Me: As long as Jesus is in the risk then go for it.
C.S. Lewis states the following
I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: “I’m ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don’t accept His claim to be God.” That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic–on the level with the man who says he’s a poached egg–or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God: or else a madman or something worse. You can shut Him up for a fool, you can spit at Him and kill Him as a demon; or you can fall at His feet and Him Lord and God. But let us not come with any partronising nonsense about His being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.
For six days, the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.
Prodigal: Yes, there are some good books to read there.
Me: We can go over one of those books.
This is from the book Insight for Counseling and Pastoral Care by C. Stephen Evans
Humans cannot gain this faith through philosophical thinking or moral striving. It is created in people solely through an encounter with God as he has revealed himself in Jesus. In Jesus I learn what God is like and what I am supposed to be like. In Jesus I discover how far from God and my true self I am. In Jesus I discover God’s love in forgiving and atoning for my sin. In Jesus I discover the possibility of a new beginning as I stake my identity on him and commit myself to being his follower.
I am your follower today. What does that mean? That even though there is a lot of distractions today, I turn to you, Lord. I remember that I can live this day for myself or I can live it for you!
And now, behold, I have brought the firstfruits of the land, which thou, O LORD, hast given me. And thou shalt set it before the Lord thy God, and worship before the Lord thy God.
Marriage, what a topic. As a marriage counselor, I get to see different couples very up-close and personal. I usually get to see them, when a struggle is happening.
One thing that is amazing is I can tell when God has united a couple. I am not the only one, the couple themselves can tell too. When God has joined people together, it is not of the world and it is automatically different. People can see the difference, some may be jealous but, they can see the difference.
God creates two people to marry each other so that they are then telling the world that they are set apart from everyone else. Their relationship will now be a closeness that will not be like any other relationships. This relationship will be priority above others but, below the relationship with God.
As this is happening and they are creating that journey of setting themselves apart from others and only to themselves then their are changes in relationships. Friendships are changed, family relationships are changed and time spent is changed.
This setting apart is a positive change because the Lord is in it. At times friends, families and others though can be hurt or melancholy by the change they see in their love one. Friends and family are letting go of time spent so that the couple can then begin setting themselves apart.
Like marriage, there is another setting apart. Their is God setting us apart to Himself and performing a Holy work unto us.
Psalm 4:3-5
But know that the Lord hath set apart him that is godly for himself: the Lord will hear when I call unto him.
Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still.
There are times when we feel cast off, we are really being set apart. We feel God has forgotten our prayers and desires. He really is just sanctifying us during this time. We grow best with the Lord, when it is time alone with Him. We grow best without a lot of distractions. We grow best being set apart.
This day you are telling yourself that you are cast off. Others around you are telling you that you are cast off. Don’t believe that lie. For the Lord Himself is telling you that you are set apart for a purpose.
Stand in awe, Child of the Lord. The Lord is working His glory. This is something to be still about and wait for. This is something that has always been planned for your good!
Psalm 4:3
Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still
The key turns the lock and, I step away to walk across the pavement. I am slowly but, surely headed toward the car. I have had a couple of hours to complete some chores and, ready myself for the day.
I quickly check the purse, so that I know I have not forgotten anything for the day. I then open the car door and sit down so that I can prepare the drive. I bring out the cell phone. I quickly look up a play list. What list will it be?
I choose one and, then hit play. The sound starts playing through the blue tooth and I start pulling my car out of the parking spot. The drive has begun and my next destination is work. The day is sunny and, the sky is blue. There are a couple of clouds and, the traffic is not too bad.
I started singing along to worship. I really sing! In my car, I have the best performances. I can sing as loud as I want too. I can sing from the heart.
“I’ve got a heart overflowing ’cause I’ve been restored.”
“There ain’t nothing gonna steal my joy.”
