I awoke this morning around 3am with little arms reached up to me.....accompanied by a sweet smile.....bed-head hair.....and big, sleep dusted green eyes. Four years old, but the size of a two year old who is way too small to climb up into a bed all by herself, I have no idea how long she stood beside my bed with her arms outstretched. But when I pulled her up into the bed, her feet and hands were as cold as four chunks of ice. Hope quickly cuddled up close and was soon sound asleep.
Hopey still isn't speaking, so she didn't make a single sound while she stood beside my side of the bed early this morning. Patiently, little miss stood very quiet until I noticed her presence. Thank goodness I awoke and spotted her. Because Hope doesn't communicate with words, I have no idea what caused her to awake and search me out.....was it a bad dream or a tummy ache? I'll never know.
Living with a four year old who wants to communicate but lacks the ability to let others in on her desires is a challenge. My heart breaks for Hope; I long to hear her voice. Although she is able to do some sign language, she isn't able to communicate her thoughts, feelings, and fears with signs.
As I prepare for the New Year, I am reminded of all I have to be grateful for.....more than I could possibly list. Today, given Hope's middle-of-the-night visit, I am reminded that communication is an incredible gift. I am thankful for the 400- 500 people who join me daily by reading my thoughts, struggles, and journey to the Father through this blog......I hope, together, we will draw even nearer to our Creator in 2010, challenging one another to go deeper than ever before.
In closing, be reminded we need to use the voices we have been given to speak boldly about our True Love, sharing His story with the world. May we give everything we have to give to the One who gave everything for us! Hug your family tight---another year is behind us. Another year closer to the return of our Lord!
"For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh......by your words you will be justified, and by your words, you will be condemned." Matthew 12: 34-37
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Blame Ondrea!!!
I have written some heavy posts lately, so this evening I had planned to keep it light and fun. However, a good friend, Ondrea Harrison, left a comment for me today on the blog post from Saturday, December 26th, and has asked me to respond. So, if you were hoping for light and fun, blame Ondrea! (Love you, sistah!)
First of all, I want to openly confess that I in no way claim to be an expert on spiritual matters. I do enjoy digging deep into scripture and into history, and I also love reading heavy duty authors like Arthur Pink, A.W. Tozer, C.S. Lewis, and Oswald Chambers. Each of these men lived incredible lives of humility that I cannot begin to comprehend. It is said that A.W. Tozer actually wrote one of his books prostrate on the floor to keep himself in submission to the authority of the Lord. Can you imagine???
That being said, I also want to say I am also not a "works" believer. I believe whole-heartedly that I am saved ONLY because Jesus died for me and rose again. I cannot earn my way to heaven any more than I can grow purple hair. It is an impossibility.
The blog post in question is about the necessity of our accepting Jesus as both Savior and Lord. A package deal. It is often preached that Jesus is Savior....no strings attached. My point was this is not scriptural; scripture, instead, teaches faith and works go hand in hand. We could sit around and banter back and forth with scripture for days, and we could single out many passages that would seem to indicate one can be saved by simple belief in God and the saving grace of Jesus. However, if the Word of God is taken as a whole, my argument is that the reader who has not been tainted by "religiosity" would read the Bible and come away with an entirely different message than: "Hey, say a prayer and you're in! " The Bible says demons believe in Jesus and "tremble".....they certainly aren't saved. So, there must be more than intellectual assent, right?
Case in point:
I have a friend who is a believer and married an unbeliever. She prayed for years that her husband would seek the Lord, but he resisted because of the hypocrisy in the lives of proclaiming "Christians". Finally, one day, he relented to his wife's urging and asked her to give him her Bible to read. This man sat down and read the Bible cover to cover. He had never gone to church to be taught what the Bible says; in fact, he had never had a theological discussion of any kind in his life. On the morning he finished reading the Bible through, he looked to his wife (over coffee) and said: "If this is what you truly believe, then we should be living our lives alot different. We should downsize our home and give more to the poor, we should help orphans and widows, and we should be loving the people who live around us alot more."
My friend, who had been going to church since her time in the womb, was astonished by his response. Astonished and incredibly convicted. Post Script: This man accepted the Lord and their lives did change.
Years ago, when Lydia was only five, I took her to the skating rink with her Kindergarten class.
I put on my skates and went on the floor with her. After a few times around the rink, she noticed there were many moms watching their children from the wall that encompassed the rink. I seemed to be the only mom actually skating (overprotective--ha!).
Delicately, so as to not hurt my feelings, Lydia asked: Mommy, why don't you go to the mommy wall with all of the other mommys?"
I had no idea what she was talking about, because I had been so entrenched with her. I was THRILLED to be spending such great time with her. She pointed to the wall, and I quickly got the message. Lydia wanted to be treated like the other children----she wanted to be a big girl. After making sure she was going to be alright, and being assured by her five or six times, I skated off to join the mommy wall.
