righteousness... it's a choice...

Do not present your members to sin

as instruments of unrighteousness,

but present yourselves to God

as those who have been brought from death to life,

and your members to God as instruments for righteousness.

Romans 6:13 ESV

present... verb... 1a (1): to bring or introduce into the presence of someone especially of superior rank or status... 2: to make a gift to 3: to give or bestow formally...

...present yourselves to God... as instruments for righteousness...

I see it in the word... present... it's a choice... to gift yourself to God... for His use...

Each day... we have a choice to make...
presenting our bodies to sin...
or to Him...

Each moment... of each day...
will we be used for unrighteousness...
or righteousness...?

...present yourselves to God... as those who have been brought from death to life...

Here's the good news... that makes the choice easy...

Knowing who He is... and what He's done for you...
how can you choose anything else...?

Righteousness... it's a choice....

How will you choose today...?

Do you not know that if you present yourselves

to anyone as obedient slaves,

you are slaves of the one whom you obey,

either of sin, which leads to death,

or of obedience, which leads to righteousness?

Romans 6:16 ESV

The Journey Readings: Week 44... and a command to choose...

This past week... The Journey completed Joshua...

Joshua led the Israelites into the Promised Land... and God fulfilled all His promises to the Israelites...

There failed no part of any good thing which the Lord had promised

to the house of Israel; all came to pass.

Joshua 21:45 Amp

He kept His part of the covenant... it was now in their hands...

Joshua... conveys his final message from God to the people... reminding them of their history with Him... from Abraham... up to this point of rest... and fulfilled promise...

And Joshua says...

Now therefore, [reverently] fear the Lord and serve Him 

in sincerity and in truth; put away the gods which your fathers

served on the other side of the [Euphrates] River and in Egypt,

and serve the Lord. 

And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord,

choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve,

whether the gods which your fathers served

on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites,

in whose land you dwell; but as for me and my house,

we will serve the Lord.

Joshua 24:14-15 Amp

(emphasis added)

We were created to serve... if we ever believe we are an independent agent... we are deceived...

We are either ruled by the prince of this world... the enemy... via our sin nature... or... we are ruled... by the Prince of Peace... via the Holy Spirit...

... choose for yourselves this day... whom you will serve...

A command... to make a conscious choice... 

A choice we most likely need to reaffirm each day... even before our feet hit the floor...

Who will you serve...?

If you choose to join The Journey as we move into Judges... here are this week's readings...

Monday                    Judges 1

Tuesday                    Judges 2:1 - 3:6

Wednesday              Judges 3:7 - 4:24

Thursday                   Judges 5

Friday                       Judges 6

The Journey Readings: Week 38... and a choice...

A lesson from last week in Deuteronomy... makes one think about things differently...

"See, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse:

the blessing, if you obey the commandments 

of the Lord your God, which I command you today,

and the curse if you do not obey the commandments

of the Lord your God...

Deuteronomy 11:26-28 ESV

Do you see the choice...?

"See... I am setting before you... a blessing... and a curse..."

He doesn't choose... to bless... or curse... the choice is set before us...

He's already set up a law... 

With obedience... comes a blessing...

With disobedience... a curse...

Just like gravity... it's a law...

Now... this is not prosperity gospel... 

We all have choices set before us... and some people's choices to disobey... cause some who are walking in obedience to suffer... which feels like a curse...

And we all live under the curse of the Fall... walking in a broken world... where we are told we will have trouble...

But the way we choose to respond... to what the Sovereign Lord allows... results in a blessing... or a curse...

Choosing to forgive... as we have been forgiven... 

Choosing to love an enemy... rather than retaliate... 

Choosing to trust Him to judge... instead of judging others...

These all lead to blessing... it's a promise...

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,

for they shall be satisfied.

Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake,

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you

and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.

Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven..."

---Jesus

Matthew 5:3-12 ESV

It's your choice...

What might you discover if you joined The Journey...?

This week's readings...

Monday                 Deuteronomy 14

Tuesday                 Deuteronomy 15:1 - 17:7

Wednesday            Deuteronomy 17:8 -18:22

Thursday               Deuteronomy 19-20

Friday                    Deuteronomy 21-22

the path...

The path...
the narrow path... leading to life...
Are you on it...?

How would you know if you were...?

I believe we step onto the path...
by choosing Him as Lord...
dying to self... and our own desires...
and living for Him... alone...

