Thursday, February 19, 2009

The Cure For Cancer

As I was doing my studies today, I came across this passage in Numbers chapter 11. It says in verses 1 through 3 (I am paraphrasing) that the Israelites complained (again) and God didn’t like it. God got angry and sent His fire and it burnt up some of the people around the edges of the camp. Then the Israelites cried out to Moses. The passage ends with Moses praying and the fire of God being removed.

What brought on this wrath of God? It was the complaining of the Israelites! God wanted them to know just how displeasing this was to Him, so God showed His anger in a fire. This is an Old Testament illustration of the basic truth that the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23).

But is complaining really a sin? Paul writes in Philippians 2:14 that we should “Do all things without complaining and disputing.” Another version says to do all things without grumbling and complaining. Anyway you look it is a command, written by Paul, inspired by the Holy Spirit. It says do. It doesn’t say I suggest or I urge, it says DO ALL THINGS.

Now before you feel as though I am being self righteous, I want to confess that I have been really failing at this. I often complain without even thinking twice about it. But when I read the passage in Numbers about how displeasing it was to God when the Israelites did it, I was convicted of this sin that is so commonplace in many of our lives that we do it without thought. It’s almost as if complaining is a reflex (an uncontrolled reaction to a stimulus).

Complaining is a cancer. It eats us up. It focuses our attention on the negative things going on around us. It changes our mood and frame of mind. Think about the last time you were around someone who complained non-stop. Did you really want to be around that person? When my children begin complaining about something, it is a matter of seconds before I have had enough! Complaining not only changes your own mood and frame of mind, but it changes the mood of those around us. Ms. Teressa Wiley said in a Bible study about our homes, “The atmosphere of your home is dictated by your reaction to the seasons of life.”

Why then is complaining a sin? Complaining about situations in our life is the voice of unbelief. It is saying that you don’t think your God is big enough to handle the situation. It can be that we question God’s sovereignty in a situation. The words that say “I don’t think God knows what He is doing here.” If an unbeliever was around you and saw your constant complaining, how would they view your God and Savior? We are to be a reflection of Christ to those around us. Complaints do not reflect God’s nature of love, goodness and purity. Our witness is demolished when the words we speak are constant complaints.

There is a cure for the cancer of complaining. Paul not only gives the command to do all things without complaining, but later in Philippians, Paul gives us the cure for complaints. In chapter 4, it says “Be anxious for nothing”, or don’t worry about things in your life. “But in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.” Going to God in prayer with thanksgiving, refocuses our mind on the good things of God. Prayer should be our first response, not our last resort.

Further on in the fourth chapter of Philippians, Paul tells us the rest of the cure. In 4 verse 8, Paul tells us to think on the things which are good, the things that are true and pure. If there is anything praiseworthy, think about these things. What is pure? What is true? What is good? Only God is!

God, You alone are holy and true. Forgive me of my complaining. Help me to listen closely to Your voice as You remind me that my complaining is a sin. God, give me the strength to weed out this sin and change my heart. Cure me of my cancer so that it doesn't eat away at myself and my family. “Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer (Psalm 19:14). Amen.

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

The Perfect Anniversary Gift

Love is about compromise. That is what we hear all the time about relationships. But remember, we live in a society that does not honor God. When I really think about pure and true love, I know in my heart and soul, that love is about sacrifice, not compromise. Compromise means that the two meet in the middle on an issue. Sacrifice means that we totally surrender to the other person. Compromise means both people get something, while sacrifice means that only one person is getting their way. Maybe so many marriages are failing today because we expect compromise from our mates, instead of sacrifice from ourselves.

Today is my anniversary. I have spent the last eight years married to James, my love and my partner. I am so blessed to have him in my life. James makes me feel loved. When James proposed, he said he couldn’t promise me extravagant things or money, but he could promise me that I would have all of his love. When I look back, I know that he has kept that promise to me, not because of compromise, but because of sacrifice. He has always made me feel as though my happiness was more important than his own.

The book of First Corinthians, chapter 13 says that love is patient, love is kind, it isn’t prideful. Love doesn’t seek for its own good. Love doesn’t keep score. Paul is telling us in a nutshell that love is all about sacrifice. It’s all about giving yourself to another.

Christ was the ultimate model of love. He sought His Father’s will, not his own. As Jesus prayed in the garden, he prayed if it was possible, that the cup pass from him, but above all that God’s will would be done (Matthew 26:39). Jesus was facing death. Jesus was facing anguish and pain, but Jesus refused to compromise. He would lay down His life in obedience to God. He gave His life to show love. Jesus chose sacrifice. Jesus chose God’s way, without compromise.

Romans 5:8 says that God showed his love toward us by Christ’s death, even when we were still sinners. God’s love was is not conditional on our behavior. God loves us and has proven His love by Christ’s death, even when we were still living in our sin. We didn’t have to turn from our sin and turn to Christ before Christ would give His life. The sacrifice was made, regardless of our choice.

