of the truths of your faith. That you bring all aspects of your life to God for dialogue and that when a major decision is needed in your life you will have built your relationship to such a point that shifting from dialogue to discussion will be smooth and seamless. That you will appeal with not just your mouth but with your ears as well. Hear what God has to say to you and accept where he leads you. I also pray these rich conversations with God transform your life as they transformed mine.
Have you ever lost your car keys, glasses, or something else you use on a regular basis? Where did you find it? Was it lost in the clutter of a counter or nightstand or was it lost to the clutter of the demands of your life? Sometimes we get lost in physical clutter and sometimes we get lost in mental clutter. Our lives often end up full of clutter that obscures every surface it touches. We begin to lose sight of what is important because the clutter presses in. God knew that our lies could become like this, which is why He wants us to focus on Him. If we are focused on Him the clutter falls away. The best way to focus on God is to develop a personal relationship with Him through prayer. God not only expects us to have a healthy prayer life, He demands it.
Read 1Thessalonians 1:2-3. God is often described in scripture as He is described in Malachi, as our “one father.” Think about the relationship you have with your parents or with your children. What are the qualities that make up a good parent? Consistency, compassion, boundaries, patience are just a few of the traits that good parents possess. Parents must set and maintain boundaries consistently so that children learn that there are limits to what they can do and rules that order their lives. This helps to guide them into adulthood with morals and values that reflect those of their parents. Parents must also be patient and compassionate when their children make mistakes, go through awkward periods, and rebel against the very rules they need in their lives. Given that description of parenthood, does God fit the image of a good parent? I would say yes, He does. In addition, I would add yet another trait to the list of what makes a good parent and that would be the ability to draw close to your child, by listening to all their trials and joys. This is the relationship that God wants us to have with Him. He wants us to feel comfortable enough and to trust Him enough to share all our joys and trials with Him as if He were sitting in the armchair of our family room.
In both the verses of the Deuteronomy 4:7 and Psalm 34:18, the word “nigh” is used to describe the relationship that God has with the people. He is near to them. God is not some distant deity, sitting on a cloud looking down at us and passing judgment on our lives. He is the living, breathing force that ripples through our universe shaping it and giving it purpose and design. And He still has time to draw near to each of us as individuals. He wants us to open up our hearts and draw near to him as well. These verses assure us that no nation will be as great as the one that draws close to God and appeals to Him in all decisions big and small. No one needs hold onto a broken heart if they draw close to God and appeal to Him to mend them and take away their pain.
In Acts 2:21, Psalm 119:2, and Jeremiah 29:13 God promises that if we call out to Him, appeal to Him with our whole heart He will hear us and save us. It is so much easier to bear your heart to a dear friend than it is to a total stranger. I call my friends frequently to chat. I can tell them anything. But for those people who I have lost touch with over the years I think that it would be difficult to share the difficulties my life has encountered. This is true of God as well. If we appeal to Him daily we feel comfortable telling Him everything because there is nothing hidden from his sight. But if we only fall upon our knees once a week, or once a month or only when things are at the worst, it might feel as if there is a great distance between us.
There should be no distance between you and God. Appeal to Him daily. Let the embrace of the Holy Spirit wrap loving arms around you and keep you safe. Draw close to God so that you can begin living a life blessed. To end this first installment I hope that you will watch this video called The Prayer. Enjoy and God Bless.
If you are interested in reading more of the message contained in Five Weeks Into F.A.I.T.H please download the book at Smashwords and keep following my blog each month as I discuss my journey into faith.
If you follow my blog then you know that I often include blogs on being a Christian Athlete. I began these articles as letters to my own children to inspire and uplift them when they were competing. It isn’t always easy to walk the Christian path especially when you are young and when there are so many conflicting messages being sent by your teammates and the world of professional sports.
I’ve often written about how poorly those our children look to as role models in the sporting world rise to this challenge. But today I want to tell you about a story where everyone got it all right! My kids came running in to me the other night grabbing my arms and dragging me out to the family room to watch a news show they had heard about. I stood transfixed as Steve Hartman’s On The Road segment for CBS Nightly News was broadcast.
The story went like this: A young man who was developmentally challenged was the manager on a basketball team. His coach knew how important the sport was to him so in the last game he had the young man suit up. Then, to the young man’s surprise, he played him. The coach said it didn’t matter if the team was up or down he would play because it was the right thing to do. Unfortunately, the young man did not make a basket even though he was given several chances and lots of encouragement by his teammates. But then a senior, from the other team took the ball out of bounds to throw it in and instead of throwing it to his team mates he called the young man’s name and threw the ball directly to him, giving him one last chance to make a basket. He did. And the crowd went wild!
