The Pattern

"whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things." Phil 3:19

Have you ever tried to sew something?  A dress?  Curtains?  A pillow?  Button, maybe??

My Grandmother Pacholski sewed all kinds of things for me growing up...dresses, shorts, pants.  I used to love going into her sewing room.  There was an abundance of fabric, a dress form that was molded to my size, thread, machines and patterns.

Any good seamstress knows you can't make anything without a pattern.  You can try, but just ask Denise on the Cosby Show how that turns out.  The sleeves end up too long and the button holes don't match up!  

The same is true of our lives.  If we try to live life without a pattern to go by, we'll end up jacked up and useless!

Paul speaks to this in our passage today.  In Phil. 3:17, he encourages believers to follow is example and to pattern our lives after those who walk worthy.

I have some incredible people in my life that I can duplicate their pattern.  Women who poured truth into me, even when it hurt.  Women who championed for me in prayer.  Women who taught me how to love Jesus and a family. I've watched them grieve, yet not without hope.  They stay true to their convictions.  Always at the feet of Jesus, wanting more of him.  These are my "Paul patterns."  

My hope is that I too can produce a pattern some would want to follow.  That my children and those I am blessed to mentor in the faith would see Jesus in me and want more of him.  That I would not hesitate to speak the truth in love.  That I would tirelessly pray for them.  That they would see me running a race, valuing Jesus as a priceless treasure, dependent upon him.  I never, never, never want to be described as an "enemy of Christ" (vs. 18)  A fake Christian...one who's path is destruction, whose god is sensuality or appetite, who glories in shameful things and whose mindset it the here and now.

Steve Green has a song that depicts my heart (if you don't know who he is...you weren't born in the 80's Baptist church lol)

Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful
May the fire of our devotion light their way
May the footprints that we leave
Lead them to believe
And the lives we live inspire them to obey
Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful

Today, think about those people in your life that have shown you a godly pattern.  What do they do that points to Him?  How do they live?  How do they love?  Now...imitate it. 

Running-The Mark of Maturity

"Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, have this attitude; and if in anything you have a different attitude, God will reveal that also to you;" Phil 3:15

I am NOT a runner.  I don't get the thrill or adrenaline rush a lot of my friends do when they take to the open road, wind rushing past them as they run in cadence with nature all around them, their breathing timed perfectly to their steps.

No...I look like a dying animal, running for it's life, sucking wind and cramping!  I hate every minute of it.

The other day, though, while walking the Comet Trail, I became a runner... if but for only a moment.  Eli was riding his bike ahead of the group.  He eventually got a little too far ahead of us and I couldn't see him any more.  When he didn't come into view again soon, maternal instinct kicked in and I took off running to catch up with him.  I wasn't thinking of anything but the goal...finding my baby boy.  Quitting wasn't an option until I had him safely in my view again.

Today's scripture is Eph 3:1-15 which is Paul's personal testimony on his race to the finish.  Our focus verse is vs.15.  When I first read it, the word perfect had me puzzled.  Nobody's perfect!  I will never be perfect this side of Heaven!  So of course I looked it up and the same word can be translated as "mature."  That's a little easier to swallow.

Paul says that the mature Christian will have the same attitude that He has had.  So let's unpack what that attitude/mindset is:

1.  Worship God in the Spirit and glorify Jesus (vs. 3)
     Paul again is warning us about focusing on legalism.  He wants us to firmly grasp the we are saved by what Jesus alone has done for us.  Our pride is in Him alone and our lives are for his glory!

2.  Put no confidence in the flesh (vs. 3)
     A mature mindset says, "It doesn't matter how long I've been a Christian, who my parents are, what my job is, what material things I own, or how frequently I serve."  The only thing of value in my life is Jesus.  Paul gives his resume in vs 5-6.  His pedigree was outstanding!  He was the "Jew of Jews" but to him, it was all worthless.  

