II Corinthians 4:16-18
"Therefore, we do not loose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."
What am I focusing my eyes on?
Things of this world that are temporary and ever changing or things of God? Things that will last forever and help me not only build a legacy here on earth but to also help me put up stores in heaven. Focusing on God helps us be unwavering, strong and determined. Focusing on God creates a sense of humility that cannot be accomplished by focusing on anything temporary.
Paul says in verse 17 that our troubles are LIGHT and and momentary. Earlier Paul used the word light as an expression of illumination but here he is referring to weight. Rather than troubles being something that weigh us down and become burdensome, we should look at them as light and momentary. Everything in this world is temporary....even our troubles. We must have troubles so that we can show God's strength to others around by how we handle those trials and troubles. They build humility as well. The knowledge that we are so weak in our humaness makes us stronger in Christ.
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Treasure Containers
Paul the Apostle is always such an inspiring individual to me. To think today of someone being stoned to death and surviving, let alone to be beaten, imprisoned, shipwrecked, stoned and so on, and survive with a positive attitude ...WOW!
II Corinthians 4:7-15 "7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 8 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 10 We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. 11 For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body. 12 So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.
13 It is written: “I believed; therefore I have spoken.”[b] Since we have that same spirit of[c] faith, we also believe and therefore speak, 14 because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you to himself. 15 All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God."
The analogy of the clay pot here is perfect for what we go through as Christians who are seeking to grow closer to God. That lump of clay is softened by kneading it and mashing it and contorting it to get the air pockets out. All the empty spots are removed and filled in with dense body. Freshly harvested clay is pushed through screens to remove any small stones or other debris that might be in it. If they were to shape a clay pot and then cure it in the kiln any debris would heat up and cause cracks or even cause an explosion destroying the pot. A potter takes that clay and presses and contorts the vessel until it looks like what he wants or how he pictures that clay to be. Our heavenly Father puts us through tests and trials, molds us, makes us into what He envisions us to be. Like a true potter, He never sees the clay for the shapeless lump that it starts out to be. He sees us for what we will be in our final state, living in Glory with Him and covered in Jesus blood.
Verse 9 says "persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed." He never leaves us just sitting on the table to dry out. He makes every effort to shape us into acontributing and usable vessel. What is it that shapes is? Trials and trouble are part of one of those things. Blessings are others. We often look at the trials and tribulations of life as the things that are shaping us but God often changes and molds us with blessings as well. Do we remember more of the negative experiences we go through or the positive ones? I am afraid that we often see more of the down side than the up side. Our blessings like children, sunsets, animal shpaes int he clouds, the first blooms of spring, a cool kiss on a warm forehead, a tender look, a genuine embrace, the gift of laughter, and even the twinkle of an eye are blessings we can see every day if we want to and they make us who we are.
Be flexible. Be moldable. Become a vessel.
II Corinthians 4:7-15 "7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 8 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 10 We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. 11 For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body. 12 So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.
13 It is written: “I believed; therefore I have spoken.”[b] Since we have that same spirit of[c] faith, we also believe and therefore speak, 14 because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you to himself. 15 All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God."
The analogy of the clay pot here is perfect for what we go through as Christians who are seeking to grow closer to God. That lump of clay is softened by kneading it and mashing it and contorting it to get the air pockets out. All the empty spots are removed and filled in with dense body. Freshly harvested clay is pushed through screens to remove any small stones or other debris that might be in it. If they were to shape a clay pot and then cure it in the kiln any debris would heat up and cause cracks or even cause an explosion destroying the pot. A potter takes that clay and presses and contorts the vessel until it looks like what he wants or how he pictures that clay to be. Our heavenly Father puts us through tests and trials, molds us, makes us into what He envisions us to be. Like a true potter, He never sees the clay for the shapeless lump that it starts out to be. He sees us for what we will be in our final state, living in Glory with Him and covered in Jesus blood.