Within minutes, the skating rink changed the music to something very loud and harsh, they turned off all the regular lights and turned on shooting laser lights. I knew Lydia would be afraid, so I immediately took off back onto the rink. When I found Lydia, she was standing in the center of the rink with her head down and her hands over her face screaming "Mommy". I put my arms around her and again took her around the rink with me.
When the lights were "normal" again, I let her go off by herself and took my place on the mommy wall with the other moms once again. However, I noticed this time Lydia routinely looked toward me to make sure I was in my spot at all times. Each time she glanced my way, I would smile and wave to her to give assurance.
I was everything to Lydia that evening at the Brentwood Skate Center. I was both Savior and Lord, if you will entertain the idea. I took her to the rink, I helped her with her skates, I showed her how to skate, and even left her when she wanted me to leave her alone. Then, when she found herself in need and turned to me, I saved her. Funny, but I was already on the way to the rink before she even called out to me or realized she needed me. Then, I stayed close by to look after her and reassure her the rest of the evening. When the evening came to a close, I gathered her up, took off her skates, rubbed her little feet, and took her home.
THIS is a picture of our relationship with our Lord. He brings us into the world and teaches us all about Himself. Stubborn control-freaks that we can often be, we shove Him aside and think our way is better than His. Crisis comes and we quickly see our need for a Savior. He sees ahead and comes to our rescue before the words "Help me" come forth from our lips. He wraps us in His arms and teaches us again.....and this time around, we learn that HIS WAYS are much better than ours. When we are ready to take on more responsibility with our lives, He gives us a bit of space. But this time, we keep our eyes on Him, bowing to His authority in our lives. Finally, we have come to a place where we realize our absolute need for Him......we need His Ways....He has been our Savior, but has become our Lord too!!! It was our decision to allow Him to be both Savior and Lord. Finally, when our time on earth is finished, He gathers us to Himself, removes our worn out bodies, rubs our souls tenderly and takes us home. Beautiful, isn't it?
"Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in His law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper." Psalm 1:1-3
First of all, I want to openly confess that I in no way claim to be an expert on spiritual matters. I do enjoy digging deep into scripture and into history, and I also love reading heavy duty authors like Arthur Pink, A.W. Tozer, C.S. Lewis, and Oswald Chambers. Each of these men lived incredible lives of humility that I cannot begin to comprehend. It is said that A.W. Tozer actually wrote one of his books prostrate on the floor to keep himself in submission to the authority of the Lord. Can you imagine???
That being said, I also want to say I am also not a "works" believer. I believe whole-heartedly that I am saved ONLY because Jesus died for me and rose again. I cannot earn my way to heaven any more than I can grow purple hair. It is an impossibility.
The blog post in question is about the necessity of our accepting Jesus as both Savior and Lord. A package deal. It is often preached that Jesus is Savior....no strings attached. My point was this is not scriptural; scripture, instead, teaches faith and works go hand in hand. We could sit around and banter back and forth with scripture for days, and we could single out many passages that would seem to indicate one can be saved by simple belief in God and the saving grace of Jesus. However, if the Word of God is taken as a whole, my argument is that the reader who has not been tainted by "religiosity" would read the Bible and come away with an entirely different message than: "Hey, say a prayer and you're in! " The Bible says demons believe in Jesus and "tremble".....they certainly aren't saved. So, there must be more than intellectual assent, right?
Case in point:
I have a friend who is a believer and married an unbeliever. She prayed for years that her husband would seek the Lord, but he resisted because of the hypocrisy in the lives of proclaiming "Christians". Finally, one day, he relented to his wife's urging and asked her to give him her Bible to read. This man sat down and read the Bible cover to cover. He had never gone to church to be taught what the Bible says; in fact, he had never had a theological discussion of any kind in his life. On the morning he finished reading the Bible through, he looked to his wife (over coffee) and said: "If this is what you truly believe, then we should be living our lives alot different. We should downsize our home and give more to the poor, we should help orphans and widows, and we should be loving the people who live around us alot more."
My friend, who had been going to church since her time in the womb, was astonished by his response. Astonished and incredibly convicted. Post Script: This man accepted the Lord and their lives did change.
Years ago, when Lydia was only five, I took her to the skating rink with her Kindergarten class.
I put on my skates and went on the floor with her. After a few times around the rink, she noticed there were many moms watching their children from the wall that encompassed the rink. I seemed to be the only mom actually skating (overprotective--ha!).
Delicately, so as to not hurt my feelings, Lydia asked: Mommy, why don't you go to the mommy wall with all of the other mommys?"
I had no idea what she was talking about, because I had been so entrenched with her. I was THRILLED to be spending such great time with her. She pointed to the wall, and I quickly got the message. Lydia wanted to be treated like the other children----she wanted to be a big girl. After making sure she was going to be alright, and being assured by her five or six times, I skated off to join the mommy wall.
Within minutes, the skating rink changed the music to something very loud and harsh, they turned off all the regular lights and turned on shooting laser lights. I knew Lydia would be afraid, so I immediately took off back onto the rink. When I found Lydia, she was standing in the center of the rink with her head down and her hands over her face screaming "Mommy". I put my arms around her and again took her around the rink with me.