The narrow path...
it's a path of worship... devotion... obedience...

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God,

present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and 

acceptable to God, which is your spiritual act of worship.

Romans 12:1 ESV

It's life in the Word...
eating it...
living it...
making it flesh...

Do not be conformed to this world,

but be transformed by the renewal of your mind,

that by testing you may discern what is the will of God,

what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Romans 12:2 ESV

What path are you on...?

There is another...
a broad one... leading to death... destruction...

At first it seems like the easy way... but in the end...

"The wrong paths seem to always look easier, and will tempt us to try to escape our difficulties and trials. They may, in fact, be easier for a time, but then they will get much harder than the true path. They ultimately lead to traps and entanglements that few ever get free of, if they do not turn back quickly and get back on the right path. ...

"If you get on a wrong path, it will lead you away from Him. The joy and peace of the Lord will be replaced by confusion and darkness ... The wrong path gets darker and leads to increasing confusion. Confusion leads to depression and ultimately despair and death. ..."

---Rick Joyner, The Path  

Don't be deceived...

His Word is life...

His Way is life...

"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate

and broad is the road that leads to destruction, 

and many enter through it. 

But small is the gate and narrow the road

that leads to life, and only a few find it. ..."

---Jesus

Matthew 7:13-14

Make sure you're on... the path...

are you willing to hear...?

Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says:

Today, if you will hear His voice,

Do not harden your hearts...

Hebrews 3:7-8 Amp

Are you willing to hear... what He has to say each day...? each moment...?

...the real problem of the Christian life comes where people do not usually look for it. It comes the very moment you wake up each morning. All your wishes and hopes for the day rush at you like wild animals. And the first job each morning consists simply in shoving them all back; in listening to that other voice, taking that other point of view, letting that other larger, stronger, quieter life come flowing in. And so on, all day. Standing back from all your natural fussings and frettings; coming in out of the wind.

---CS Lewis, Mere Christianity 

This willingness... to hear and obey... forms the basis for the transformation He wants to do in your life...

First thing in the morning... and every moment after...
becomes a battleground...
Who will you hear...?
Your own fears... frets... desires... or His call...

I faced this battle myself... just this morning...
a choice to make...
Will I hear...?

The choice leads to an end... either way...

If you refuse to hear... your heart hardens...
the rocks of fear... worry... wants... become planted...
no room for roots to grow...

Eventually... the whole of the heart becomes paved...
a hard path... where the Word sits...
and the enemy steals...

The choice to hear Him...
and choose His eternal perspective...
leads to a heart like His...

Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil,

unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God.

But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called "today,"

that none should be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.

Hebrews 3:12-13 ESV

Consider yourself exhorted... truth spoken in love...

Choose to listen... and obey... first thing... every day... and every... moment... after...

the life changing choice... that brings freedom...

Life change is as simple as changing our choices, and transformation is fully possible when we form our decisions differently --- form them into the image of Christ.

---Ann Voskamp, One Thousand Gifts Devotional

Transformation... it's the foundation of freedom... and is based on the way we make choices... form decisions...

How did Jesus... make decisions...?

Really... He only made one choice... to do whatever His Father willed...

"...For I have come down from heaven, not to do My will,

but the will of Him who sent Me. ..." ---Jesus

John 6:38 HCSB

He only did what the Father did...

Then Jesus replied, "I assure you: The Son is not able to do anything on His own, but only what He sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, the Son also does these things in the same way...."

John 5:19 HCSB

He only said what the Father said... 

So Jesus said to them, "When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he, and that I do nothing on my own authority, but speak just as the Father taught me. ..."

John 8:28 ESV

To be a disciple of Jesus... is to choose as He did... and to do so freely... freely losing your life... laying down your rights... your emotions and desires... for His Father's...

"... Whoever finds his life will lose it,

and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. ..."

Matthew 10:39

Jesus allowed Father God to lead Him on the path of freedom... that He might make the way for us... to be freed from the slavery of sin and death... 

He forged the Way... that we might follow Him... through the wilderness...

And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness for forty days, being tempted by the devil. And he ate nothing during those days. And when they were ended, he was hungry.

Luke 4:1-2 ESV

...or head on into a war...

And he came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him. And when he came to the place, he said to them, "Pray that you may not enter into temptation." And he withdrew from them about a stone's throw, and knelt down and prayed, saying, "Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done." And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling to the ground.

