Fake it til' you make it....

Continuing in Hebrews this morning, I look again at these heroes of faith listed in chapter 11.

Some of these people had great victories. Some had terrible defeat, disappointments, and some suffered or even died. Some of them never realized the purpose of it all in the grand scheme of things.

I often get on my soapbox about faith. I can carry on and on about how our faith must be in the Creator God of the universe, not in our ability to believe something. We can’t just grit our teeth, set our jaw, and determine to set our mind to it., and be any better off than we were. ( …in fact, I think it just hardens us when over and over we believe the enemy lie that it’s all up to us..)

Yes, we can and must make a choice and a decision. Yes, we must purpose in our hearts. But if we are the only source and the only determining factor in this faith, we are idolatrous. We have faith in ourselves.

I have thanked God so often for the words of the sick boy‘s father, "I do believe; help my unbelief." (Mark 9:24 NIV)

What an honest approach to God. I wonder why we think we can fake it til we make it with Him?

　

　

Faith isn’t something you can build up like a retirement fund. It isn’t something you can store away for future use like a pantry of food. You can’t save it up and watch it grow like money in a bank drawing interest. And no matter how much you have, it alone will never be enough.

Faith is meaningless without an object Who empowers and brings life. When Connie Pinkham is the object, simply my own self determination and choice, it is empty and worthless, leading only to death in situations, in relationship, and ultimately, in eternal death.

Faith in the Father of humanity makes the unseen real and it ushers in His grace, mercy, and strength. Faith in God demands that I have less and less faith in myself. As faith in Him increases, I realize over and over again my own inadequacy and His complete adequacy.

I purpose today to not fake it with Him.

And friend, I encourage you to get to know Him, don’t just decide to ‘be good’ or ‘act right’. Don’t think you can put your ears back and ‘have faith’. Don’t fake it. Because I can assure you, you won’t make it without His aid.

　

　

L O L.......smh...

LOL….smh……

For those of you who don’t recognize modern day shorthand, those letters mean a big ‘laugh out loud‘, and then ‘shaking my head'.　

　

Hebrews chapter 11 is often called the ‘hall of faith’. Listed there are people we refer to as heroes of faith. I stop at Sarah’s name, remembering how she laughed at a promise of God.

"So Sarah laughed to herself as she thought, "After I am worn out and lord is old, will I now have this pleasure?" Then the LORD said to Abraham, "Why did Sarah laugh and say, 'Will I really have a child, now that I am old?' Is anything too hard for the LORD?”(Genesis 18:12-14 NIV)　

Then her name is listed in this hall of faith chapter, branding her a heroine of faith, a believer in the promise of God.

“ And by faith even Sarah, who was past childbearing age, was enabled to bear children because she considered him faithful who had made the promise.” (Hebrews 11:11 NIV)　

I identify with Sarah. (….certainly not in the childbearing thing !!)

I understand how it feels to look at the circumstances of life and chuckle in disbelief.

I think about how long I have loved and claimed the promise of God as recorded by the prophet Jeremiah, “For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”(Jeremiah 29:11 NIV)

I pray that it won’t be a long wait until I can laugh again with her, reflecting back on this day, marveling at how God has done exactly what He said. His plan is good. Whatever it is, however long it takes, it will bring a smile and laughter.

　

“Sarah said, "God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me." (Genesis 21:6 NIV)

I do laugh with you sister Sarah. And anticipate much more laughter in our future.

Standing on the promises of God ♫♪♪♫••*•♫♪♫•*•♫

　

People don’t always stand on their promises. Sadly, the trust factor between people is little to none these days. Even when something is documented, promises are broken.

I intend to keep my promises, but I too have often failed. I have learned not to make a lot of them.

Tonight, in some time alone in God’s Word, I’m thanking Him again for His faithfulness in keeping His promises. Whether any other human being is trustworthy or not, whether promises are made and kept, or made and ignored, God’s promises are sure. I can stand firmly on that.

　

“God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.” (Hebrews 6:10 NIV)

People forget, at least some of them do.

God never forgets.


　

An officer recently called our home to share a memory of when he was a rookie in training. A call came in about a woman who was causing a disturbance at a business. Eager to get there, and anticipating that they would escort the woman out of town, he was surprised to end up feeding the distraught and troubled woman, finding a way to get her shelter, contacting help for her, all of which calmed her and brought the situation under control.

What a gift it was to hear that the young officer tell the story of that day and how he had learned a valuable lesson.