When the lights were "normal" again, I let her go off by herself and took my place on the mommy wall with the other moms once again. However, I noticed this time Lydia routinely looked toward me to make sure I was in my spot at all times. Each time she glanced my way, I would smile and wave to her to give assurance.
I was everything to Lydia that evening at the Brentwood Skate Center. I was both Savior and Lord, if you will entertain the idea. I took her to the rink, I helped her with her skates, I showed her how to skate, and even left her when she wanted me to leave her alone. Then, when she found herself in need and turned to me, I saved her. Funny, but I was already on the way to the rink before she even called out to me or realized she needed me. Then, I stayed close by to look after her and reassure her the rest of the evening. When the evening came to a close, I gathered her up, took off her skates, rubbed her little feet, and took her home.
THIS is a picture of our relationship with our Lord. He brings us into the world and teaches us all about Himself. Stubborn control-freaks that we can often be, we shove Him aside and think our way is better than His. Crisis comes and we quickly see our need for a Savior. He sees ahead and comes to our rescue before the words "Help me" come forth from our lips. He wraps us in His arms and teaches us again.....and this time around, we learn that HIS WAYS are much better than ours. When we are ready to take on more responsibility with our lives, He gives us a bit of space. But this time, we keep our eyes on Him, bowing to His authority in our lives. Finally, we have come to a place where we realize our absolute need for Him......we need His Ways....He has been our Savior, but has become our Lord too!!! It was our decision to allow Him to be both Savior and Lord. Finally, when our time on earth is finished, He gathers us to Himself, removes our worn out bodies, rubs our souls tenderly and takes us home. Beautiful, isn't it?
"Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in His law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper." Psalm 1:1-3
Monday, December 28, 2009
God an Inference???
Warning: I am spending our "holiday" riding bikes with the kids, playing lots of Scrabble, and reading A.W. Tozer and Arthur Pink. So, if you aren't in the mood for something deep, you might as well click off the blog. It is impossible to read these two authors and not be pushed to dig deeper.
For instance, from Tozer:
"It was Canon Holmes, of India, who more than twenty-five years ago called attention to the inferential character of the average man's faith in God. To most people God is an inference, not a reality. He is a deduction from evidence which they consider adequate; but He remains personally unknown to the individual. "He must be," they say, "therefore we believe He is." Others do not go even so far as this; they know of Him only by hearsay. They have never bothered to think the matter out for themselves, but have heard about Him from others, and have put belief in Him into the back of their minds along with the various odds and ends that make up their total creed. To many others God is but an ideal, another name for goodness, or beauty, or truth; or He is law, or life, or the creative impulse back of the phenomena of existence."
"These notions about God are many and varied, but they who hold them have one thing in common: they do not know God in personal experience. The possibility of intimate acquaintance with Him has not entered their minds. While admitting His existence they do not think of Him as knowable in the sense that we know things or people."
"If we truly want to follow God we must seek to be other-worldly. But we must avoid the common fault of pushing the "other world" into the future. It is not future, but present. It parallels our familiar physical world, and the doors between the two worlds are open. "Ye are come," says writer to the Hebrews (and the tense is plainly present), "unto Mount Zion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to the innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, and to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel." All these things are contrasted with "the mount that might be touched" and the "sound of a trumpet and the voice of words" that might be heard. May we not safely conclude that, as the realities of Mount Sinai were apprehended by the senses, so the realities of Mount Zion are to be grasped by the soul? And this not by any trick of the imagination, but in downright actuality. The soul has eyes with which to see and ears with which to hear. Feeble they may be from long disuse, but by the life-giving touch of Christ alive now and capable of sharpest sight and most sensitive hearing."
"Obedience to the Word of Christ will bring an inward revelation of the Godhead (John 14:21-23). It will give acute perception enabling us to see God even as is promised to the pure in heart. A new God-consciousness will seize upon us and we shall begin to taste and hear and inwardly feel the God who is our life and our all. There will be seen the constant shining of the light that lighteth every man that cometh into the world. More and more, as our faculties grow sharper and more sure, God will become to us the great All, and His Presence the glory and wonder of our lives."
OK, I know that was a lot of quoting, but it is all too good to leave out. Tozer is right on, isn't he?
If, as believers, we can begin to realize we have the ability to reach out and seize a Kingdom life here and now.....then, what kind of life will we lead??? We can walk in power and might, because of Jesus' power and might within us. We can obey His Word, because His precious blood is flowing through us and has been poured out over us, enabling us to do amazing, wonderful things that go completely against our human (fallen) nature. We are a NEW CREATION! We are walking testimonies of the most beautiful sacrifice ever made.....Enemy can't touch that!
When friends come over for a few hours, they get a "taste" of our family. (Actually, they get the best taste of our family). However, last Spring, one of Caleb's friends spent 5 days with our family in Florida....Disney World. As a parent, can you think of a more stressful place to take 2 fourteen year old boys, 2 ten year old girls, and 2 babies with Down Syndrome??? Me either. But regardless, off we went.