We’ve all heard that Golden Rule: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” Luke 6:31. Well, here it was spontaneous and beautifully walked out! I had tears in my eyes as I watched Senior, Jonathon Montanez, throw that ball inbounds. He didn’t have to do it, really why would he, after all he played for the other team? He had no real connection to that other student. But I was so touched when he said he had been brought up to treat others like you would want to be treated. In that moment when he could have thrown that ball to one of his teammates he made a different choice. He thought about what it would feel like if that was him trying so hard to make the basket and not being able to see it through. He wanted to give that young man his chance at glory. No other connection needed except the human connection. That is what being a Christian Athlete is all about, making a different choice, making a human connection, living with compassion and understanding and wisdom.
My kids saw and told me you have to write about that. You’ve been telling people these things, mom, and this is exactly what you have been saying. They saw it. Jonathan Montanez just rose to superstar status in my estimation because he inspired everyone in that El Paso, Texas gym, and then he inspired me and my children to be more, to do more and walk out your beliefs no matter what the circumstances. Well Done!
I was born and raised in the dry deserts of the southwest. In the summertime we have a very short season we call the “monsoons,” when a rare rainstorm might suddenly be upon us. When it does happen, we all stop what ever we are doing. We sit quietly on the porch or stand in the garage with the door open and marvel at the wonderful, precious liquid! As long as it lasts, we sit in our chairs and watch the rain. We can’t take our eyes off of it because it is so rare, and therefore, it is valued highly. We pray for it and we are grateful when our prayers are answered.
I remember how as a child, I would run out with arms outstretched and face turned to the sky to fully enjoy the experience of cold, fresh raindrops!
When I visited Ireland for the first time I told them about this practice and their reply was, “Oh my! If we stopped our work every time it rained we’d never get anything done!” In the desert, however, we know what it means to have parched throats and to crave cool, clear water.
Psalm 143:6 reminds us in the same way of our thirst for God: ” I spread out my hands to you; my soul thirsts for you like a parched land.”
And Deuteronomy 32:2 tells us where to look for that which will quench our thirst: “Let my teaching fall like rain and my words descend like dew, like showers on new grass, like abundant rain on tender plants.”
Cool, clear, thirst quenching liquid. That is how Charles Spurgeon describes the word of God: ” Here is the well of purest Gospel undefiled—it springs up in this precious volume with freshness and sweetness unequalled. We who write upon it hand out that same sweet water to you in our own cups and goblets…Do not be content to drink from our small pots and our chalices, but come and put your lips right down to where the living water, with all the self-sufficient fullness of the deeps eternal, comes welling up from the very heart of God! This is the way to find the Word—to read it for yourselves, to read it from the Bible…Its speech still drops as the rain, fresh from Heaven! Its Truths are overflowing fountains of ever fresh consolation.”
God’s Word quenches the thirst of your soul.
And Spurgeon further explains that the flowing water of the Word is “safe enough for a babe to wade in and deep enough for leviathan to swim in.”
You may be a brand new baby Believer in Jesus but you can safely step in to the quiet stream. At the same time, an aging Believer at the end of a very long journey with Jesus will find deep, life-transforming revelations to explore.
And may we be reminded that Jesus, Himself, is the living water: “If anyone is thirsty let him come to me and drink…” (John 7:37). And ultimately, the Word promises that “the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water.” (Rev 7:17) May we look, then, to The Word and the Word Made Flesh for sweet, refreshing relief to our parched souls.
The time has come to bring this series of articles to a close, so this will be my last blog on Focus. Over the past few months we have looked at how hiding away from God and trying to cover up the darkest parts of ourselves shifts our focus from God onto ourselves. We can also loose focus when we see the world from a worldly perspective instead of a heavenly one, and when we forget to forgive ourselves and others for the transgressions we commit. There are many things in our busy world that pull us and demand our attention. Things that keep us so occupied that we fail to focus on that which should be first and foremost in our lives, God! But scripture gives us guidance on how to regain our focus and put our lives back in balance.