Luke 22:39-44 ESV

Life changing freedom... comes in the form of one choice...

Not my will... but Yours be done...

all have died... including you...

This morning's Bonhoeffer...

In the incarnation, God's becoming human, we know the love of God for his creation; in the crucifixion we know the judgment of God on all flesh; in the resurrection we know the will of God for a new world.

---Dietrich Bonhoeffer, I Want to Live These Days with You

Crucifixion... God's judgment on all flesh...

...we have concluded this:

that one has died for all, therefore all have died...

2 Corinthians 5:14 ESV

And I see it... all flesh is dead... therefore to operate out of our flesh... makes the way for corruption... decay... because that's what dead flesh does... disintegrates... in a very foul way...

For the one who sows to his own flesh

will from the flesh reap corruption,

but the one who sows to the Spirit

will from the Spirit reap eternal life.

Galatians 6:8 ESV

So why... as Believers... do we continue... to let flesh... lead... and drive... our decisions... choices... thinking...?

Because... we forget... God is God... and we are not...

People believe a lie over the truth of God (Rom. 1:25). What's the lie? This fallen nature in us believes that we're smarter than God. I've never met anyone who will say that, but I've met hundreds of people who live like that: "I'm smarter than God."

---Matt Chandler, "Youth", in The Scriptures Testify about Me

When we choose... to use our own reasoning... or agree with human wisdom... philosophy... understanding... science... over the Word... His Word... we are saying... I'm smarter than God... He's just wrong here...

This is not a place I want to go... fear of the Lord... takes hold of my heart... spirit... at this point... and this... is the beginning of wisdom...

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;

fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Proverbs 1:7 ESV

Fools... despise... His Word... His commands... His instruction...

God says, "Remember my law because if you remember my law and practice my law you will see how great and beautiful and amazing I am and how much I love you and how much I am trying to lead you into how I designed things to work for the glory of my name and your ultimate joy."

---Matt Chandler, "Youth", in The Scriptures Testify about Me 

Recognize... where you are living from flesh... choosing corruption... decay... over life... joy... peace...

Whoever is wise, let him understand these things;

whoever is discerning, let him know them;

for the ways of the Lord are right,

and the upright walk in them,

but transgressors stumble in them.

Hosea 14:9 ESV

one way... not one thing...

I don't believe there is one great thing I was made to do in this world. I believe there is one great God I was made to glorify. And there will be many ways, even a million little ways, I will declare his glory with my life.

---Emily P Freeman, A Million Little Ways

And yes... I believe there are a million little ways for me to glorify God... each day... but this book... this author... goes on to talk about our desires... as part of what we were created to do...

She says... what we want to do... is what we were meant to do...

Could it be possible that the thing you most long for, the thing you notice and think about and wish you could do, is the thing you were actually made and are being equipped to do?

Could it also be possible that somewhere along the way you got the message that to follow desire would be selfish, when really, it would be the opposite?

---Emily P Freeman, A Million Little Ways

This thought... it challenges... and yes... I wrestle with desire... wondering if what I want to do... is really what I am supposed to do... is it what He wants me to do... not just what I want to do...?

And I've wrestled with choices... even though I know...

...it is God who works in you to will and to act

according to his good purpose.

Philippians 2:13

Other translations actually use the word desire... in place of will... 

So... perhaps... He does work within our will... desires... because He put them there in the first place... knit them into our being...

And I've wrestled with a verse... working to make it say something different than it does...

Whether you turn to the right or to the left,

your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying,

"This is the way; walk in it."

Isaiah 30:21 NIV

I want the voice to say... Turn right here... no... left there... but it says... This is the way... whether I turn right... or left...?

The understanding I believe He is beginning to reveal... as I learn about this journey... is that my choice... of right or left... the direction I choose... the desire I pursue... isn't what matters most... it's the way... I walk in it...

There is a freedom here... in this journeying... that I've never really felt before... the freedom to pursue... my desire... 

Could it be true...?

Our desires... they have a tendency to be perverted... by sin... our hearts called deceitful above all things... how can we trust our desires...?

I believe... we are called to trust Him... and once we have surrendered our lives... taken His crucifixion as our own... He gives us a new heart... and as long as we focus on Him... abide in His Word... and His Way... our desires... will be in line with His...

So the lesson I hear... take hold of...