It is then I began to feel it. I feel the joy, peace and love. God has me today. See I don’t know everything that will happen today. I don’t know how I will fail and, how I will succeed. God has me though. I know that He is my savior and one day. One beautiful day, I will be with Him.
One day on this drive on this sunny day, I feel those emotions, I know this truth. I know that God is with me and I have made friends with the Big Kid on the Block and it doesn’t matter who else is on the block. It doesn’t matter what plans others have on that block or even little kids think they own it. The Big Kid is there to show others that He Loves me and that He is in control.
So I sing…….
“I got a sweet salvation and it’s beautiful”
The words are not just words to a song, they are truth that is spilling out of my spirit. They are truth that I am living in that moment. They are the truth of who God is and who I am.
Eventually I get to work and the private concert stops in the car. Duties and responsibilities take over. I am not longer singing out loud, but my spirit still remembers that at one point of the day, I remembered the joy of the Lord.
Psalm 4:7
You have put more joy in my heart than they have when their grain and wine abound.
Me: Prodigal, you look like you have been living it up….
Prodigal: Maybe a little…..
Me: Well as you sort all those beads and find a way out…let me share.
This is from the book The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism by Timothy Keller
Religion, generally speaking, tends to create a slippery slope in the heart. Each religion tells its followers that they have “the truth,” and this naturally leads them to feel superior to those with differing beliefs. Also, a religion tells its followers that they are saved and connected to God by devotedly performing that truth. This moves them to separate from those who are less devoted and pure in life. Therefore, it is easy for one religious group to stereotype and caricature other ones. Once this situation exists it can easily spiral down into the marginalization of others or even to active oppression, abuse or violence against them.
On your best day you are a sinner saved my grace! That does not mean that you do not have the love of our Lord and Savior but it does mean you have nothing to brag about. Remember this is not about religion. This is about living in the spirit and staying focused on the Lord our Savior.
For the Lord will not forsake his people for his great name’s sake: because it hath pleased the Lord to make you his people.
Prodigal: Yep, just wanted to pray and think for a while.
Me: Yep, we need that right now.
This is from the book Reaching for the Invisible God by Philip Yancey
Ignatius Loyola, founder of the Jesuits, saw that nearly all of his followers went through periods of futility. Their faith began to waver, they questioned their worth, they felt useless. Ignatius set down a series of tests to help identify the cause of spiritual despair. In every case, regardless of cause, Ignatius prescribed the same cure: “In times of desolation we must never make a change, but stand firm and constant in the resolutions and determination in which we were the day before the desolation, or in the time of the preceding consolation.” He advised fighting spiritual battles with the very weapons hardest to wield at that particular time: prayer and meditation, self-examination, repentance. Obedience, and only obedience, offers a way out.
Now is not a time to ask for questions but just be obedient. It is difficult, since God has not shown up yet. This does not mean that God will not show up. Just remember you can trust the Lord and that really is something worth holding on too!
The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken.
This is from the book Let the Journey Begin by Max Lucado
Our baseball coach had a firm rule against chewing tobacco. We had a couple of players who were known to sneak a chew, and he wanted to call it to our attention.
He got our attention, all right. Before long we’d all tried it. A sure test of manhood was to take a chew when the pouch was passed down the bench. I had barely made the team; I sure wasn’t going to fail the test of manhood.
One day I’d just popped a plug in my mouth when one of the players warned, “Here comes the coach!” Not wanting to get caught, I did what came naturally, I swallowed. Gulp.
I added new meaning to the scripture, “I felt weak deep inside me. I moaned all day long….My strength was gone as in the summer heat.” I paid the price for hiding my disobedience.
My body was not make to ingest tobacco. Your soul was not made to ingest sin.
May I ask a frank question? Are you keeping any secrets from God? Any parts of your life off limits? Any cellars boarded up or attics locked? Any part of your past or present that you hope you and God never discuss?
Take a pointer from a nauseated third baseman. You’ll feel better if you get it out.
And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge.