Consider these three simple things:
*Reading Scripture regularly
*Seek out and fellowship with other believers
*Lift up all of those who touch your life
Isaiah 34:16 reminds us to, “Seek ye out of the book of the Lord, and READ…” We are to look to the scriptures for guidance, comfort, and wisdom. There is nothing that I’ve written that God has not revealed to me first through scripture and then through experience. Focusing on the word of God builds your foundation of faith. It helps you to see and understand that our lives have a plan and that when we commit to the plan we find ourselves less at odds and more content. Seek God through scripture and use your daily devotional time to build up your spirit and nurture your spiritual gifts. Like a father he wants to draw close to you and share his wisdom. Allow him that opportunity by spending time with Him in the Word.
But reading scripture isn’t enough. You must also talk about what you are learning with others. As a teacher I spent many years thinking that the profession was one of isolation and solitude. But when I came out of my classroom and engaged in collaboration with my colleagues I found that my practice was profoundly changed. The same is true of the Christian spirit. What we learn on our own is only the first step. To truly understand and celebrate the blessings of our faith journey it needs to be shared with others. Through this sharing, or fellowship we refine our beliefs and understandings about God and his work. We celebrate the blessings He has showed on us. But even more important we build one another up in the body. We nurture each other, catch one another when we falter and experience the joy of miracles in each other’s lives. The body of Christ was meant to be just that, a body. Acts 2:42 reminds us to continue “…steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.” So gather with fellow believers, share a meal and spend time in with one another and your Lord.
Finally, you should lift up the people around you in prayer. Remember that the emphasis of this series of articles has been to move you away from things that distract you from God. There is nothing more distracting than those around you who do not share your faith. They chip away at your beliefs little by little with their petty gossip, annoying behaviors, and worldly pursuits. But what if instead of cutting them out of your life you refocused your negative energy into positive prayers? It is easy to pray for those we love, the difficulties lie in praying for those we find most frustrating. Several years ago, when I began writing about my FAITH journey I really was convicted to put this into action. I had particularly difficult group of students that year. I decided that each day I would focus on one student and pray for them and their needs. This practice did not transform my students but it transformed me and my attitude toward my students. God was front and center in my classroom, in my public school classroom, and I was aware of His presence every moment of the day. My actions became gentler and more patient. I saw myself as His agent in my work and that helped me to become the teacher I was meant to be. I wasn’t focused on me and my needs and what the students were doing to me; I became focused on how God could use me to meet their needs. It was a simple shift of attitude but it made a world of difference. Since then I have continued to lift up both students and staff as well as others in my life that pull my focus away from God. Instead of feeling overwhelmed and frustrated I feel comforted and renewed because I don’t have to face everything alone. “but exhort one another daily, while it is called today; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast until the end…” Hebrews 3:13-14
There you have it. Staying focused is our first step in building our F.A.I.T.H. When we are focused on God we cannot wallow in self-pity, self-hate, or fear. God is the light of the world illuminating all the dark recesses where self-recrimination can live. To focus on Him is to commit to a life of moving ever forward toward an eternal plan that is perfect in its design. Our focus will allow us to step into our place within that plan and to fulfill that calling that God has planted deep in our hearts. Are you ready to devote your focus to Him? Enjoy the music of Chris Tomlin as you think about it.
While Part 5 of Focus ends the discussion of how focus on God can transform your life I hope that you will continue to read my blog as I begin a new series of articles on Appealing to God. This new series will look at how prayer transforms and heals us. If you are interested in reading more of the message contained in Five Weeks Into F.A.I.T.H please download the book at Smashwords and keep following my blog each month as I discuss my journey into faith.
I’m sure that we are all familiar with this verse, “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way that you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Matthew 7:1-2 This is both a prudent warning and a provocative idea. It might seem to some that in searching out the sin in our world and in our own lives in order to live a life free from such things that judging is just a part of the game. “Of course I’m judging after all how can I presume to identify flaws of character unless I examine them and then render them either sin or not sin.” One might say. Isn’t that judging? Why then should The Bible caution us against judging?
Let me begin by saying that this whole series has been about focusing more closely on God in order that you might live a more fulfilling and emotionally confident life. Confidence is not something that comes from you although we are often tricked into believing that it is. Confidence comes to us when we are filled with God’s grace. We are not confident in ourselves but rather in God and his ability to lift us up and out of whatever mess, emotional entanglement, or sin we find ourselves in. That is FAITH my friend, faith in God not in self. So what does judging have to do with drawing closer to God and finding the sort of confidence I’m speaking of? Take a look at this movie clip or you can read the story at John 8:1-11.