No matter whether you...

write or illustrate...

bake or bank...

teach or sell...

dance or march...

doctor or firefight...

build or demolish...

whatever you desire... do it His Way... the One Way...

Either way we turn... right or left... there is only One Way to follow... the Way of Holiness... and His voice will guide us... saying... This is the way... walk in it...

And a highway will be there;

it will be called the Way of Holiness;

it will be for those who walk in that Way.

Isaiah 35:8 NIV

more resisting... the overwhelming...

And today... it's not schedules... not to-do's... that threaten my undoing... it's brokenness... not mine... but others'...

Pain... physical... and emotional...
relational... and spiritual...

Stories heard... in just the past 24... 36... hours...
failing health...
failing marriages...
children left behind...
promises broken...

They threaten... to overwhelm...

Wondering how to be like Him... Bethesda... House of Mercy...

Beside the pool... of the same name... Bethesda... He shows me that's who He is... as He heals the lame man... who had no one to help him in the healing water of the pool... the flowing water... everyone else... too busy with their own aches... to notice one lame for 38 years...!

Jesus shows me... He is the Living Water... the House of Mercy... who heals with a word... and I hear Him call... Follow Me... be the same... a house of mercy...

All I have to offer is prayer...

Me... an empty vessel... a fragile jar...
my own brokenness turning me into a sieve...

I bring them to Him... offer prayer... hope for the immediate... miraculous... healing... just like the man lame... just out of reach... from the pool named Bethesda...

But I'm not Him...

He calls me to be... a house of mercy... like Him... but I have no power... but what He gives...

My words... don't calm storms...
strengthen legs...
bind broken hearts...

My own heart breaks...

So... I pour out pray...
like the widow... before the judge...
hoping He'll hear...
hoping He'll pour out mercy...
hoping for the miracle...

And I wonder... Does it really make a difference...? if I pray...?

All I find... is an opportunity... to exercise faith... waiting in the not-yet... trusting in the why-not...

More choosing... to let Him overflow... rather than sink... beneath... the overwhelming...

Then Jesus told his disciples a parable

to show them that they should always pray

and not give up.

Luke 18:1

...pray without ceasing...

1 Thessalonians 5:17 ESV

Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion.

Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers

for all believers everywhere.

Ephesians 6:18 NLT

The end of all things is near.

Therefore be alert and of sober mind

so that you may pray.

1 Peter 4:7 NIV

But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith

and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves

in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ

that leads to eternal life.

Jude 20 ESV

Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation,

be constant in prayer.

Romans 12:12 ESV

Devote yourselves to prayer 

with an alert mind and a thankful heart.

Colossians 4:2 NLT

Lord... I choose... to trust You... to wait for You... 

I will not be overwhelmed... but will overflow... with prayer...

trusting His overflow...

On a day when I'm tempted to be overwhelmed...
I choose to trust... in His overflow...

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;

you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

Psalm 23:5 ESV

choose today...

In this world at war... it's a struggle... every day... to stay focused on Him... and His Way...

In the reading through... a phrase catches my attention...

"So fear the Lord and serve him wholeheartedly. 

Put away forever the idols your ancestors worshiped 

when they lived beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt. 

Serve the Lord alone. But if you refuse to serve the Lord, 

then choose today whom you will serve. ..."

Joshua 24:14-15 NLT

...choose today... whom you will serve...

A way to focus... a decision to make... every day...

Choose... today... whom... you... will... serve...

Perhaps before getting out of bed... first thought of the day... a choice needs to be made...

Today... I choose... to fear the Lord...

 and serve Him wholeheartedly...

Tomorrow... this will be the first choice I make...

What about you...?

picking Him...

The idea of a God who romances His people... reveals a God who wants to be chosen...

The treadmill read... affirms this thought...

As Joshua was about to enter the land God promised him, he met an angel with his sword drawn in front of him. Joshua must have had some lawyer in him because he asked the angelic warrior something I would ask: "Whose side are you on?" No doubt, Joshua was hoping that the angelic warrior was for them. That's what I'd hope for. I love the warrior's answer to Joshua's question. It was simple: "Neither. Take off your shoes." The angel wasn't interested in picking sides; he wanted them to pick God. The angel told them to take off their shoes because they were on holy ground, just as we are today. Perhaps God doesn't want us spending our time picking sides or teams and trying on jerseys either. He wants us to pick a fight, and He also wants us to pick Him.