3.  Knowing Jesus surpasses everything (vs. 8)
     The Amplified version of vs 8 truly explains what KNOWING Jesus is:
"Yes, furthermore, I count everything as loss compared to the possession of the priceless privilege (the overwhelming preciousness, the surpassing worth, and supreme advantage) of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord and of progressively becoming more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him [of perceiving and recognizing and understanding Him more fully and clearly]. For His sake I have lost everything and consider it all to be mere rubbish (refuse, dregs), in order that I may win (gain) Christ (the Anointed One),"
The mature mindset says, "Nothing is more important than getting more and more intimately acquainted with Jesus.  It is a priceless privilege!  He is my treasure and the goal of my life...everything else is garbage."

4.  Be found in Him (vs. 9)
     The word for found in the Greek is heuriskō.  One of it's definitions is how I want my life to be described:  to be discovered, recognized, detected, to show one's self out, of one's character or state as found out by others (men, God, or both).  I want to be discovered as His, recognized as His, detected doing His work.  My character is His character.  

5.  Press on (vs. 12)
     Am I mature yet?  Gracious NO!  Do I quit striving towards the goal of maturity?  No, sir!  Paul says to keep going, keep reaching toward the purpose.  Verse 12 is just awesome to me..."Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus."  The word for "lay hold of" is katalambanō which can also be translated apprehend or comprehend.  Christ apprehended me so I can comprehend Him!! How cool is that!!!

To sum it all up, Paul uses the runner's example in vs. 13,14.  They train for the race, they leave everything at the starting line, and they don't stop til they reach the finish.  

Let me tell you how I know I'm not mature...because all too often I do put confidence in my accomplishments, I don't think Jesus is the ultimate prize and I quit all the time!  The encouraging part of this verse is that Paul says if we don't have this mindset, God will reveal it to us (vs.15).  And through our weaknesses, He is strong! (2 Cor. 12:9,10)

My prayer today is that I will train to run the race to maturity.  That I will desire Jesus above everything else.  And that I will press on...and press on...and press on.






















     

Attitude Adjustment

" Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus," Phil 2:5

Boy, do I need an attitude adjustment every now and then!  I can have a rotten one sometimes.  In fact, a few weeks ago (when I actually penned this post), it was downright foul.  I was selfish and self-centered.  Quick to get angry with the people i love the most.  I'd really been letting the flesh rule.  I don't know why my husband didn't kick me out of the house!  Looking back, I make myself sick...every been there?  Disgusted by your own attitude?  Don't even want to be around yourself?  Yep...that's where I was at.  Stinkin Devil...trying and succeeding in stealing my joy!

God likes to keep me on a short leash, so he plants me in scripture right where I need it.  Where I need to marinate.  I needed to marinate in Jesus' attitude.  

Phil. 2:5-11 is a beautifully worded account of Jesus' attitude toward his time here on earth.  If anyone had a reason to have a bad attitude, it was him!

-He is Lord of creation, God in the flesh
-He gave up HEAVEN and the worship of angels to put on skin to walk among us
-He became a human with all of it's hindrances like sickness, hunger, weariness
-He suffered rejection, loss, betrayal
-People thought he was crazy or demon possessed
-People didn't listen to him
-People begged for his death
-People beat him, spit on him, nailed him to a cross, and watched him die

Most of us would have said to heck with all of em!  Let them rot in hell!  I'm not doing this anymore!

But, thank you, Jesus, you didn't.

Instead his attitude was to humble himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross (vs.8).

There are many things God asks me to be obedient to in my life...death on a physical cross hasn't been one of them.  In these seemingly small requests, I have held out obedience because my attitude isn't right.  The excuses flow easily, each one stemming from what I am "entitled" to.

Today, we are driven by entitlement.  We all "deserve" a good job where we are happy, a nicer car, a comfortable house, money to spend on ourselves, time away, vacations, nice clothes, golf, guns, a new hair do, etc, etc, etc.

Truth is, we "deserve" none of it!  Everything we have is a gift from God.  Everything.  Even what we see as burdensome.  That job God has placed you in that is less than desirable.  The lack of "me" time due to caring for your family.  The house that needs repair.  The car that needs tires.  

All.gifts.from.God.

Today, instead of looking through the eyes of entitlement, let's look through the eyes of Jesus.

-Let's empty ourselves of what we think we deserve.
-Let's voluntarily give up our freedom to be subject to the Lord's work in our circumstances.
-Let's humbly and obediently accept that where God has us right now is EXACTLY where he wants us.  To make us more like him and to reach those around us for Christ.  To grow us and use us.