There are two things that I want to point out about this story, first the scribes in their self-righteousness have brought this woman forth and condemned her to be stoned to death. But they want to trap Jesus as well and so they look to him for support in carrying out this sentence. Ironically, Jesus tells them that the person who is without sin should be the first to cast a stone. Suddenly, the men are left standing around looking from one to the other. No one could throw a stone. Each man turned and slipped away. Sometimes we are so full of righteous indignation that we can’t see clearly. We cry out for justice quickly and firmly sure that we know what would be fair and reasonable punishment. But how can we be so sure? Jesus took this situation to teach a valuable lesson about judgment. He pointed out the ugly truth, we are all guilty of something and we have to offer up forgiveness if we are to receive forgiveness. When we are called to focus on God we have to look at how his son lived on earth. To be Christian is to follow in those footsteps. It wasn’t that Jesus was blind to the woman’s sin, he saw it clearly, but he also saw that the others who would be her accusers were covered in sin as well. Matthew doesn’t tell us not to judge it tells us to be careful about the measure we use to render judgment because that measurement will be used to judge us as well. When the men took an honest look at themselves they found that they were not so righteous as they had assumed. Tarnished themselves, they could not deliver punishment and so they walked away.
The woman, however, remained and that brings me to the second point of the story. This woman had been brought through the streets and accused in front of many witnesses. She was humiliated, beaten down. I’m sure her self-esteem was as low as it could get. I imagine she stood weeping, face lowered, unable to look up, her sin heavy upon her. But when Jesus approached her he did not chastise or condemn, he asked her where her accusers were? When she looked around there was no one there. God isn’t waiting to beat us down, kick us when we are at our weakest. He lovingly opens his arms to us and welcomes us home. To be truly focused on God we have to let go of the things that pull our focus away including our own self-recrimination. When we look at ourselves honestly it is easy to fall into a well of shame. But that really isn’t where God wants us. He wants us focused on Him and His forgiveness. Grace promises us a clean slate; we just have to embrace it. Our work in our Christian walk should be like the adulterous woman, we need to face our sinfulness truthfully and then faithfully remain with Jesus, walking forward away from our sin and into God’s embrace. God has only one desire for us, NEW LIFE.
You are a new creature in God. It doesn’t matter what you’ve done in the past. It only matters what you choose to do as you move forward. Consider these words from Isaiah 43:16-21 as you shift your focus to what really matters in your walk with God, “Forget the former things, do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing!”
If you would like to read more about this topic may I suggest you take a look at Provocative Christian Living andIf you are interested in reading more of the message contained in Five Weeks Into F.A.I.T.H please download the book at Smashwords and keep following Lori’s blog each month as she discusses her journey into faith
Through the years, I have studied many passages of the Bible, but these studies have invariably led me back to Genesis 1 and its narration of the Creation. On a recent trip, I rediscovered a long lost interest in photography, and it became natural to merge the two into a form that perhaps can provide the viewer a new appreciation for this most fascinating chapter.
This is an eight part series, covering the introductory verses, followed by the daily events of forming and filling. Each of the photos are my originals. They are here simply to enhance the amazing descriptions contained in Genesis in a way you might not have discovered before. Enjoy God’s blessings!!!
Part 4:
Then God said, “Let the waters below the heavens be gathered into one place, and let the dry land appear”; and it was so. God called the dry land earth, and the gathering of the waters He called seas; and God saw that it was good.
Then God said, “Let the earth sprout vegetation, plants yielding seed, and fruit trees on the earth bearing fruit after their kind with seed in them”; and it was so. The earth brought forth vegetation, plants yielding seed after their kind, and trees bearing fruit with seed in them, after their kind; and God saw that it was good.
There was evening and there was morning, a third day. (Genesis 1:9-13)
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Then God said, “Let the waters below the heavens be gathered into one place, and let the dry land appear”…
God is continuing the forming of the earth to make it habitable for man and beast. This is where topography, the shaping of the mountains and the valleys, deserts and jungles, volcanoes and plateaus, becomes so important. Previously, I had discussed the water cycle and its impact on climate. This water cycle actually works in conjunction with the topographical nuances of our lands to create hot and cold temperatures, precipitation, humidity, etc. for the various locations on earth. This is significant because it demonstrates God’s orderly preparation of the lands prior to the creation of man. But there are additional factors that also need to be present prior to the introduction of mankind, as we will see in the next passage of the chapter.