Verse 9 says "persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed." He never leaves us just sitting on the table to dry out. He makes every effort to shape us into acontributing and usable vessel. What is it that shapes is? Trials and trouble are part of one of those things. Blessings are others. We often look at the trials and tribulations of life as the things that are shaping us but God often changes and molds us with blessings as well. Do we remember more of the negative experiences we go through or the positive ones? I am afraid that we often see more of the down side than the up side. Our blessings like children, sunsets, animal shpaes int he clouds, the first blooms of spring, a cool kiss on a warm forehead, a tender look, a genuine embrace, the gift of laughter, and even the twinkle of an eye are blessings we can see every day if we want to and they make us who we are.
Be flexible. Be moldable. Become a vessel.
Saturday, October 20, 2012
John 17 Part II
20 “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— 23 I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.
24 “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.
25 “Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. 26 I have made you[e] known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.”
"Worship God"
Christ focuses only on God in His prayer. He is consistently referring to how He and the Father are joined and how the Father has given Him this and that and reminding the Father of what has happened and asking for other things to occur so that God the Father might be glorified further. What an example of submissive, focused prayer.
Christ mentions that we are getting to know God through himself as well. We cannot commune with or know God without the access granted through Christ. He himself is beseeching God to allow us communion but only after we know Him. The knowledge of God's love for His Son is a necessary component for Christ to live in us. Without the knowledge of God's love, how can we realize how much He loves us and what a sacrifice it was for God to give His Son to pay for our sins. Amazing!
20 “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— 23 I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.
24 “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.
25 “Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. 26 I have made you[e] known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.”
"Worship God"
Christ focuses only on God in His prayer. He is consistently referring to how He and the Father are joined and how the Father has given Him this and that and reminding the Father of what has happened and asking for other things to occur so that God the Father might be glorified further. What an example of submissive, focused prayer.
Christ mentions that we are getting to know God through himself as well. We cannot commune with or know God without the access granted through Christ. He himself is beseeching God to allow us communion but only after we know Him. The knowledge of God's love for His Son is a necessary component for Christ to live in us. Without the knowledge of God's love, how can we realize how much He loves us and what a sacrifice it was for God to give His Son to pay for our sins. Amazing!
Friday, October 19, 2012
Jesus Prayer For Us
John 17
6 “I have revealed you[a] to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word. 7 Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you. 8 For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me. 9 I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours. 10 All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them. 11 I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of[b] your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one. 12 While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by[c] that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled.
13 “I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. 14 I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. 15 My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. 17 Sanctify them by[d] the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. 19 For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.
Jesus is talking to His heavenly Father about the disciples in vs. 6-19.
He refers to the disciples as "those whom you gave me" and clarifies that they were God's property to give. Christ reminds his heavenly Father that He followed instructions by giving them the words God gave Christ and that not only did they accept what was told them but they also recognized who Christ was. Christ shows concern for His friends in the reality that persecution would definately befall them after His departure from this world. He asks the heavenly Father to protect them by the power of His name. My heart is warmed by this request. Even though Christ and His Father are one, he is compassionate and humble enough to request protection and to acknowledge the absolute divinity held by God the Father. A place that only God can hold and whom only God can be. How amazing an example and how humble a prayer. So reverent, so godly.
He states that the GLORY came to Christ from the disciples. (glory has come to me through them.) What an honor - a truly humble honor for them to have. Christ states that He protected the disciples while here with them and notes that He did not lose even one of them to persecution. The only individual who suffered any type of destruction was Satan while Christ was here on earth. This section is only talking about the disciples and not the world or entire body of believers. Christ references similarities between himself and the disciples as well when He says .."They are not of the world, even as I am not of it." These men were chosen men of God and to me it is amazing to see how their dedication to Christ allowed them the passage of santification, the honor of being able to provide Christ glory and an equality with the Saviour. Christ sanctifies himself so that the disciples may be sanctified. So for the sole purpose of wanting them to be "set apart" He set Himself apart. Another example of His selflessness etched in the permanence of God's Word. Christ was looking out for His followers and wanted them to not only be sanctified but TRULY sanctified.
6 “I have revealed you[a] to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word. 7 Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you. 8 For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me. 9 I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours. 10 All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them. 11 I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of[b] your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one. 12 While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by[c] that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled.
13 “I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. 14 I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. 15 My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. 17 Sanctify them by[d] the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. 19 For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.
Jesus is talking to His heavenly Father about the disciples in vs. 6-19.