This attitude of submission to the Father's will is not going to come easily or naturally.  It is a choice we have to make daily...sometimes hourly.  It' hard but so worth the payout. 

A Broken Record

It's been so long, I don't know where to begin...

I had a conversation recently with a dear friend about the Christian's walk and it's ups and downs.  There are times in your walk where you are over the top in love with the Lord.  You long for time with him...you just can't wait to sit at Jesus' feet and glean from his wisdom through his word and prayer.  You just aren't complete without it!  These are the mountain tops.

Then there come times where you feel distant from him.  His close presence isn't felt, in fact, you feel the Devil more!  It's a discipline, not a desire, to spend time in the word and prayer.  You feel a little defeated and weary.  These are the valleys.

I've been in a valley for awhile and, honestly, I haven't felt like writing.

I kinda feel like a broken record.  My outcry to the Lord went a little something like this:

"Don't you get tired of me?  I'm tired of me!  My prayers are always the same!  I do do what I don't want to do and I don't do what I do want to do.  It's exhausting..."

Thus the broken record that keeps playing the same old song.

Instead of leaving me in the valley of defeat, my God chooses to walk me thru them and up to higher ground-each and every time.  He never tires of me, for he knows the outcome of my life.  That makes me want to weep, in fact, I am as I write this.  All the victories and defeats are carefully under his gaze.  At my lowest, he is there to lift me up.  At my highest, he is there to keep me level.  He is my strong tower, my refuge and my deliverer! Oh, how grateful and blessed I am to know the One who hold every tear in a bottle, who wants good for me not harm, who runs to embrace this prodigal child as she wanders home dirty and used by the Enemy.  Lord, you are beautiful and I am garbage, but for you your Son...and he loves me anyway!

You see, this broken record can be fixed.  During my outcry to the Father the other day,  He gave me a verse that is now emblazoned on my heart.  I now have 2 life verses.  The first is Jer 29:11 and now I also have Phil. 2:13.

"For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him." 

As I memorize and meditate on this word, I feel the presence again and the power with it.  He has not quit working, even when I have.  It promises hope and desire...a new start, for his mercies are new every morning.

I know this post is off topic as it doesn't contain the word phroneo, but at least it's in Philippians LOL
I know there is someone else out there who feels like a failure and needs encouragement.  God bless you, friend, you are not alone.  May God speak his love and purpose over you as you read this.

And be assured...the mountain top is coming soon!

Your Pastor's Complete Joy

 "make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose." Phil. 2:2

Pastors are special people.  They give of themselves all day long and twice on Sunday.  They tirelessly work for the kingdom, count the cost, lay down their lives and, bless em, shepherd us pitiful lambs.  I am fortunate to have a pretty great Pastor...one who exemplifies all of the above mentioned things.  I praise and thank God every day that He has raised up this man for such a time as this.  Pastor J wouldn't want the praise directed anywhere but back to the Lord, exactly where it should go.  So...praise be to God for working through him to reach this body and county for Christ!

Have you ever thought about what truly makes your Pastor's joy complete?  I gotta say, I hadn't until I studied this passage of Philippians.  What really lights a fire in his heart regarding the body of believers he leads?

Paul was a pastor/shephard to a LOT of people.  He traveled all over the middle east and beyond telling people of God's grace.  He tells us in this chapter what makes him smile ear to ear.  

When we as the body submit ourselves to the call of God and work together, not only is our earthly shepherd pleased but more so is our Heavenly Shepherd.  They love nothing more than to see us of the same mind, loving others, united in Spirit and intently working together toward the purpose of advancing the Kingdom.  

Paul tells us exactly how to do this: by taking Christ's attitude (vs. 5)

Jesus Christ, who is God the Son, emptied himself of all entitlement and became a bond servant for us.  A bond servant voluntarily gives up his freedom to become a slave.  We too must voluntarily give up our entitlement issues, our pride, our preferences and humble ourselves to serve each other.  AND...we are to do all this without grumbling or arguing (vs. 14).  

Why?
Why should we give up what WE want for others?
Why should we be unified?