Taylor, Caleb's friend, REALLY got to know our family during that 5 days. We threw more rules and regulations at him than he has probably had in his entire life. The last thing I was going to do was lose Taylor in Disney World. In addition, Taylor learned about taking care of babies. After a few days, he was asking me if it was time for a diaper change and gathering high chairs whenever we stopped to eat. It warmed my heart. Because Taylor gladly accepted our long list of "Disney World Rules", we were able to enjoy all of the activites Disney had to offer without worry. We were free to joke around, have fun discussion, and really get to know one another. In fact, Chappy and I began to lessen the rules because we realized we could trust Taylor----consequently, Caleb and Taylor earned more responsibility.
Doesn't God work the same way....on a much larger scale? He gives us lists of rules and regulations to protect us....because He doesn't want to "lose" us. When we seek to know Him and live within His boundaries, striving to please Him, we get to experience joy with Him, relationship with Him, and we get to know Him better. As a result, He gives us more responsibility too. In the process, through our desire to follow Him, He becomes more real to us......more relevant.....not merely an inference.
Oh, how He loves you and me. How He desires relationship with us and wants us to spend time "knowing" Him. Don't you desire the same? Me too!!! In 2010, let's promise not to be just 2-3 hour a week guests with God.....let's be the overnighters who REALLY get to know Him.
"I bessech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." Romans 12:1-2
For instance, from Tozer:
"It was Canon Holmes, of India, who more than twenty-five years ago called attention to the inferential character of the average man's faith in God. To most people God is an inference, not a reality. He is a deduction from evidence which they consider adequate; but He remains personally unknown to the individual. "He must be," they say, "therefore we believe He is." Others do not go even so far as this; they know of Him only by hearsay. They have never bothered to think the matter out for themselves, but have heard about Him from others, and have put belief in Him into the back of their minds along with the various odds and ends that make up their total creed. To many others God is but an ideal, another name for goodness, or beauty, or truth; or He is law, or life, or the creative impulse back of the phenomena of existence."
"These notions about God are many and varied, but they who hold them have one thing in common: they do not know God in personal experience. The possibility of intimate acquaintance with Him has not entered their minds. While admitting His existence they do not think of Him as knowable in the sense that we know things or people."
"If we truly want to follow God we must seek to be other-worldly. But we must avoid the common fault of pushing the "other world" into the future. It is not future, but present. It parallels our familiar physical world, and the doors between the two worlds are open. "Ye are come," says writer to the Hebrews (and the tense is plainly present), "unto Mount Zion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to the innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, and to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel." All these things are contrasted with "the mount that might be touched" and the "sound of a trumpet and the voice of words" that might be heard. May we not safely conclude that, as the realities of Mount Sinai were apprehended by the senses, so the realities of Mount Zion are to be grasped by the soul? And this not by any trick of the imagination, but in downright actuality. The soul has eyes with which to see and ears with which to hear. Feeble they may be from long disuse, but by the life-giving touch of Christ alive now and capable of sharpest sight and most sensitive hearing."
"Obedience to the Word of Christ will bring an inward revelation of the Godhead (John 14:21-23). It will give acute perception enabling us to see God even as is promised to the pure in heart. A new God-consciousness will seize upon us and we shall begin to taste and hear and inwardly feel the God who is our life and our all. There will be seen the constant shining of the light that lighteth every man that cometh into the world. More and more, as our faculties grow sharper and more sure, God will become to us the great All, and His Presence the glory and wonder of our lives."
OK, I know that was a lot of quoting, but it is all too good to leave out. Tozer is right on, isn't he?
If, as believers, we can begin to realize we have the ability to reach out and seize a Kingdom life here and now.....then, what kind of life will we lead??? We can walk in power and might, because of Jesus' power and might within us. We can obey His Word, because His precious blood is flowing through us and has been poured out over us, enabling us to do amazing, wonderful things that go completely against our human (fallen) nature. We are a NEW CREATION! We are walking testimonies of the most beautiful sacrifice ever made.....Enemy can't touch that!
When friends come over for a few hours, they get a "taste" of our family. (Actually, they get the best taste of our family). However, last Spring, one of Caleb's friends spent 5 days with our family in Florida....Disney World. As a parent, can you think of a more stressful place to take 2 fourteen year old boys, 2 ten year old girls, and 2 babies with Down Syndrome??? Me either. But regardless, off we went.
Taylor, Caleb's friend, REALLY got to know our family during that 5 days. We threw more rules and regulations at him than he has probably had in his entire life. The last thing I was going to do was lose Taylor in Disney World. In addition, Taylor learned about taking care of babies. After a few days, he was asking me if it was time for a diaper change and gathering high chairs whenever we stopped to eat. It warmed my heart. Because Taylor gladly accepted our long list of "Disney World Rules", we were able to enjoy all of the activites Disney had to offer without worry. We were free to joke around, have fun discussion, and really get to know one another. In fact, Chappy and I began to lessen the rules because we realized we could trust Taylor----consequently, Caleb and Taylor earned more responsibility.