He refers to the disciples as "those whom you gave me" and clarifies that they were God's property to give. Christ reminds his heavenly Father that He followed instructions by giving them the words God gave Christ and that not only did they accept what was told them but they also recognized who Christ was. Christ shows concern for His friends in the reality that persecution would definately befall them after His departure from this world. He asks the heavenly Father to protect them by the power of His name. My heart is warmed by this request. Even though Christ and His Father are one, he is compassionate and humble enough to request protection and to acknowledge the absolute divinity held by God the Father. A place that only God can hold and whom only God can be. How amazing an example and how humble a prayer. So reverent, so godly.
He states that the GLORY came to Christ from the disciples. (glory has come to me through them.) What an honor - a truly humble honor for them to have. Christ states that He protected the disciples while here with them and notes that He did not lose even one of them to persecution. The only individual who suffered any type of destruction was Satan while Christ was here on earth. This section is only talking about the disciples and not the world or entire body of believers. Christ references similarities between himself and the disciples as well when He says .."They are not of the world, even as I am not of it." These men were chosen men of God and to me it is amazing to see how their dedication to Christ allowed them the passage of santification, the honor of being able to provide Christ glory and an equality with the Saviour. Christ sanctifies himself so that the disciples may be sanctified. So for the sole purpose of wanting them to be "set apart" He set Himself apart. Another example of His selflessness etched in the permanence of God's Word. Christ was looking out for His followers and wanted them to not only be sanctified but TRULY sanctified.
My Jacks
I have two faithful companions that have gone with me all over the place for the past 10 to 15 years. Lanie and Mr. Jed. Two friends who have been resiliently accompanying me in my life. They have been there when I moved from Pennsylvania to Ohio and then three time in Ohio. They have gone hiking with me, walking, driving, ate meals with me, watched movies, shared laughter and tears and friendships. They have greeted friends and strangers alike when I could not get to the door and had a smile and affection for everyone they met.
I sat in the yard the other day where my Laney is buried and laid a small bouquet of Sage and Lavender on the grassy bed where she rests. The two spots in my garden she would consistently find moles, rabbits and mice were around my big Sage plants and through the straw mulch around my 200 Lavender plants. I sat and shared with only the spirit of the forest how beautiful a fall it was and how I missed seeing her and Jed bounce through the beautiful leaves with renewed energy as if the cool fall temperatures brought them new life. I hope she is running after rabbits in heavens meadows and drinking from cool streams with angels around her to love her and stroke her fur. I will tell her again about the first snow when it comes. I will shed more tears as I remember throwing her snowballs to chase after and how they would run down the hill after the tube while we laughed and squealed. I will miss seeing Mr Jed run as fast as he could through first the snow and take big mouthfuls as he went. Ears streaming behind him and his little legs just gobbling up the ground, eyes wide open and the biggest smile on his furry face.
I hope, wherever he his, that he is loved. That they know he is afraid of thunderstorms and don't get mad at him for it. That he can still lay in someone's arms and get a belly rub and that he still has a stuffed animal to cuddle up with at night. I hope they won't leave him outside in the cold this winter and that they are considerate of his teeth and put a little gravy in his food. I hope they go for walks, rides, runs, and adventures in the woods. I hope he knows I love him.
Always kind, always forgiving, never judgemental. Willing to go wherever I wanted to go whenever I wanted to go. Hearts like lions. Rottweilers in a Terrier body. I will forever miss my Jacks.
I sat in the yard the other day where my Laney is buried and laid a small bouquet of Sage and Lavender on the grassy bed where she rests. The two spots in my garden she would consistently find moles, rabbits and mice were around my big Sage plants and through the straw mulch around my 200 Lavender plants. I sat and shared with only the spirit of the forest how beautiful a fall it was and how I missed seeing her and Jed bounce through the beautiful leaves with renewed energy as if the cool fall temperatures brought them new life. I hope she is running after rabbits in heavens meadows and drinking from cool streams with angels around her to love her and stroke her fur. I will tell her again about the first snow when it comes. I will shed more tears as I remember throwing her snowballs to chase after and how they would run down the hill after the tube while we laughed and squealed. I will miss seeing Mr Jed run as fast as he could through first the snow and take big mouthfuls as he went. Ears streaming behind him and his little legs just gobbling up the ground, eyes wide open and the biggest smile on his furry face.