-To show the world Jesus.
-So we will be blameless and innocent before the people who want nothing more to point a finger at Christ followers in accusation (vs. 15).  Ever heard the comment, "Why should I go to church?  They back stab each other worse than anyone I know?"  I have and it breaks my heart.
-We are the light to them.  To show how God's people are to treat each other and those around them. (vs. 15)
-So our pastors know that what they work so hard to accomplish is not done in vain (vs. 16).  Pastors need encouragement too!

Church, let's bond together in unity!  To love extravagantly, to work tirelessly alongside each other.  To glorify God and to lift up our shepherds.  All denominations, all races, ALL God's people.

Pray for me, Friend

"For it is only right for me to feel this way about you all, because I have you in my heart"  Phil. 1:7a


There is nothing better than a great friend.  The ones that have seen you through the fire.  The ones you laugh with.  The ones who have held you at your lowest.  The ones that are blood even though you aren't related.  I am so very blessed to have a few of these.

Today starts a journey in this study of the word phroneo into the book of Philippians.  I'm gonna be here awhile and that is just fine with me, because it's one of my favorites.  There is such richness here.  

Paul begins this letter by greeting his friends and coworkers in the faith.  His attitude toward them is one I hope to show to the dear people in my life that I have the pleasure of doing life with.  

In verses 3 and 4, he says that every time he thinks of them, he thanks God for them.  Always praying for them joyfully.

During a recent conversation with one of my dear friends, I became clearly aware of just how much people depend on ME for prayer.  This may sound arrogant but it's not.  There are several people that look to me to pray for them and assume that I am doing just that.  Let me tell you...that is a sobering thought.  It's by no means a burden...it's an honor.  They ask me to pray when they have no words.  They ask me to pray to beg the Father for change, or healing, or revival, or for family members who desperately need him.  They ask me to pray because they know God is the only one who can change their situations.  NOTHING gives me greater pleasure than to intercede for friends and then watch as God does his thing in their lives, accomplishing things that make me praise him and sit back in awe.  BEST. HIGH. EVER!!!

What sobered me during that revelation was that I have been slack in the prayer department lately.  Not taking the time to go to the throne for those who need the support and have ASKED me for it.  When someone humbles themselves to ask for prayer...they NEED it.  It's not a light request.  It's a true need.  I hate to even admit that I have said I'd pray and then promptly forget about it and go on about my business.  

As I took time to reflect on this, I began to rewind the tape of their lives recently.  I noticed three things:

1.  Their lives were noticeably tougher.
     Their circumstances hadn't changed, but the way they were reacting to them was.  The enemy has been reeking havoc in their lives and they were feeling defeated.  Reacting out of flesh instead of Spirit.  I hadn't been praying protection over them, an outpouring of the Spirit in their lives, a touch of the Father.  Please don't take this as arrogance or me saying that MY prayers are more powerful to move God's hand than anyone else's.  I do believe that as God's child, I have the right (because of Jesus) to ask things of my Father and that he bends his ear to listen.  Scripture clearly supports this over and over.  He has also proved to do just that in the lives of those I have gone to battle over in the prayer realm.  

2.  My counsel for them was lacking.
     I wasn't able to give them godly advice because I hadn't asked God what to say.  I take counseling those who seek it a very serious matter.  I don't EVER want to give counsel that is mine, only HIS.  If they take the advice given, and it's not from the Lord, there could be great consequences.  Heaven forbid it!!  I want God forming every word that comes from my mouth.  

3.  My relationship with God was distant.
     Slack off in the prayer department and spending time in the Word isn't far behind.  And I NEED time in the Word or my ugly flesh will rise up and overtake me.  Prayer and devotional time go hand in hand.  The good news is that the intimacy lacking in my relationship is just a prayer away.  Once I recognize the distance, I want to quickly repent of not making Him a priority and dive deep into some time with him again.  He is always there when I come home.  

So, here is my commitment to you, dear friends...

From today forward, I promise to 
1.  Pray for you joyfully (vs. 4)
2.  Happily remember how far God has brought you on your journey (vs. 5)
3.  Claim the promise that God will complete the good work in you 
      He started (vs. 6)
4.  Hold you in my heart (vs. 7)

DAILY...EVERY TIME I think of you..because I sure do love you!!

