Learning Love

I am learning that the love of God is shown through His Word, His commandments, His correction, His leading and His guiding
In the middle of my foolishness and transcending my understanding
At the beginning, at the end…and in the midst, of the journey.


His perfect love can’t be bought by goodness
It is more valuable than earthly gain
But it is available to me, if I choose to accept it


The cost of His love is the surrender of my life
My passions, my pursuits, my dreams, my ideas, my creativity
My mind, my will, my emotions
My strengths, my weaknesses
My schedule and my plans
My independence and my personality
My desires and my future
My songs of happiness, my times of despair
My living and my very being
ALL are counted as nothing, as loss,
As possessions that must be sold to buy the priceless pearl


For priceless it is


Without beginning, without end, without measure
It means hope in the darkness and joy in the journey
Mornings of fresh mercy; nights of saving grace
It means laughter in my heart and on my lips
It means freedom and life more abundantly
It means a new life, a new character, a new reason
It is completeness, fullness, progress, sweetness
Abundance and satisfaction
It is everything I could wish for and so much more
It is beyond imagination


And yet, His love is tangible


It surrounds me in beauty and I can observe it first hand
I can feel it, I can see it, I can hear it, I can sense it
It is the whisper of confidence in my ear
It is what upholds me in the flames of temptation
It is what soothes me in times of confusion
It is what makes me dance in the fields of abundance
It is my patient endurance in faith
It is my shepherding influence
My quiet pool in the middle of the rushing river
It is my lush pasture in the wilderness
It is rod, staff, comfort
It is my table in the presence of my enemies
It is my oil of gladness
It is my overflowing cup of praise
It is goodness, it is mercy


His love pursues me forever


It is the Presence of God at my side
It is the pillar of fire leading my way
And the cloud to cover me in safety
It is my rear guard
It is my forward motion

His love is my victory!

Witness of Power

I am pondering this evening:

So often we ask God to prove His power. "Do something miraculous", we ask. 

In response, God calls us into a land full of giants to be defeated. He says, "I will show My power by defeating a giant through you! I will make My strength perfect in your weakness."

...

...

...and we throw a tantrum.

"God WHY did You bring me here where it's so hard?" We sob and wail, "I *hiccup* thought You lllll-loved mmm-meeee."

We want God to prove His power, but we would really rather not be the ones He proves His power through. We want God to prove that He is a provider...but we aren't willing to go through times of need. I fear that we humans are quite illogical!

God doesn't want us to be distant spectators of His power --He wants us to experience His mightiness. He will show us His power first-hand if we are willing.

Of course this means facing giants. It requires unflinching faith, costly sacrifice, and daring obedience when what God asks us to do does not make sense. Sometimes it may require changing our attitudes from fear to curiosity...not questioning if He can, but wondering how He will.

It means being like Daniel, faced with a lion's den.

Like Job refusing to complain

Like Gideon in battle with only 300 men

Or Noah waiting for rain

Like Abraham with his son at the altar

Like Esther who would die if she failed

Like Elijah dowsing the altar with water

Or Paul and Silas singing in jail

Like Moses before Pharaoh with only a rod

Like David honoring a fractious king

Like the the old woman bringing her last cent to God

Choosing faith in this moment is the important thing

In the end we have proof of God's power, a display of His love, and an experience to put in our pocket to show anyone who wonders just how big our God really is.

Halloween: What's the Big Deal?

It's October, the month of spooky yard decor, crazy costumes, and horror movies.  I have been asked about fifty-eleven times what I am going as for Halloween, and shock people when I decline their Halloween parties.

It's a question that arises often in the Christian circles. Is it ok to celebrate Halloween? Some say it is, some say it isn't. So, here's the question. What's it all about, anyway?