--- Bob Goff, Love Does

Picking God... the One who romances us... means choosing to fight for the things He cares about... it means joining Him... in truth... righteousness... mercy... compassion...

If you have recognized the One wooing you... and come alongside Him... then it's time to choose what He chooses... do what He does... love... without compromise...

Maybe... this is the key to romancing our Creator...

Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

Ephesians 5:1

an uncomfortable thought... from the summit...

As I continue to mull over all I heard at the Summit... there is one thought that makes me uncomfortable...

The theme of courage... connecting... offering compassion... are bound up in me... as if in a head-lock...

Being an introverted-perfectionist... it takes courage... for me to connect... step out... offer compassion... be seen...

The speaker who spoke about vulnerability... shared an excerpt from her book...

When we spend our lives waiting until we're perfect or bulletproof before we walk into the arena we ultimately sacrifice relationships and opportunities that may not be recoverable, we squander our precious time, and we turn our backs on our gifts, those unique contributions only we can make.

Perfect and bulletproof are seductive, but they don't exist in the human experience. We must walk into the arena, whatever it may be -- a new relationship, an important meeting, our creative process, or a difficult family conversation -- with courage and the willingness to engage. Rather than sitting on the sidelines and hurling judgment and advice, we must dare to show up and let ourselves be seen. This is vulnerability. This is daring greatly. 

---Dr. Brene Brown, Daring Greatly 

To climb into the arena of life... the one Jesus invites us to... the life abundant... is to dare greatly...

He calls us to a life of love... and as the speaker reminded us...

...love is messy, hard, tough...

She went on to say...

You can choose courage 

or you can choose comfort,

but you can't have both --- 

they are mutually exclusive...

Here is where it gets uncomfortable... I long to be courageous... AND... comfortable... but the reality is this combination does not exist... Remember... courage is only needed... in the face of danger... fear... or difficulty... Who needs courage if you're comfy...?

A challenge to step up to... one I pray I will not back down from...

A call to remember... Jesus Himself was not comfortable in His skin... He had no place to lay His head... He was led into temptation... His life was threatened multiple times... He was described as a man of sorrows... He sweat blood... He hung on a cross...

I choose the uncomfortable... I choose courage...

How knows... maybe one day... I'll become comfortable... with being... uncomfortable...

conflicting worldviews...

A conversation... revolved around... conflicting worldviews...

One focused on rights... and the irresponsible who infringe...

The other... focused on redeeming grace... laying down one's life for another... by choice...

The one with rights... feeling misunderstood... volume increasing... hand banging...

The one thankful for grace... shouted down... when trying to share a vision... of giving in love... laying down... by choice... no rights infringed because none demanded... those who don't want to give... don't...

A worldview wall... the one with rights... could not see past... all is his...

The one gratefully dependent on grace... looking past... that particular wall... already crumbled... in her view... nothing is hers...

I wonder... at the intensity... the emotion... until I realize... each look at the world... from a completely different view...

One sees infringement... the other... opportunities... for grace...

Enforcing responsibility through the law... vs... allowing the exercise of the freedom of grace... to fill the gap...

The single, overwhelming fact of history is the crucifixion of  Jesus Christ.

---Eugene H. Peterson, Traveling Light

It is how you handle... the crucifixion of Jesus... in your heart... this overwhelming fact of history... that determines your view of the world...

The One who came... responsible for creation... rejected by His creatures... had the right... to demand payment... from the rebellious... but by His grace... He chose to empty Himself... pay the highest price... to bring healing to others... asking nothing in return...

Here's the view... that moves a heart... from rights... to grace... from law... to freedom...

Making demands on others grows bitterness and entitlement...

Sacrificial service... in love... leads to dumbfounded thanks... and hearts softened to help another... out... of... love...

...all life... God-given, and ... worth preserving...

---Eugene H. Peterson, Traveling Light

The cost of caring for others... is not an infringement on rights or resources... but a privilege granted by God... because all we have... for life... is from Him...

This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.

1John 4:10-12

(emphasis mine)

Love... it hung on a tree... cursed... buried... resurrected... for the ungrateful... rebellious... irresponsible... but He made a Way... to redeem... restore... revive... the sick... blind... lame... mute... imprisoned... rejected... by His free choice...

The world... where do you see it from...?