I hope, wherever he his, that he is loved. That they know he is afraid of thunderstorms and don't get mad at him for it. That he can still lay in someone's arms and get a belly rub and that he still has a stuffed animal to cuddle up with at night. I hope they won't leave him outside in the cold this winter and that they are considerate of his teeth and put a little gravy in his food. I hope they go for walks, rides, runs, and adventures in the woods. I hope he knows I love him.
Always kind, always forgiving, never judgemental. Willing to go wherever I wanted to go whenever I wanted to go. Hearts like lions. Rottweilers in a Terrier body. I will forever miss my Jacks.
Fear
I was reading this morning in Acts 12 and the end of the chapter are finishing up the story of how King Herod had imprisoned Peter and was holding him until after Passover to bring him to public court and then the plan was to have him executed to please the Jews. Well, it put me in mind of what we should have as far as a "fear of God".
Peter was, of course, set free from the prison by the angel of the Lord. The soldiers were quite disturbed by this as they woke in the morning to find that Peter was missing, the chains were still there!
18 In the morning, there was no small commotion among the soldiers as to what had become of Peter. 19 After Herod had a thorough search made for him and did not find him, he cross-examined the guards and ordered that they be executed.
Herod’s Death
Then Herod went from Judea to Caesarea and stayed there. 20 He had been quarreling with the people of Tyre and Sidon; they now joined together and sought an audience with him. After securing the support of Blastus, a trusted personal servant of the king, they asked for peace, because they depended on the king’s country for their food supply.
21 On the appointed day Herod, wearing his royal robes, sat on his throne and delivered a public address to the people. 22 They shouted, “This is the voice of a god, not of a man.” 23 Immediately, because Herod did not give praise to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms and died.
24 But the word of God continued to spread and flourish.
Imagine the pure fear those guards must have had once they realized what had happened. Besides that they knew immediately that they would loose their lives for letting Peter "escape". Then for the audacious King Herod to sit and proclaim whatever he proclaimed and not disregard the comments of the people proclaiming he sounded like a god. Amazing. This shows how wretched a person can become and how quickly God can respond in His righteous anger by killing Herod on the spot and having him eaten by worms, which I am sure horrified the people who initially commented on him being a god at all! I wonder why sometimes that God has seemingly slowed His response to our blatant disobedience and on the other hand I am glad that He is slow to anger. Thank you Father for your grace and your mercy and the example of love you show us daily that is long suffering.
Peter was, of course, set free from the prison by the angel of the Lord. The soldiers were quite disturbed by this as they woke in the morning to find that Peter was missing, the chains were still there!
18 In the morning, there was no small commotion among the soldiers as to what had become of Peter. 19 After Herod had a thorough search made for him and did not find him, he cross-examined the guards and ordered that they be executed.
Herod’s Death
Then Herod went from Judea to Caesarea and stayed there. 20 He had been quarreling with the people of Tyre and Sidon; they now joined together and sought an audience with him. After securing the support of Blastus, a trusted personal servant of the king, they asked for peace, because they depended on the king’s country for their food supply.
21 On the appointed day Herod, wearing his royal robes, sat on his throne and delivered a public address to the people. 22 They shouted, “This is the voice of a god, not of a man.” 23 Immediately, because Herod did not give praise to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms and died.
24 But the word of God continued to spread and flourish.
Imagine the pure fear those guards must have had once they realized what had happened. Besides that they knew immediately that they would loose their lives for letting Peter "escape". Then for the audacious King Herod to sit and proclaim whatever he proclaimed and not disregard the comments of the people proclaiming he sounded like a god. Amazing. This shows how wretched a person can become and how quickly God can respond in His righteous anger by killing Herod on the spot and having him eaten by worms, which I am sure horrified the people who initially commented on him being a god at all! I wonder why sometimes that God has seemingly slowed His response to our blatant disobedience and on the other hand I am glad that He is slow to anger. Thank you Father for your grace and your mercy and the example of love you show us daily that is long suffering.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)