Some people don’t forget.

God never forgets.

Hallelujah.

Ignorance is bliss.....

The recent events in our lives are hard to discuss. It’s complicated. But should I care to discuss it to a trusted friend, they try to understand. Their hearing me goes beyond comprehending my words. They may have never known or suspected anything amiss, they were ignorant. At least by Webster’s definition.

Webster defines ignorant as “destitute of knowledge; uninstructed or uninformed; untaught; unenlightened”

There is a huge difference in ignorance and ignoring. It’s one thing to not know something, but the offense is multiplied when we simply ignore it. Ignoring is intentional.

Do we act on what is revealed to us? Of choose to ignore?

Discerning good, recognizing evil, responding in a right way, taking appropriate action….or take no action, no active response to the revelation of truth.

　

　

The writer of Hebrews warns us about such. He stresses to us that maturity must be our goal. Learning and growing are not accidental. It is purposed. Intentional. Goal-specific.

“We have much to say about this, but it is hard to make it clear to you because you no longer try to understand.”(Hebrews 5:11 NIV)

I wonder, what has God told me to do that I have not been obedient in?

What has been revealed that I ignore?

What is it that is unclear to me simply because I refuse to engage my mind and heart to understanding?

Why should God go any further with me in the process of growing me up, if I refuse to act on the truth He has already revealed to me?

What is the last thing that you understood God instruct you to do? Have you done it? When is the last time you bent your ear to listen to Him? He still speaks, thru His Word, and has even provided a tutor, the Holy Spirit.

I purpose today to engage my entire self in understanding.

I purpose to act in obedience to whatever bit of understanding I gain, obediently participating with Him in establishing the line of communication between us.

I purpose to not ignore His still small Voice.

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

Drifting too far....

Drifting too far from the shore….

Kerry and I sing a song with that lyric, it’s one of my favorite.

Seems to be an epidemic of drifting these days. There are so many principles compromised, integrity absent, more gray areas than black and white.

Standing firmly on truth and what is right turns a person into a square peg, while there are mostly round holes.

Even in the first century there were issues. The believers who walked with Jesus, families who had such fresh experience with God in flesh, having heard for themselves, having heard from direct witnesses…and yet they drifted away, not anchored in truth.

It is imperative to have an anchor if you don’t want to drift. We must have it in possession, yet it is not enough to have it. We must carry it with us, always have it in the boat, know how to use it, and USE it. We must be familiar with it, but even familiarity can dangerous. Chunking it overboard doesn’t mean it’s anchored to anything solid, doesn’t mean waves can’t push us from the shore.

Mental assent is as useless as just having an anchor.

We say “I go to church.” “I attend bible study.” Or even “I have a degree from a bible school“ None of it makes one automatically anchored. We are warned in scripture with those first generations of Christians.
"So we must be more careful to follow what we were taught. We must be careful so that we will not be pulled away from the true way.”(Hebrews 2:1 ERV)

“….


we must pay closer attention to what we have heard. Then we won't drift away from the truth.” ( Hebrews 2:1 GW)

"Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion." Who were they who heard and rebelled? Were they not all those Moses led out of Egypt?”(Hebrews 3:16 NIV)


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


　

I’ve been led out of my own slavery, made ‘free indeed’ (John 8:35 NIV) by the blood of Jesus.

Today, I hear His Voice in scripture and hear the whispering still small Voice of the Holy Spirit.

I purpose to use the anchor I am provided. Whether anyone else does or not.

And I pray for help that I am not hardened of heart or unaware of my own drifting.


　

dik-ah-yos-oo'-nay...it's Greek to me.....

dikaiosune..... a word from the original language of scripture translated as ‘righteousness’. It is defined as the state of him who is as he ought to be, integrity, virtue, purity of life, rightness, correctness of thinking feeling, and acting, justice or the virtue which gives each his due
　
　
Righteousness and happiness. Holiness and joyfulness. I wonder, is there a connection? Or are they are mutually exclusive?
 
We are instructed to have holiness as our goal. “But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy." (1 Peter 1:15-16 NIV) If you purpose to be holy, does that mean you will be less happy?

I wonder that we don’t think being a disciple of Christ Jesus means that we give up pleasure, putting off our surrender to Him until after we have ‘sown wild oats’. The wisdom of the world concludes that being a follower of Jesus means a life of drudgery, enduring the painful days and years of behavior modification and self denial.
 
Nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, I think perhaps joy is diminishes with each compromise we make away from the goal of holiness.

Jesus was perfect. He was perfect in righteousness, and according to the writer of Hebrews quoting the Psalmist, was more joyful than all his companions. “… thou has loved righteousness and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.”(Hebrews 1:9 KJV)
 
Multitudes of people were drawn to Him. Even though He was a ‘man of sorrows‘ (Isa. 53:3 KJV) He was incredibly attractive to all sorts of people.
 
Loving righteousness= loving what is right.

It is God Who decides what is right, and whether you agree, whether the civil law agrees, or even whether national law agrees, what God says is right, simply is.

Coming to acknowledge that and choose to submit our will is the only way we find joy, only then that true happiness comes into our lives.
 
Oh, we may believe the enemy’s lie and think our behavior and activities make us happy, but until the joy of the Lord is experienced, you just have no idea what joy eludes you…..

That hurts so good....

My man has leg cramps. His feet hurt. His neck aches. His back aches….

And he likes it rubbed hard enough to make it hurt. He sucks in his breath, moans in pain, yells sometimes…and says it feels good. I don’t have the strength anymore (unless I use an elbow) to rub his aching muscles hard enough to suit him.

Now me…I don’t want it to hurt ! If I have a painful muscle, that’s quite enough for me. I’ll just let it hurt til it quits, not help it along with more discomfort. But, that’s just me….maybe cause I’m a wimpy girl…

I do know what it is like to have something hurt and feel good at the same time. The pushing in labor pains comes to mind. And recent life circumstances….　

　"Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the Lord's people. “(Philemon 1:7 NIV)

The word ‘joy’ has come alive with meaning to us. I now have cause to identify with Paul in a new way. In anticipating future prayers for those who have ministered to us, loved us, and put us at Jesus’ feet.  My heart cries ‘Amen’ even now.

I thank Him for the refreshment that came to us thru ‘the Lord’s people’, and encourage you who are ‘fellow-believers’ to add your thanksgiving to mine.

“Every time your name comes up in my prayers, I say, "Oh, thank you, God!….Friend, you have no idea how good your love makes me feel, doubly so when I see your hospitality to fellow believers.” (Philemon 1:4,7 The Message)
 
As we sang this past Lord’s Day… “blessed be Your name, when I'm found in the desert place, though I walk through the wilderness. blessed be Your name”  I bless His Name, and beg blessings on His people.

We are thankful for the joy in the suffering.

　

　

Are you a leader or mentor....?

Leader. Mentor. Is there a difference?

At what age is that rite of passage from ‘young’ to ‘old’? When is it that we can be off the hook? Surely there is a time when we could excuse ourselves because we haven’t been shown or taught…

"God overlooks it as long as you don't know any better--but that time is past. The unknown is now known…”(Acts 17:30 The Message)

Well, I guess that settles that….age has little to do with responsibility of knowing and obeying God’s Word.

　
"…teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.”(Titus 2:3-5 NIV)

I remember a time that it occurred to me that I wasn’t in the same category anymore. I’ve joked many a time about being old and tired, but in reality and as time passes, I move further away from the young category and closer to the old (and I praise Him for every day He gives).


Yet again I am challenged to look at the responsibilities ahead. We don’t ever get done. As long as there is breath, there is influence and responsibility. And whose? The young point to the old people. The old point to the young.


The young people often think the old should be perfected by now, criticizing the methods they cling to, while the older people think the young are perpetually ignorant and inadequate, refusing to allow them the space to make mistakes and learn from them. Both are often negligent in investing themselves in cultivating relationships. Mentoring …being mentored. Leading…being led.


The older person can be heard to say, ‘I’ve done my part’. The younger person conveniently uses the excuse ‘I don’t have any experience in that’. When we gain a bit of knowledge and experience in one thing, we should be able to just do that from now on, right?


Yet again these words of scripture convict me…“….teach the older women to live the way those who serve the Lord should live. They should not go around saying bad things about others or be in the habit of drinking too much. They should teach what is good. By doing this they will teach the younger women to love their husbands and children. They will teach them to be wise and pure, to take care of their homes, to be kind, and to be willing to serve their husbands. Then no one will be able to criticize the teaching God gave us.”(Titus 2:3-5 ERV)

Am I young, or old? Am I a leader, or a mentor?

Yes.

I purpose to examine myself to see that I honor God in every aspect of both.