If you see the world... from the foot of the cross... from the mouth of the empty tomb... speak grace... speak love... to those who don't... they are banging their heads... and hearts... on a worldview wall... and that... can be... painful...

But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect...

1Peter 3:15

prodding from the pope

"Let us never yield to pessimism," [Pope Francis] said while meeting the cardinals in the Sala Clementina, "let us never yield to that bitterness which the devil offers us every day; let us not yield to pessimism or discouragement: let us be quite certain that the Holy Spirit bestows upon the Church, with his powerful breath, the courage to persevere and also to seek new methods of evangelization, so as to bring the Gospel to the uttermost ends of the earth."

---From the introduction of Francis: Pope of a New World, by Andrea Tornielli 

I read it... just before receiving an opportunity... one I could easily be pessimistic about... dismiss... with doubt's blessing...

The Pope's words make me pause... as I consider the opportunity... seeking God on what to do... seeking my heart... regarding fear... and the burial of a talent... desiring to be... a good and faithful servant... yet battling the bitterness of discouragement... and the reality of... Living Under Curse and Promise... (the title of the Bonhoeffer devotional this morning...)

Human beings in a disturbed world, between God's curse and promise, are challenged human beings. 

---Dietrich Bonhoeffer, I Want to Live These Days with You, 

July 11

No coincidence... amidst the challenge to change the thought-life... a reminder... to focus on Him... His power... His purpose... 

A time to put aside fear... consider seriously... this opportunity... to step out... cast out... deep...

My heart prays with Peter...

"Lord, if it's you," Peter replied,

"tell me to come to you on the water."

Matthew 14:28

the key...

The key to doing for Him...
is to look to Him...

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus

the author and perfecter of our faith...

Hebrews 12:2

(emphasis added)

fix... to make firm, stable, or stationary

...fix our eyes on... translated from the Greek... aphorao... to turn the eyes away from other things and fix them on something...

Fixing eyes on Jesus... means seeing only Him... being mind-full... of Him... His Word... when doing what He has put on our heart...

The more we look at... to... self... (feelings... strengths... weaknesses...) the more prone we are to question... doubt... fear... fail to be obedient... in serving...

Reminded... recently... experienced... recently... the ease with which serving... in obedience... comes... when I refuse... to think about me... and look to Him...

We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought and make it obedient to Christ.

2 Corinthians 10:5

learning respect... part 5...

The C... it came slowly... difficult to hear...

For me... in waiting for a teaching to continue...

R... revere...
E... engage...
S... stand at the crossroads and look...
P... pure...
E... earnest...
C
T

... is the temptation to rush... to go ahead... to figure it out on my own... doubts rising... the end so close... Will He continue to teach...?

I asked... for more revelation... but... then it's like I tried to guess what will be next... impatient... "c" words... tumbled through my brain... I don't want my word... but Yours...

Then it came... quietly...

Choice...

Respect... is a choice... once we stand and consider the outcome of our behavior... respect vs disrespect... we must choose...

Yesterday... I made a choice... a portion of the definition of respect... came to mind...

...to refrain from interfering with...

As my husband did a job... for me... just... for... me... on Saturday morning... my spirit... was continually reminded... 

...do not interfere...

Now understand... this was a job I wanted done... a change that I physically couldn't make myself... one that took hours... and really benefited no one but me...

And it was a job... I had to let my husband do... his way... out of respect... I did not interfere...

But as I stood by and let him do... the phrase... it echoed... do not interfere...

The Spirit doesn't tell you anything unless you need to hear it... the Counselor... giving the encouragement you need...

The Spirit didn't repeatedly tell Joshua... Be strong and courageous... because he was... it was because that's what he needed to be reminded...  to be... what he did not feel... as he led God's people... into the Promised Land...

So yesterday... that is what I needed to hear... Why...? Because I wanted... to... interfere... to direct... to help... to say... I have a better way...

I realized... how disrespectful... I have been over the years... interfering... in places where he asked for no help...
telling stories...
driving from point A to point B...
various jobs around the house...

The lesson of respect... as a choice... making an impact... do not interfere...

And I was blessed... my husband... he went way beyond... what I asked... and expected... him to do...

In that choice... my respect... for my husband... magnified... enlarged... grew...

Respect... is a choice...

When divinely directed... from a pure heart... with a focus on entering a promised land... in marriage... mindful... of God's plan... and desire... the choice... to respect... is blessed...