Doesn't God work the same way....on a much larger scale? He gives us lists of rules and regulations to protect us....because He doesn't want to "lose" us. When we seek to know Him and live within His boundaries, striving to please Him, we get to experience joy with Him, relationship with Him, and we get to know Him better. As a result, He gives us more responsibility too. In the process, through our desire to follow Him, He becomes more real to us......more relevant.....not merely an inference.
Oh, how He loves you and me. How He desires relationship with us and wants us to spend time "knowing" Him. Don't you desire the same? Me too!!! In 2010, let's promise not to be just 2-3 hour a week guests with God.....let's be the overnighters who REALLY get to know Him.
"I bessech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." Romans 12:1-2
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Darya (to be called Amy Joy) Update!
On Christmas morning, we received a HUGE surprise. The Beasley Family (www.blessingsfromabroad.blogspot.com) have been in Eastern Europe working on the adoption of their three new additions who happen to share an orphange with Darya. They sent a 16 second video of our new baby girl, and I have spent the last couple of days unsuccessfully trying to figure out how to download the video onto our blog. So sorry.
As you know, our red-headed munchkin' Charlie is the same age as Darya, so our family has an excellent basis of comparison. From the video, it seems the little overcomer is right up to speed with Charlie. The video shows her in a swing (but she could reach the floor with her feet). She was bearing weight on her legs and even pushing herself back and forth. In addition, she was holding her neck and back up very straight, and turning in response to noises. At one point, Darya leaned over from her waist to look to the side and then raised herself up nicely without much effort.
In addition, the Beasley family emailed to say when they left the orphanage, they waved and said "goodbye" to Darya. Can you believe she waved back and actually vocalized "Bye"??? Charlie can't even do that yet. I am amazed.
So, I hope you will rejoice with us on the great news. In speaking with Charlie's therapist a couple of weeks ago, we discussed that Darya would probaby have many hurdles to overcome from having been institutionalized in an orphanage for the last year and a half without much attention. However, it seems God has been acting in the role as her therapist and has been working with her behind the scenes. Love it!!! No wonder she has progressed so well!!!
"But my God shall supply all your needs according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus."
Philippians 4:19
As you know, our red-headed munchkin' Charlie is the same age as Darya, so our family has an excellent basis of comparison. From the video, it seems the little overcomer is right up to speed with Charlie. The video shows her in a swing (but she could reach the floor with her feet). She was bearing weight on her legs and even pushing herself back and forth. In addition, she was holding her neck and back up very straight, and turning in response to noises. At one point, Darya leaned over from her waist to look to the side and then raised herself up nicely without much effort.
In addition, the Beasley family emailed to say when they left the orphanage, they waved and said "goodbye" to Darya. Can you believe she waved back and actually vocalized "Bye"??? Charlie can't even do that yet. I am amazed.
So, I hope you will rejoice with us on the great news. In speaking with Charlie's therapist a couple of weeks ago, we discussed that Darya would probaby have many hurdles to overcome from having been institutionalized in an orphanage for the last year and a half without much attention. However, it seems God has been acting in the role as her therapist and has been working with her behind the scenes. Love it!!! No wonder she has progressed so well!!!
"But my God shall supply all your needs according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus."
Philippians 4:19
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Preparing Hearts For The New Year: Savior Or Lord??? Is There A Difference???
Do you remember when you accepted Christ as your Savior? I do. I was a little girl and had just heard a message about Hell. Literally, I would've accepted anything I had to accept to avoid going to that scary place.
Years later, as a young teen, I began to gain an understanding of what it really meant to be saved and what Jesus had done for me when He died on the cross. During this time, my salvation experience began to change.....to deepen.
I was fortunate to have church leaders who really loved the Lord and lived their love out daily in front of me. I admired them and wanted my life to mirror their lives. So, even at an early age, I was taught "works" go hand in hand with Salvation. In fact, one of my youth mentors wore out the cliche': "If you are going to talk the talk, you better be walking the walk."
"Hereby perceive we the love of God, because He has laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethern. But whoso hath this world's good, and sees his brother has need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? ......let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and truth." 1 John 3:16-18
The church is not perfect. It is the best model we have to spread the Truth, God's Word, but it is flawed with human weaknesses. Example: A multi-million dollar church building does not necessarily equal a Holy, God-Fearing place of worship anymore than a $250,000.00 a year pastoral salary equals a perfect pastor. God doesn't measure the building OR the annual income.....scripture says He measures the heart of the believers. Period. For whatever reason, society measures success of a person by what he/she has. Sadly, the church is currently being measured the same way, which explains why tithes are going to build buildings instead of building the Kingdom.
The above issue shows a weakness in the church body, but I wouldn't classify it as a "heaven deal-breaker". However, there has been a long standing teaching in the church as a whole that I believe could prove to be a deal-breaker. How many times have you been told you only need to say a prayer to accept Christ as your Savior and you are saved? I have heard it hundreds of times, but it cannot be substantiated by Scripture. If we sat down and read the Bible cover to cover, we would never close the Bible with a big: "Whew, all I have to do is say a prayer and I'll be saved." Truthfully, quite the opposite would happen.