Finding God's Favor

"I have confidence in you in the Lord that you will adopt no other view; but the one who is disturbing you will bear his judgment, whoever he is." Gal 5:10

Ever find yourself wondering, "How do I receive God's favor?"  I know I've wondered that question.  Is there something more I should be doing? Am I doing something wrong?  Not praying enough, studying enough, serving enough, giving enough?  What's a sister gotta do to see things go her way sometimes?

The thing is we can't do ANYTHING to earn God's favor.  It's called GRACE and it's given freely to his children.  Oh, we'll try, by golly, we'll try to earn it.  Just like the Galatians that Paul was speaking to here.  

Paul starts this part of his letter with one of my favorite verses in all scripture.  "It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery."  Jesus did not die on a cross to FREE me from the bondage of having to DO things (the Law) so that I would eventually put those chains back on again.  He died to set me free FOREVER.  

The law was created in the OT to ultimately show us that there was no possible way we could ever live the holy life God requires--NO way.  There were over 400 of them (ck out Leviticus and Deuteronomy)  I have a hard time with keeping the main 10!  The Law points to our need for a Savior, a Messiah, who would fulfill the Law on our behalf, sacrificing HIMSELF for all our sin, ultimately freeing us from the burden of all those laws.  When we accept Jesus' sacrifice was meant for us and ask him to lead our lives as Lord, that freedom is ours!!!  Hallelujah!!!

But, too often, we feel we need to contribute to our salvation.  So, we go to church hoping God sees our efforts and will look kindly on us or show us favor in some area we think we need or want.  We do all the "religious" things all the while missing the relationship (vs. 2-4).  

Instead of trying to earn God's favor by DOING things, we should "eagerly wait to receive by faith the righteousness God has promised to us." (vs 5)  God's favor expressed through making us totally holy and righteous is coming-when we one day get to Heaven, otherwise called Glorification, the removal of sin from our midst...Hallelujah again!  Until that day, what's important is "faith expressing itself in love." (vs. 6)

Does God want you to go to church to worship Him with other believers?
Absolutely
Does He want you to read your Bible and pray?
Absolutely
Does He want you to serve others and give tithes to his kingdom?
Absolutely

He just doesn't want you to do it to earn points with gain or gain favor that's already yours.  He wants those acts to come out of relationship.  A NEED in you to spend time with Him and get to know him better.  A desire to give yourself and what money He's given you back to him out of gratefulness for what he's done for you.  

Now, that's FREEDOM...

The Greatness of Love

 ^"When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things." 1 Cor. 13:11

Today's passage of Scripture might be one of the more recognizable in the Bible.  It's used at countless weddings every day...and if some of the couples that used it actually put it to practice, the divorce rate might not be so high...just sayin.

The verse containing the word phroneo is not the main focus of what God had to say to me today.  Sometimes He speaks through a specific verse...more often then not, it's the whole chapter.  Today is no different. 

LOVE

The word gets misused and thrown around way more often than it should.  We fall in love so easily and out of it just as fast.  To God, it is his character.  He IS love.  He can't NOT love.  Satan, the father of lies, of course, has rewritten it's definition over and over.  Thankfully, though, God wrote down his definition lest we forget it.  Here in 1 Cor 13, he is VERY clear on what true love is.

Let's do a little chart comparison of God's vs Satan's definition, shall we?

Love is:

            GOD                                                                                        SATAN

Patient                                               until...                         you are tired of this person
Kind                                                                                  they make you mad
Not Jealous                                                                        they have something you want
Does Not Brag                                                                  you have something they want
Not Arrogant                                                                     you feel you deserve more attention
Act Unbecomingly                                                            you feel consideration has gotten you
                                                                                             nowhere
Does Not Seek It's Own                                                    your needs are being met
Not Irritable                                                                      you are "having a bad day"
Doesn't Hold A Grudge                                                    your feelings are hurt
Doesn't Rejoice in Unrighteousness                                 you feel they are getting what they deserve
Rejoices in the Truth                                                        you feel they should get what they deserve
                                                                                               but God shows them mercy and it makes
                                                                                               you mad
Bears All Things                                                               it becomes unbearable
Believes All Things                                                           it becomes ludicrous
Hopes All Things                                                               you figure there is no hope
Endures All Things                                                            you are tired of trying
NEVER Fails                                                                     you decide to quit

When writing out this list, I began to see that God's list doesn't rely upon EMOTIONS.  It deals in absolutes.  I don't FEEL love, I DO it.  Satan's list is ALL about how you feel at the moment.  Emotions lie...everyday, all day.