Lord... I'm blown away... by Your teaching... Your thoughts... too wonderful... to me...

free... to be... undignified...

The lesson of freedom... using it to serve others through love... rather than exercising self-indulgence... continues...

What grace He provides... in the middle of a mess... and then... another...

Loving an elder-in-law... offers lots of opportunities... to freely serve... die to self... lay down pride... and be... undignified... all in the name of the Lord...

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When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. "Do you understand what I have done for you?" he asked them. ...

"...I have set an example that you should do as I have done for you. I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them."

John 13:12, 15-17

the Rock

Today... Jesus's words... in the reading through... 

"And blessed is the one who is not offended by me."

Luke 7:23

ESV

...meshed with the journal from the study with sisters...

When we do our own thing in spite of what Jesus has said about it, then we are acting like we know better than Jesus. Choose an area where you disagree with Jesus and try completing this sentence. I know better than Jesus when it comes to ______________ (area of disagreement) and the reasons I believe I know better are____________...  [from the not a fan. Follower's Journal]

An "area of disagreement" with Jesus most likely translates to an "offense"...

offend... in Merriam-Websters... to cause dislike, anger, or vexation...

Jesus's teachings were... and are... confrontational. Here are a few I read through today...

Blessed are you who are poor...

Blessed are you who are hungry...

Blessed are you who weep...

Blessed are you when people hate you...

These alone contradict what the world says about blessing... and then He says...

Woe to you who are rich...

Woe to you who are full...

Woe to you who laugh...

Woe to you, when all people speak well of you...

Again... these we believe to be blessings... not woes... but to top it off He adds...

Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you...

bless those who curse you...

pray for those who abuse you...

To the one who strikes your cheek, offer the other also...

Lend, expecting nothing in return...

Upside down from the world... from the teachings and expectations of culture... 

...the Most High... he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil...

It gets even more interesting to look at the original language...

offended... the Greek literally meaning... to put a stumbling block or impediment in the way, upon which another may trip and fall, metaph. to offend...

A study note linked offended with an Old Testament verse... a prophetic message...

And [the Lord] will become a sanctuary and a stone of offense and a rock of stumbling to both houses of Israel... And many shall stumble on it. They shall fall and be broken...

Isaiah 8:14-15

ESV

He will be... a sanctuary... or a stumbling block... blessed is the one who is not offended... He is a precious cornerstone... or a rock of offense... it all depends on if you agree... or disagree... with His Way...

Do you find yourself in a disagreement with the One you call... Lord...?

Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord,' and not do what I tell you?

Luke 6:46

ESV

Consider... is it because He has offended you...?

Be ware... you may be headed for a fall...

life in the dark

Thoughts from the Summit...
three persist...
plant more seeds...
every choice matters...
life in the dark...

She spoke it... the leader returned... to give testimony...
The fact that scientists found life in the deepest... darkest... parts of the ocean... where they thought NOTHING could exist... was a proving factor in her search... for a personal God...

Life in the dark... evidence of a loving God...

And we see it every day... if we look... people living in darkness... unimaginable darkness... surviving... living... in places... circumstances... seemingly incompatible with life...

A story shared... a girl... daughter of missionaries... rejected God... He took her parents away from her... boarding school required... she became... CC... "Cold and Calculating"... self-destructive... choices led to deep... darkness...

Yet in that darkness... when she cried out... He called... He rescued... He redeemed... called her to rescue others... from deep... darkness... places where life... should not exist...

Life in the dark... evidence of a loving God...

Another boy... growing up in darkness... rejected the faith of his grandmother... because of the darkness all around him... hopeless...

Yet in his grandmother's deepest darkness... dying a hard death... cancer eating away... he saw her faith shine... the hope of life... in the darkness of death... a faith worth giving a second chance... now he works... to bring the hope of life... to dark places...

Life in the dark... evidence of a loving God...

All things were created through Him,

and apart from Him not one thing was created

that has been created.

Life was in Him,

and that life was the light of men.

That light shines in the darkness,

yet the darkness did not overcome it.

John 1:3-5

HCSB

The power of God's love... for His rebellious creation... shines in the darkness... and will not be overcome...

Choose for yourself... this day... where to plant seeds... of life... hope... love... in deep... dark... places...

Then Jesus spoke... "I am the light of the world.

Anyone who follows Me

will never walk in darkness

but will have the light of life."

John 8:12

HCSB

(my emphasis)