Loving those around us is the second great commandment. The first is to love God wholeheartedly. We show our love to God by keeping His commands (John 14:15). I encourage you to look at love through God’s eyes. I encourage you to look at your relationships, whether friendships or marriages, and discover the ways that you can sacrifice yourself to that person to show love. Who needs to feel love in your life? Who needs your time? Who needs your service? What can you give to show your love?

When I took my vows to my husband eight years ago, my vows were not dependent on James keeping his vows. My vows said that I would give myself to James, I would serve him no matter what life sent our way. Nothing says love like sacrifice and as I searched for the perfect gift to give James for our anniversary, I realized that I was the perfect gift. Giving of myself to him, considering him first, speaks volumes more than my words and material gifts could ever say. It’s a costly gift because it means putting my wants and desires aside to serve the one I married. It means there will be times that in exhaustion, I will serve. In times of hurt, I will serve. In times of happiness, I will serve. Yes, it’s a costly gift, but it is my calling as a woman of God. In serving James, I honor God.

God, you have called us to love. You have loved us so perfectly. You have given us your Son, a sacrifice, to prove and model Your love for us. Show us how to love your way. Show us how to give ourselves to You and to our loved ones. Open our eyes to their needs and their desires. Give us the energy and desire to meet those needs. Show us how to serve others with our lives and give our service to others as an offering to not only them, but to You. God, help us to love our friends and our spouses, even when we don’t feel loved by them. Give us Your perfect love for others, especially when we find them difficult to love. God we love You. God we want to serve You. God we thank You. In the precious name of Jesus, the perfect sacrifice, we pray. Amen.


"Thanks be to God for His unspeakable gift." 2 Corinthians 9:15


Saturday, February 7, 2009

Caught!

My day began as any other Wednesday would.  Get up, shower, devotional time, get dressed for work, prod Joey from bed to get ready for school then out the door with him in tow.  I was on my way to drop him at school driving like I always do, when the stop light turned yellow.  I continued through the light and turned left toward the school.  As soon as the turn began, I heard sirens and saw the flashing lights in my rearview mirror.   “What dummy is this cop going to pull over” was my thought as I pulled to the right and she followed me.  “Am I the dummy?  What did I do wrong?  Why is she pulling me over?”  I couldn’t imagine what I had done to deserve this.  I am the one that always drives 25 MPH in the school zone for the protection of the kids.  I always stop at stop signs, and rarely do I speed.  

 

I was fishing for my license when the officer approached my window and knocked.  I rolled down the window with I’m sure a look of ‘what did I do’ on my face.  She quickly told me, that she didn’t need to see my license.  Instead she reprimanded me for blowing through the red light?  She ended with, “I’m not going to give you a ticket this time.  But I wanted you to know that the time you tried to save by running through the light was just removed by me pulling you over.  Have a good day.”  She then walked away.  


Of course I felt like a child that got caught with her hand in the cookie jar just before dinner.  I got caught breaking a law that I ‘technically’ didn’t break.  When I entered the intersection the light was yellow.  It’s not my fault that it turned red just before I completed my turn.  The cars in front of me were moving too slow.  I continued to justify my actions all the way to work.  How dare she do that to me, and in front of my 15 yr. 11 mo. old son ready to get his license in a month.  I felt like a victim.  What was she doing, sitting and waiting to pull someone over?  Then it hit me... regardless of all my excuses, I was guilty of running a red light.  I was in the intersection when the light turned red.  I had broken the law.


Many times I have tried to justify my actions by technicalities.  I walk as close to the line as I can without getting caught.  Like driving 70 MPH on the Freeway when the speed limit is 65 MPH.  I heard that a CHP will not pull you over unless you are going more than 7 MPH over the speed limit, so that means 70 to 72 MPH is okay, right?  Another justification to my speeding could be, its late and no one is around for miles.  I can continue for hours with all the good reasons why it would be okay for me to speed.  


When it comes to my Christian walk, I can think of many ways to justify my actions as well.  The bible doesn’t address everything directly, so it’s okay right?  I can act one way at work, another at home and another at church.  But... The bible does say, He who walks in integrity walks securely, But he who perverts his ways will be found out. Proverbs 10:9  I love the verse right before this one too, it says in verse 8, ‘The wise of heart will receive commands, But a babbling fool will be ruined.  Boy I could babble my way through keeping things I shouldn’t, doing things I shouldn’t, saying things I shouldn’t, but I always risk being found out.  Do I want to be found guilty of doing wrong or do I want to walk in integrity and do so securely?  What about you?  Do you walk in integrity or do you pervert your ways with excuses and justifications? 