Paul starts this part of his letter to the Corinthians by saying (my paraphrase of course) "You can be the most spiritually gifted person on the planet, but if you ain't got love, you ain't got nuthin!"  You can spout of Scripture all day or have the faith to tell a mountain to move or give everything to the poor, but if we don't practice LOVE, we are just noisy, bankrupt people.  And then he gives us the list. 

This the Message paraphrase of the last verses in this chapter, it is just beautiful:

^8-10 Love never dies. Inspired speech will be over some day; praying in tongues will end; understanding will reach its limit. We know only a portion of the truth, and what we say about God is always incomplete. But when the completeness arrives, our incompletes will be canceled.

¹¹ When I was an infant at my mother’s breast, I gurgled and cooed like any infant. When I grew up, I left those infant ways for good.
¹² We don’t yet see things clearly. We’re squinting in a fog, peering through a mist. But it won’t be long before the weather clears and the sun shines bright! We’ll see it all then, see it all as clearly as God sees us, knowing him directly just as he knows us!
¹³ But for right now, until that completeness, we have three things to do to lead us toward that consummation: Trust steadily in God, hope unswervingly, love extravagantly. And the best of the three is love.

ONE DAY we will be complete before God but until then, let's love extravagantly those around us.  Choosing NOT to let the Enemy use our emotions to drive wedges but instead to actively choose to love each other. 

On a side note...there is no clause here that says to only love those that are loving you back, is there?  Those are the hardest people to show love to...
and the ones who need it the most...

Navigating through the Grey Areas

"The one who observes the day does it for the Lord. The one who eats, eats for the Lord because he gives thanks to God, and the one who abstains from eating abstains for the Lord, and he gives thanks to God." Rom. 14:6 (NET)

Let me start by thanking all of you who have been following this journey of mine for all of your encouragement.  I have been blessed by those who have told me that this blog has helped them on their walk.  That anyone cares about what I have to say enough to read this absolutely astounds me!!  I am the least equipped to teach anyone anything, but God sees fit to work through the least of these.  I know that it's been almost a month since my last post.  In truth, I have battled and struggled over the content of this one.  

The Grey areas...dun, dun, dun...

The subject matter is very controversial...in the church body, in my own family.  What do you do with the issues of conscience (as the header in my Bible puts it)?  Those subjects of conviction that can cause families to divide, churches to split, judgmental attitudes to soar, and people to act downright mean to each other.  For newbies, "grey areas" are things not marked out in scripture as clearly right or wrong.  

In the time of Paul, the early church members were arguing over eating meat vs being vegetarian and what day is the right day to observe Sabbath.  Both were hot topics as there was a mixture of converted Jews and Gentile believers in the body at this time.  The infighting was so awful Paul states, "Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food." (vs 20).  

Oh, do we do this today too!  We judge each other all day long over the grey areas like music preferences, whether women should wear pants or makeup or teach men, if you mow your yard on Sunday or rest all day, and the most controversial one....whether or not to drink any strong drink aka alcohol.  If we don't do these things, we can get a "holier than thou" attitude.  If we do do them, we can get an attitude of superiority because we live in freedom from legalism.  Both which break God's heart!

Let's break down the whole chapter to  see how we are SUPPOSED to treat each other regarding these convictions: 

vs. 1-10-  Don't argue over differing opinions.  If you are convinced that it is wrong, then don't do it.  If you are convinced it is not, then do it.  Whatever you do, do it for the Lord.  Quit judging each other!  That's God's job and we will all stand before him one day and give an account of our lives.

vs. 14-  Nothing in itself is unclean (or wrong), BUT...if it is your conviction that it is, then to do it is sin.  

vs. 15-  If you use your freedom in Christ to hurt another brother, you are wrong.  

vs. 16-17- If you do not have the same conviction as another, do not let them call it evil.  God's kingdom isn't about these trifling things but about living in the Spirit.

vs. 18-19-  You are acceptable to God when you respect each other.  Pursue peace and edification of the body.  

vs. 20-23-  Keep your eyes on the goal...the work of God.  Be careful what you press on others.  The Holy Spirit will convict you on what areas of your life you need to lose and those you need to keep.  Pressing what is free for you to do onto one who has an opposite conviction is wrong and could lead them to stumble before God.  