This is an issue of WHO we are accepting. When we accept Jesus as Savior, we must equally accept Him as Lord. It is imperative that we put our old self to death and take up a new life....becoming completely submissive to our heavenly Father. In other words, we must seek obedience. To do this, we have to get into His Word and find out what pleases Him.....discover how He has instructed (and expects) us to live.
In reading A.W. Tozer (one of my favorite authors), I found the following in the book: "A Treasury Of A.W. Tozer" and believe it to be profound:
"Mankind appears to have a positive genius for twisting truth until it ceases to be truth and becomes downright falsehood......This fact was brought forcibly to mind recently by hearing again the discredited doctrine of a divided Christ.....It goes like this: Christ is both Savior and Lord. A sinner may be saved by accepting Him as Savior without yielding to Him as Lord. The practical outworking of this doctrine is that the evangelist presents and the seeker accepts a divided Christ.......
It is altogether doubtful any man can be saved who comes to Christ for His help but with no intention to obey Him. Christ's Saviorhood is forever united to His Lordship. Look at the Scriptures: "If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved....for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon Him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." (Romans 10:9-13) There the LORD is the object of faith for salvation. And when the Philippian jailer asked the way to be saved, Paul replied, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved" (Acts 16:31). He did not tell him to believe on the Savior with the thought that he could later take up the matter of His Lordship and settle it at his own convenience. To Paul there could be no division of offices. Christ must be Lord or He will not be Savior."
The church, in spreading the Good News of Salvation, has done so with the right heart......with an admirable and earnest desire to reach the lost. However, I fear, the result may be many "Christians" living with a false sense of security, believing the prayer they said in Vacation Bible School when they were in elementary school saved them. Now adults, they live like the heathen, thinking they are going to be ushered into heaven when they breathe their last breath because of a simple prayer they spoke.
Just something to think about. I want to be a doer of the Word and not a hearer only, don't you?
Years later, as a young teen, I began to gain an understanding of what it really meant to be saved and what Jesus had done for me when He died on the cross. During this time, my salvation experience began to change.....to deepen.
I was fortunate to have church leaders who really loved the Lord and lived their love out daily in front of me. I admired them and wanted my life to mirror their lives. So, even at an early age, I was taught "works" go hand in hand with Salvation. In fact, one of my youth mentors wore out the cliche': "If you are going to talk the talk, you better be walking the walk."
"Hereby perceive we the love of God, because He has laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethern. But whoso hath this world's good, and sees his brother has need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? ......let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and truth." 1 John 3:16-18
The church is not perfect. It is the best model we have to spread the Truth, God's Word, but it is flawed with human weaknesses. Example: A multi-million dollar church building does not necessarily equal a Holy, God-Fearing place of worship anymore than a $250,000.00 a year pastoral salary equals a perfect pastor. God doesn't measure the building OR the annual income.....scripture says He measures the heart of the believers. Period. For whatever reason, society measures success of a person by what he/she has. Sadly, the church is currently being measured the same way, which explains why tithes are going to build buildings instead of building the Kingdom.
The above issue shows a weakness in the church body, but I wouldn't classify it as a "heaven deal-breaker". However, there has been a long standing teaching in the church as a whole that I believe could prove to be a deal-breaker. How many times have you been told you only need to say a prayer to accept Christ as your Savior and you are saved? I have heard it hundreds of times, but it cannot be substantiated by Scripture. If we sat down and read the Bible cover to cover, we would never close the Bible with a big: "Whew, all I have to do is say a prayer and I'll be saved." Truthfully, quite the opposite would happen.
This is an issue of WHO we are accepting. When we accept Jesus as Savior, we must equally accept Him as Lord. It is imperative that we put our old self to death and take up a new life....becoming completely submissive to our heavenly Father. In other words, we must seek obedience. To do this, we have to get into His Word and find out what pleases Him.....discover how He has instructed (and expects) us to live.
In reading A.W. Tozer (one of my favorite authors), I found the following in the book: "A Treasury Of A.W. Tozer" and believe it to be profound:
"Mankind appears to have a positive genius for twisting truth until it ceases to be truth and becomes downright falsehood......This fact was brought forcibly to mind recently by hearing again the discredited doctrine of a divided Christ.....It goes like this: Christ is both Savior and Lord. A sinner may be saved by accepting Him as Savior without yielding to Him as Lord. The practical outworking of this doctrine is that the evangelist presents and the seeker accepts a divided Christ.......
It is altogether doubtful any man can be saved who comes to Christ for His help but with no intention to obey Him. Christ's Saviorhood is forever united to His Lordship. Look at the Scriptures: "If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved....for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon Him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." (Romans 10:9-13) There the LORD is the object of faith for salvation. And when the Philippian jailer asked the way to be saved, Paul replied, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved" (Acts 16:31). He did not tell him to believe on the Savior with the thought that he could later take up the matter of His Lordship and settle it at his own convenience. To Paul there could be no division of offices. Christ must be Lord or He will not be Savior."