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Then God said, “Let the earth sprout vegetation, plants yielding seed, and fruit trees on the earth bearing fruit after their kind with seed in them”; and it was so.
God has already provided the elemental contents of the atmosphere (in the establishment of the “heavens”) conducive to life. What are these necessary elements? Certainly oxygen (normally 20.9% of the atmosphere) is vital for human and animal existence. Too little oxygen (at around 14%) can begin to cause physical and mental impairment, and too much oxygen (in excess of 23.5%) can propagate fires and increase excessive surface temperatures on the earth. But God has placed just the right amount of oxygen into the atmosphere to promote the breath of life. Greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, ozone, methane and others are also necessary to provide the balance within the atmosphere necessary to sustain life.
These had to be present prior to the earth sprouting its vegetation in the forms of trees, grass and plants. But then God goes further to create a balance of the plants absorbing carbon dioxide emissions and respirating this back into oxygen for humans and animals to breath and regenerate the earth’s atmospheric conditions. God has also provided many different and unique grains, fruits and edible plants fit for our consumption. Each of these plants has a unique purpose in God’s plan for this world. This is borne out in Jesus’ words about the lilies of the field:
“Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. “But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace,will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith! “Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ “For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. (Matthew 6:28-33)
What a marvelous order God has provided for us to exist. We should take confidence in that God will continue to provide that which we need, both physically and spiritually, if only we place our trust in Him!
This concludes Part 4 of the series. Next time, we will explore God’s work on the fourth day of creation, with the forming of the sun, moon and stars. Thank you for your continued interest. I would welcome any comments you might have.
Recently I was watching the results of an international tennis tournament. A changing of the guard was unfolding on the court as a young and brightly shining star did the unthinkable in her first appearance in the tournament; she unseated the champion, Serena Williams. As Serena struggled, fighting back pain, she faltered and the younger player took the advantage. In a fit of anger and frustration Serena threw her tennis racket, destroying it and earning a penalty.
In the days that followed the incident I talked about it with my family and colleagues. There were two different fields of thought that came up; one group felt this was terrible behavior and her penalty was not nearly enough and the other group felt that everyone needs to vent their anger and that it was better to abuse equipment than to take it out on another person. Hmmm, while I understood and even empathized with the train of thought of the second group my gut told me that God would not be pleased with such a display of anger. My gut feeling was definitely backed up by scripture.
As Christian athletes we are held to a high standard. James 3:1-12 warns that, “we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. For we all stumble in many ways.” When you reach a certain level of competition and you do well as an athlete people will be looking to you as an example. They will immolate your technique, your training routine, and your attitude. That is a heavy responsibility. So with all those eyes on you how should you behave? Ephesians 4:26-27 tells us, “Be angry and do not sin, and give no opportunity to the devil.”
You will become angry, that is human nature. We will be angry with ourselves for not playing our best, we will be angry with officials who make poor calls, we will become angry with our opponents when they out maneuver us. However how we respond to our anger will say so much about our character. Ephesians warns us to avoid sin. Allowing that anger to fester, to overwhelm or to gain voice is not desirable in the Christian athlete. Instead we need to give that anger over to God so he can calm our spirit and give us a fresh perspective. Why? Here are a couple of reasons to contemplate. First, “a man of quick temper acts foolishly…” (Proverbs 14:17) When we act in a moment of anger we do things that we end up regretting later. This is the enemy’s opportunity to come in and tear us down. We don’t want to give him such opportunities.
Another reason we should avoid allowing anger to grow is because “wrath is cruel, anger is overwhelming, but who can stand before jealousy.” (Proverbs 27:4) Where does anger come from? It is not something that builds you up spiritually, so its source can’t be spiritual. It springs from the deepest, and most unattractive of human emotions; hatred, lack of patience, and jealousy. While these emotions exist in the flesh they need to be given over to God for control because only with God’s help can we master these strong and overpowering emotions. That is why I always advise my children to begin their game with prayer, giving over every aspect of their game and their emotional state to God will help them act in a way that would please and honor God even in the face of adversity.
So when your gut tells you that something is wrong, listen. Seek out answers to why you feel that way in scripture. Pray then play. And always practice anger management in your sport and in your life. Let your goal in all you do be to grow in spirit and to honor God.
Seeds to Sow 