The bottom line is this:  

No matter what the grey area is

1.  Stand by your convictions.  They are your plumb line with the Lord.  If you are easily swayed to change them...they aren't convictions.  

2.  Don't press your convictions on another brother or sister.  That's their business with the Lord.

3.  Listen to the Spirit's lead on the areas you need to put aside.  Things that are free for you to do but to help a weaker Christian, may need to go away for awhile.  For more on this, read II Cor. 9.  

It's all about setting your mind to put others before yourself.  The Golden Rule.  Simple, huh??  

The Lowly Among Us

 "Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation." Rom. 12:16

I have procrastinated and procrastinated studying this scripture.  The reason escaped me.  Maybe I wasn't ready for it's message until now.  With the rejuvenation of my last blog, I was eager to delve into it today though.  And I didn't have to go any further than this verse to receive the toe stomping message God delivered.  I'm going to go ahead and tell you that my toes are purple and yours might be too after you read it.  I do not apologize for truth.  If it stings, be assured I felt it too.  But there is beauty in repentance and the work the Spirit does through it.

Paul instructs believers here to be unified in our thoughts toward each other, not to be proud but to associate with the lowly (tapeinos), and to not think too much of ourselves.  

AGAIN with the self-absorption??  Really??
Didn't I just study this subject in verse 3?
Apparently, we are a self-absorbed people and need it over and over again...

I don't consider myself a snob.  Do you? But, of course, snobs never see themselves that way, do they?

The question God posed to me is "How do you associate with the lowly, Beth?"

OUCH

Truth is...I don't.  I sit in my pretty house, go to my pretty church, hang out with my pretty friends, and ignore all the lowly around me.  I justify this behavior with lines like: "I'm too busy to volunteer." or "I don't know where to help." or my favorite, "I am the prayer warrior behind the scenes."

I wanted a definition for lowly.  The Greek word is tapeinos meaning of low degree, depressed by grief, humble.  

The lowly among us are:
-The homeless who desperately need hope.
-The young women who are pregnant and battling the choice to have the baby or not.
-The addicts who need to know freedom.
-The prisoners who's choices have taken them from their lives to live away from family.
-The widow and the grieving parent. 
-They are our neighbors, people in our cities, in line with us in the store.  They are EVERYWHERE.

But instead of seeing these people as Jesus does, we avert our eyes, judge them in our minds, laugh at them behind their backs, thank God it's not us.  We are pious and high minded and UN-CHRISTLIKE.

Shame on us...shame on me!!

I believe, church, that the time has come for us to rise up.  To quit treating our salvation as entry into the country club, but instead to live lives so led by the Spirit within us that if He asked you to give everything to help a lowly person, we would do so without flinching.  Please know that I feel the sting of reproof and I don't intend to preach with out practicing.  I am taking the next 7 days to fast and pray over where specifically God wants me to reach out.  There are so many places in this city that could be:  The Homeless Shelter, The Women's Resource Center, Flowery Branch Children's home, The Bartow County Jail, etc.

I encourage you to pray too and let the Lord lead you to love the lowly YOU are to touch.  I believe Jesus was the greatest example of this for us, don't you??  He gave everything to touch me...and you.  Oh such grace!

Heaven...and a Baby

"Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth." Col. 3:2 NLT

I know it's been awhile since my last posting.  Life has been busy.  But what else is new, right??  I have to admit, after being on a roll with the Scriptures, I came to a point of...weariness.  I don't know how else to explain it.  Living out this journey sometimes brings that.   But God is faithful to feed us in our weariness.

We are revisiting this scripture today from a different perspective...one I hadn't focused on until a couple of Sundays ago.  In our Adult Bible Study on Sunday mornings we are studying the book of Colossians.  I help teach the 4th grade boys class every other month, so I am only am able to attend on my off months.  I didn't know we were studying this book until 2 weeks ago.  And this was the verse we focused on my first week back.  Coincidence...I don't think so!!