The church, in spreading the Good News of Salvation, has done so with the right heart......with an admirable and earnest desire to reach the lost. However, I fear, the result may be many "Christians" living with a false sense of security, believing the prayer they said in Vacation Bible School when they were in elementary school saved them. Now adults, they live like the heathen, thinking they are going to be ushered into heaven when they breathe their last breath because of a simple prayer they spoke.
Just something to think about. I want to be a doer of the Word and not a hearer only, don't you?
Thursday, December 24, 2009
The Empty Stocking
It is Christmas Day! All of the gifts have been carefully wrapped and are under the tree. Stockings have been hung from the chimney with care.....full of lots of goodies for the little ones who will awake and dig into them with eagerness. All is joyful and seems quite perfect, except for the empty stocking.
The day is celebrated in honor of the Christ child who was born in Bethlehem two thousand years ago. The announcement was made first to the poorest of poor.....the homeless.....the shepherds. A choir of angels brought the message themselves with heavenly singing. The shepherds, who were looked down upon with disgust by the wealthy, must have been overwhelmed by the sight and honored to have been picked as the audience for the phenomenal spectacle.
The King could have been born in a palace as He deserved and born into a royal family. However, He selected humble and meager beginnings. He was born to a young unknown girl, a man of trade, and in a cave. Baby Jesus' first bed was a manger: a feeding trough for animals.
His purpose for coming to earth was to die for a people who deserve death.....people who turn their backs on the Creator of the Universe and choose their own way over His.....people who know the right way to live, but choose to take another path.....the selfish, the cheats, the liars,
the adulterers, the criminals, and the murderers. He disrobed Himself of glory to come to earth as a simple child, to live a sinless life and then willingly take the sins of the world upon Himself. He became my substitute....He died in my place. He became your substitute....He died in your place, too.
The empty stocking belongs to Him.
May I suggest we take a few minutes in quiet solitude to consider what gifts He might want to find in His stocking, and then determine to fill it? Let's recall the effort we have expended to locate the perfect gifts for family and friends; now let's use that same purposeful energy to find the perfect gift for our King of King and Lord of Lords.....our Father....the Lover of our Souls.
If you feel inclined, in the comment section below, write a word(s) denoting the gift you will give. You can simply choose anonymous and do not have to leave a name. I think we will all be blessed to look at the list of gifts each of us is presenting to our Lord and Savior.
Merry Christmas to you and many thanks to all who were a part of helping raise the international fee that will allow us to adopt Darya (Amy Joy) next year. That little brown eyed orphan girl has been given a wonderful miracle; she has been given the gift of life. Right now she is in an orphange...humble beginning.....but will be brought to America, given a family, and will soon be a little queen. How does it feel to be a part of a miracle???
"And His Name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, Ever-Lasting Father, Prince of Peace!"
The day is celebrated in honor of the Christ child who was born in Bethlehem two thousand years ago. The announcement was made first to the poorest of poor.....the homeless.....the shepherds. A choir of angels brought the message themselves with heavenly singing. The shepherds, who were looked down upon with disgust by the wealthy, must have been overwhelmed by the sight and honored to have been picked as the audience for the phenomenal spectacle.
The King could have been born in a palace as He deserved and born into a royal family. However, He selected humble and meager beginnings. He was born to a young unknown girl, a man of trade, and in a cave. Baby Jesus' first bed was a manger: a feeding trough for animals.
His purpose for coming to earth was to die for a people who deserve death.....people who turn their backs on the Creator of the Universe and choose their own way over His.....people who know the right way to live, but choose to take another path.....the selfish, the cheats, the liars,
the adulterers, the criminals, and the murderers. He disrobed Himself of glory to come to earth as a simple child, to live a sinless life and then willingly take the sins of the world upon Himself. He became my substitute....He died in my place. He became your substitute....He died in your place, too.
The empty stocking belongs to Him.
May I suggest we take a few minutes in quiet solitude to consider what gifts He might want to find in His stocking, and then determine to fill it? Let's recall the effort we have expended to locate the perfect gifts for family and friends; now let's use that same purposeful energy to find the perfect gift for our King of King and Lord of Lords.....our Father....the Lover of our Souls.
If you feel inclined, in the comment section below, write a word(s) denoting the gift you will give. You can simply choose anonymous and do not have to leave a name. I think we will all be blessed to look at the list of gifts each of us is presenting to our Lord and Savior.
Merry Christmas to you and many thanks to all who were a part of helping raise the international fee that will allow us to adopt Darya (Amy Joy) next year. That little brown eyed orphan girl has been given a wonderful miracle; she has been given the gift of life. Right now she is in an orphange...humble beginning.....but will be brought to America, given a family, and will soon be a little queen. How does it feel to be a part of a miracle???
"And His Name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, Ever-Lasting Father, Prince of Peace!"
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Tragic Loss Of An Orphan Advocate
It seems an odd time to talk about death, doesn't it? Afterall, Christmas is a time to celebrate life. Today, a wonderful Christian man, Derek Loux, tragically died in a car accident when his vehicle slid on black ice.