History

Halloween has it's roots in the ancient Druid celebrations. The Druids were a sect of pagan priests and sorcerers. They were Christianity's most direct opponents in the Celtic world, in fact. Historical writings tell of their occultic practices, divinations, and human sacrifices.
The holiday was originally the Celtic New Year festival. It was the beginning of the "Dark Half" of the year; a time that the Druids believed the veil between the spirit world was drawn aside and the dead could walk the earth causing mischief and harm to any humans they encountered.
Some of the traditions of this holiday included séances, fortune-telling, and sacrifices-animal and human-to honor the dead. Trick-or-treating began with the people leaving offerings out to pacify the evil spirits so they wouldn't be cursed. In a nutshell, the Druid priests attempted to appease evil by giving in to the spirits' evil demands. In later years, as the Romans (ie, the Roman Church) conquered the Celts, they didn't eradicate the old holiday. Rather, they added a "holy" twist on to the occult practices by celebrating All Saints Day the next morning, calling the holiday "All Hallows Eve."

Today

Basically every part of Halloween is a fascination with anything demonic, occultic, deathly, and fearsome. It can be summed up by its own admitted fascination with dead things. Many of our traditions today still have direct ties with the old Druid practices, as well as other evil symbols that have been added since that time...all having much to do with Satanism, occultism, paganism, etc.

Common sights during Halloween include:
Witches - "Wiccans", the worshippers of the goddess earth.
Ghosts - Dead people coming back to haunt the living.
Jack-o-lanterns - Named after a man "Jack" who was so wicked that neither God or the devil would take him, so he wandered the earth causing trouble.
Dracula - A man who lived off the blood of other humans
Bonfires - Original "bone-fires" because they were fueled by...bones...human bones.
Demons - Evil minions of Satan
Zombies - corpses animated by mysticism and witchcraft

...and many more...

On a social level, I spoke with a local police officer who told me that the holiday is one of the most crime-ridden days of the year. Common crimes police deal with are arson, vandalism, animal killings, suicide, and murders...all of which dramatically increase on Halloween night. In my source's own words, "Law enforcement, nationwide, allocates resources expecting more acts of vandalism and intimidation on Halloween night, than other times."

What does the Bible says about this subject?

Exodus 22:18 "You shall not allow a witch to live."

Deuteronomy 18:10-12, 14 "There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire [human sacrifice], or one who practices witchcraft, or a soothsayer [fortune-teller], or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, or one who conjures spells, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead. For all who do these things are an abomination to the LORD, and because of these abominations the LORD your God drives them out from before you...For those nations, which you will dispossess, listen to those who practice witchcraft and to diviners, but as for you, the Lord your God has not allowed you to do so."

NOTE: God drives out those who practice witchcraft, divination and the like. They are dispossessed from His promises and He does not allow His people to engage in these practices.

Revelation 22:14-15 "Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city [Heaven]. But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie."

NOTE: Not just those who do but also those who love the deception. Do we walk in deception regarding our involvement in evil traditions and refuse the truth because the lie is more appealing or more culturally acceptable?

2 Chronicles 33:6 "Also he caused his sons to pass through the fire in the Valley of the Son of Hinnom; he practiced soothsaying, used witchcraft and sorcery, and consulted mediums and spiritists. He did much evil in the sight of the Lord, to provoke Him to anger." *Also 2 Kings 17:17

NOTE: Imagine being a person who provokes God to anger. A dangerous place!

Acts 19:19 " Some believers, too, came forward to admit how they had used spells and a number of them who had practiced magic collected their books and made a bonfire of them in public."

NOTE: They burned their books. They left no way of returning to the old lifestyle because they realized magic and sorcery had no place in the new life of a Christian.

It all comes down to this...

No matter how you break things down, there are only two sides, two powers, two kingdoms. There is God's side (the way of life, light, and righteousness) and Satan's side (darkness, death, and evil). The two sides are contradictions of each other and will never mix.

Halloween thrives on fear. God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind. (2 Tim. 2:17)
Halloween glorifies death. God came to bring us life. (John 10:10)
Halloween promotes evil things. God commands us to overcome evil with good. (Rom 12:21)
Halloween is all about darkness. We are called to walk as children of light. (Eph 5:8)

In short, Halloween remains a holiday bent on the glorification of everything that is opposed to God's kingdom. As those called to overcome evil, we cannot afford to dabble in the ways of our enemy. It is ultimately treachery to God.

What should we do?

As role-models, parents, and guardians of the hearts of our children we have a great responsibility to train and protect the next generation. Will we let them continue in traditions based so completely in demonic practices? Or will we be willing to be different from everyone else in order to make sure we are not blurring the lines between good and evil in our children's minds and hearts?