Our teacher, Shep, brought out an entirely different viewpoint for me.  That's one thing I absolutely love about God's word and the Holy Spirit.  He imprints each of us with different truths about the same passage and it all works together!  

HEAVEN

There's the view.  
How often do we think about our real home?
How often do we listen to songs about it?
How often do yearn for heaven and home?
How often???

That was Shep's challenge.  To find time during the week to really meditate on it.  And so I did. And driving to work the next Tues, this post began to form in my mind....with a twist.  

As many of you know, my brother, Stephen, and sister in love, Amanda, have just experienced the thrill of new life.  Phoebe Grace Pacholski entered the world this past Sunday night!  The journey towards her birth and thoughts of my coming home collaborated on that drive.  There are so many emotions, anticipations, expectations, and preparations that envelope the arrival of a baby.  I think they coincide easily with our journey toward heaven as well.

Emotions:
We all know the crazy realm of emotions we go through during a pregnancy...even when you aren't the one carrying the baby.  There is excitement, anxiousness, joy, nervousness, impatience.  

On our journey to heaven we experience the same.  An excitement to be in the place where we are fully loved and accepted...no fear...no mourning...no rejection...nothing but peace and love.  An anxiousness to get there when times are really tough down here on earth.  Absolutely joy when we remember who is waiting to greet us.  Nervousness because we don't exactly know what it's going to be like...there is that great white throne to appear in front of (eek!)  And if you're like me, impatience to JUST GET THERE already!  Come, Lord Jesus!!

Anticipations:
Anticipating the arrival of a baby is excruciating at times!!  It's seems like FOREVER til they arrive.  You anticipate what they will look like.  How much they will weigh.  Is it a boy or girl.  How it will feel to hold them in your arms and love something beyond yourself.  

The same is true of our wait for heaven.  I can't wait to see Jesus' face!!!  To be held by the One who gave everything for me.  To see the home He has prepared for me.  To see the great cloud of witnesses that have gone before me.  To view beauty beyond imagination.

Expectations:
While awaiting to meet the little person inside the womb, expectations arise.  You expect to have sleepless nights, tired days, overwhelming joy and love, gifts to help you and the baby, friends and family to help you raise this sweet little one.  You expect they'll be healthy and grow mightily.

We also have expectations for our forever home.  Yours will differ from others. I expect that I will get to have conversations with heroes of the faith like Corrie Ten Boome, Paul, Peter, David, Billy Graham, and my Grandfather.  There will be hours of those...or so I expect.  I expect that I'll sing like I've never sung...a song I've never had until then.  I expect that the music of heaven is so beautiful that earthly ears couldn't even stand it!  I expect that Jesus will have ample time to sit with me and every other person there.

Preparation:
Preparing for a new baby takes endless work and planning.  You don't bring a child into your home with out necessities!  Diapers, wipes, a bed, food, etc.  Who wouldn't prepare??

How do we prepare for heaven??
The question of the day...

YOU READ THE WORD and PUT IT INTO PRACTICE!!!

I think that one pretty much speaks for itself.  You don't walk this journey to home with out preparation.  To do so would leave you vulnerable to the enemy who seeks to steal your joy, attack your mind, cause you to act as other than who you truly are...a child of the King.  Preparing myself each day to tough out the journey is what this year is all about for me.  Praying each day for strength and conviction when necessary.  Chewing on the food of the Word to give me nourishment.  Listening to the Spirit's lead.  Telling others what God is doing in and around me.  Giving myself to the kingdom.

That's preparation.
And listening to a few old songs about the home I so long for...That'll do it everytime.

This song was one of my Grandma's favorites and I know she's seeing with her eyes what I can only long for right now...

I'm kind of homesick for a country

to which I've never been before.

No sad goodbyes will there be spoken,

And time won't matter anymore

Beulah Land I'm longing for you,

and someday on thee I'll stand.

There my home shall be eternal.

Beulah Land... sweet Beulah Land

I'm looking now across that river

to where my faith is gonna end in sight.

Theres just a few more days to labor,

Then I'll take, my heavenly flight

Beulah Land I'm longing for you,

and someday on thee I'll stand.

There my home shall be eternal.

Beulah Land, Sweet Beulah land