Death is as sure as anything on earth.....the sun comes up every morning to bring light, the waves of the ocean continually hit the shore, and time marches on. Likewise, we begin to die following the very first moments of birth.
The day we left the hospital with Hope in October, we were told she still has an aneurysm in her heart; consequently, her prognosis is unknown. I remember very clearly the ride home. I was consumed with fear to the point of shaking and having trouble taking breaths. Chappy and I didn't speak a word the entire way home, and I just sat staring out the window holding tightly to my fear.
God did not speak audibly to me on that ride home, but He spoke clearly to my thoughts. He supernaturally grabbed hold of my senseless pondering and asked: "Do you believe My Word is true or not?" In that instance, I remembered that I indeed do believe His Word is true. Then He pressed upon me the knowledge that Hope's days were numbered long before she was created. He had already skillfully planned each and every day of her life. I wrapped that truth carefully and tucked it into my heart. Any time fear rears its ugly head regarding Hope's life, I reach into my heart and unwrap the truth. It comforts me all of the time.
Today is a day of such depth of sorrow for the Loux family that I dare not pretend I know how they feel. I don't. What I do know, however, is Derek Loux left this earth today sliding into eternity out of breath and worn out from all of the work he has done on earth.....his hair wasn't neat and tidy, he wasn't worried about the clothes he was wearing or the treasures he had collected on earth. His death was unexpected......Derek was taken by surprise.
What if you and I were taken by surprise like Derek? If we were to stand before the Almighty today, would we be able to say we had worked tirelessly for the Kingdom? Would we be able to say our primary goal on earth was to serve the King of King and Lord of Lords? Would Father run to us and grab us up in His arms saying: "I am thrilled to see you.....you have made me so proud.....well done!"
As we prepare for the time when believers all over the world stop to remember the greatest gift ever given, let's remember to stop and remember WHO HE is. He is GOD!!! And it does matter how we live our lives. Derek understood this truth, and He met His Father fully prepared and ready. Are we???
Please take a few minutes to be blessed beyond measure as you read about the Loux family's adoption journey (7 adopted children---four adopted last year: two with Down Syndrome, one with Spina Bifida, and a 13 year old girl who had been abused) In addition, they founded the Josiah Fund to rescue orphans (the ministry named after their son, Josiah, who died when he was 2 1/2 after a battle with Spina Bifida) http://www.louxfamilyblog.com/ If you take time to honor this family by viewing their blog, you will be so happy you did!
James 4:17
"Therefore , to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin."
Death is as sure as anything on earth.....the sun comes up every morning to bring light, the waves of the ocean continually hit the shore, and time marches on. Likewise, we begin to die following the very first moments of birth.
The day we left the hospital with Hope in October, we were told she still has an aneurysm in her heart; consequently, her prognosis is unknown. I remember very clearly the ride home. I was consumed with fear to the point of shaking and having trouble taking breaths. Chappy and I didn't speak a word the entire way home, and I just sat staring out the window holding tightly to my fear.
God did not speak audibly to me on that ride home, but He spoke clearly to my thoughts. He supernaturally grabbed hold of my senseless pondering and asked: "Do you believe My Word is true or not?" In that instance, I remembered that I indeed do believe His Word is true. Then He pressed upon me the knowledge that Hope's days were numbered long before she was created. He had already skillfully planned each and every day of her life. I wrapped that truth carefully and tucked it into my heart. Any time fear rears its ugly head regarding Hope's life, I reach into my heart and unwrap the truth. It comforts me all of the time.
Today is a day of such depth of sorrow for the Loux family that I dare not pretend I know how they feel. I don't. What I do know, however, is Derek Loux left this earth today sliding into eternity out of breath and worn out from all of the work he has done on earth.....his hair wasn't neat and tidy, he wasn't worried about the clothes he was wearing or the treasures he had collected on earth. His death was unexpected......Derek was taken by surprise.
What if you and I were taken by surprise like Derek? If we were to stand before the Almighty today, would we be able to say we had worked tirelessly for the Kingdom? Would we be able to say our primary goal on earth was to serve the King of King and Lord of Lords? Would Father run to us and grab us up in His arms saying: "I am thrilled to see you.....you have made me so proud.....well done!"
As we prepare for the time when believers all over the world stop to remember the greatest gift ever given, let's remember to stop and remember WHO HE is. He is GOD!!! And it does matter how we live our lives. Derek understood this truth, and He met His Father fully prepared and ready. Are we???
Please take a few minutes to be blessed beyond measure as you read about the Loux family's adoption journey (7 adopted children---four adopted last year: two with Down Syndrome, one with Spina Bifida, and a 13 year old girl who had been abused) In addition, they founded the Josiah Fund to rescue orphans (the ministry named after their son, Josiah, who died when he was 2 1/2 after a battle with Spina Bifida) http://www.louxfamilyblog.com/ If you take time to honor this family by viewing their blog, you will be so happy you did!
James 4:17
"Therefore , to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin."
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