Lord, we give our babbling ways to you.  Help us to always walk in integrity, whether at home, at work or church.  Let us always receive correction with submission and a willingness to change, so that we can not be found guilty of doing wrong.  Teach us Lord to receive your instruction and follow your ways.  Let Your word be planted in good soil, that we will produce good fruit.  Grant us wisdom, knowledge and mercy.   Amen.

Tuesday, February 3, 2009

The B-I-B-L-E

Often times in the teaching that we receive, we hear these giant concepts but not real practical suggestions for application. The purpose of this blog entry is to give you some real concrete tips for studying your Bible.

We all know that the Bible is an important part of our relationship with God. It is our daily bread. But, if you don’t know how to feed yourself, you will starve. Too often, we wait to go to church and expect our weekly dose of bread. Jesus prayed to the Father asking Him to give us our DAILY bread. We have to learn to feed ourselves through the week and not depend on others to feed us. I hope this gives you some practical tips for studying the Word on a daily basis.

BEGIN WITH PRAYER
We are so blessed. We have the opportunity to go before our holy God. He has given us His Spirit to teach us and to guide us. Without the Spirit working within us, we cannot have true understanding of the Word of God. The second chapter of 1st Corinthians, verse 10 says “…God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.” In the 14th verse of the same chapter, we see that the things of God can only be spiritually discerned. We have to be in the Spirit to understand the things of God. I am not asking you to have a 2 hour prayer session every time you pick up your Bible. But begin with a few words of adoration. Ask for cleansing. Then ask the God to open your understanding through His Spirit. This is the purpose of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit is our teacher. We don’t need anyone else!

READ TO KNOW GOD
This section is particularly convicting to me. I often pick up my Bible in the moments of chaos and weakness and search for something for myself. I read with the intention of getting something for me. The Word was given to us that we may know God and we should read the Bible with the intention of knowing Him better. In the process, we will undeniably be lifted up, but that cannot be our focus. An intimate relationship comes from knowing someone fully, their thoughts, their character, their attributes. Read your Bible with this purpose alone, “To know God on an intimate level.” Ask yourself these questions as you read. What did this scripture tell me about God? What attributes of God do I see throughout this passage? I can usually list several when I really look at scripture in this way. Know God by knowing His Word and read His Word to know Him.

FIND OUT WHAT WORDS MEAN
We all learned to use a dictionary in school, a skill you still need to apply. Looking at definitions of words will give you a better understanding of what the author is telling you. Don’t take the definition of a word for granted. A dictionary is a valuable tool and I have a free one for you to use! www.eastonsbibledictionary.com This link is for an online Bible dictionary. Are you confused by a word used in a text? Look it up! Even if you know what it means in general, look it up. It will broaden your understanding. Words like sanctification, justification, propitiation, atonement can be really intimidating. Breaking them down will make reading your Bible a whole lot easier. Even if you know what they mean, the definition can speak to your heart and your mind.

MAKE TIME
It’s the hardest part in our busy schedules. If you have to get up early, do it. If you have to give up something, do it. If you have to sit in your car in the garage to get a quiet place, then go to your car (just don’t leave the motor running). Making time for God is important and rewarding. Once you do it, you will find yourself getting lost in His precious Word and growing in your relationship with Him. You will long for that quiet time with Him.

START AT YOUR OWN LEVEL AND YOUR OWN PACE
Reading the Bible through in a year is a wonderful thing to do. But not everyone is at that level. Don’t go from not studying at all to trying to study for two hours every day. You will probably not be successful. When you begin an exercise program, you don’t start by running a marathon. You would kill yourself. Similarly, you don’t begin reading, without first learning the sounds that each letter makes. You have to start at your own pace and your own level. If you are a babe in Christ, don’t start in the book of Revelation, start with Matthew. Don’t try something completely unrealistic. Start with ten minutes. If you find yourself longing for more, add ten more minutes. You don’t have to read a certain amount of scriptures during your study time. Take your time and let the Spirit speak to you about each scripture. Even if you only get through one Scripture during your ten minute session, you have grown in Christ. Don’t get caught up in how much you read. It’s not a race!

I really hope that these tips helped you in some way. They may have been a “no-brainer” to you or maybe they were completely new concepts to you. Either way, I hope you found them practical and realistic. You don’t have to have fancy commentaries or special books (I am not opposed to these). You need only the living Word and His Spirit speaking to you to grow through the study of the Word. Let the Author tell you what He meant through His Spirit.

If you need help in the area of how to study to the Word, find someone who can help you. Talk to one of your Women’s Ministries Leaders, talk to your class teacher, or to a trusted Christian friend. Finding out how others approach their study may be helpful to you. May you come to truly know God in your study of His Word.

www.biblegateway.com is also a great online resource. It allows you to read different versions of the Bible or search by keyword. I find this site very useful.