Remember. The spiritual world is VERY real. What we allow into our homes can and will affect our lives and the lives of our families. It's not a game, it's not cute, it's not a joke. This is a weightier matter than cool costumes and free candy. Satan still walks about as a roaring lion seeking who he can devour. Being wise of this, I would prefer to lock the door firmly against him.

What to do with people who wound us...

Sometimes in life we face situations when friends wound us, or get offended with us and break off relationship. Maybe you stood up for what was right and someone got mad. Maybe you did something wrong and someone became offended, and refused to forgive when you asked for it. Whatever the situation, it can be difficult to respond with love to someone who is bitter towards us.
What do we do in times like that? How do we respond as a Christian?

Recently I was reading in Psalm 35 and was comforted, first by the fact that I am not the first person that has ever dealt with hard relationships, and second, by the wisdom David gives for how to handle people that hurt us.

First note: That the person is not your enemy.  Remember, "we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places." (Ephesians 6:12) Your enemy is a very real devil who would like nothing better than to cause you to stumble through anger, or hate, or offense of your own. Forgiveness, mercy, and love extended to the relationship is your best defense against him and your only hope for restoration of that relationship.

Plead my cause, O LORD, with those who strive with me;fight against those who fight against me. (verse 1)

Let God be your defense. He stands as our attorney in times when we are wronged. You cannot--must not--attempt to defend yourself.  Do as David did and take your complaint to the Lord only. Do not whine or complain to other people about how bad the person is treating you. Don't try to gather people to your side against that person; that will only serve to damage even more relationships.

...Say to my soul, 'I am your salvation." (verse 3)

Take refuge in God. HE is your Helper, your Comforter (John 17:7). You can hide in Him and find complete safety for bruised emotions and a wounded heart.

And my soul shall be joyful in the Lord; I shall rejoice in His salvation. All my bones shall say, "Lord, who is like You, delivering the poor from him who is too strong for him, yes, the poor and the needy from him who plunders him?" (verse 9-10)

Make your soul take joy in the Lord. The most important key in relationship is not having a victim's attitude. Reject self-pity and anger before it has a chance to take root. Get out of the mulley-grubs. Don't let yourself become depressed by another's view of you. Stop and make a focused effort to fix your focus on God.  Remember, no matter what you face He is worthy of all praise and all thanksgiving. Besides, a joyful heart is "good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones." 

Fierce witnesses rise up; they ask me things that I do not know. they reward me evil for good, to the sorrow of my soul. (verse 11-12)

Recognize that sometimes people will be unfair. Sometimes they will not treat us well. Also remember that God is always, always faithful. ( 2 Timothy 2:13) He does not change based on our response or our worthiness, He is consistent.

But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth; I humbled myself with fasting; and my prayer would return to my own heart. I paced about as though he were my friend or brother; I bowed down heavily, as one who mourns for his mother. (verse 13-14)

Here's the part that makes me stop and ponder. Our attitude must remain one of tenderhearted kindness. In fact, it looks as though David extended even more kindness than normal to this person.
Pray for them when they are sick or hurting. Fast for them. Wow, intense! Deprive yourself of food and pleasure in order to intercede for them. Allow yourself to remain emotionally attached to their well-being as though they were a best friend or brother. That's Christ-like love!

Vindicate me, O LORD my God, according to Your righteousness; and let them not rejoice over me. (verse 24)

Realize that God will vindicate you in time. Everything in life will someday pass before the judgment seat of Christ, and at that time all wrongs will be made right. For now, lay the case to rest within your own heart and be cautious not to exact vengeance for yourself.

Our God is a God of reconciliation and restoration. Those that are His have a ministry of reconciliation. As such we must be watchful that our hearts remain forever soft towards those that have wronged us. Don't burn the bridges of relationship. Pave the way back in to the person's heart. Sure, you can't change them, you can't fix their attitude. Sometimes you just have to stand at a distance and hope they are willing to reconcile with you someday. But if the day comes that they return, receive them with open arms and willing love...like the father did to the Prodigal Son (story here)...like Christ did with you when you returned after rejecting Him.

We who have been forgiven so much will find we have many opportunities to love much.