Effective Prayer (Bible Passages taken from the New International Version)
Have you ever sensed that God wants you to do something that goes against common logic. This happened to a farmer in South Africa 40 years ago. A Christian farmer has been told it will not be raining in the near future. He senses that God has told him to plant potatoes, though no other farmers in the area are planting potatoes. Let’s see what happened! The scene opens with the farmer’s pastor talking.
Faith and Potatoes: 143:18--151:45
God is powerful, and we can trust him? This story has challenged me.
Sometimes when we think about prayer we are like the deer caught in the headlights. We want to pray, but the whole thing seems so overwhelming. I want to share some practical ideas about how to pray.
Prayer is just having a conversation with someone who loves you, who has the best in mind for you, who wants to be near you. It is sharing your innermost thoughts with a caring confidant, a reliable counselor and wise guide.
In regular conversation we have different parts. We have casual conversation with a friend, we have commands from one person to another, we have laughter and fun, we have intense conversation about important things.
Prayer also involves different kinds of communication with God. Each having a purpose to improve our understanding of God, and our intimacy with him.
I. Praise
One kind of prayer is praise. Praise is different than thanking God for something he has done for us. Praise is telling God something I appreciate about his person, his character, or his power.
Praise is not something I do to puff up God’s ego. He does not need me to tell him that he is good. Praise really helps me, because it reminds me when life gets overwhelming that there is a powerful person who understands, and who can help.
Ps 63:3
Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you.
Jesus told us in the Lord’s prayer to start with praise.
Matthew 6:9
"This, then, is how you should pray:
" 'Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
If you are struggling to think how you would use words to praise God here are a couple of ideas.
Go to Psalms and read them back to God.
Go on a walk, be observant and tell God of the greatness of his creation.
Recently I found a list of God’s names on the internet. We can read a name of God and tell God what that name means to us. For instance on this list under A is Abba Father
http://www.smilegodlovesyou.org/names.html
Those are a few ideas on praise.
II. Read the Word
Besides Praising God when I pray I can Read the Word, or the Bible.
Someone described the Bible as God talking with us, and prayer as us talking with God. When I read the word of God as I pray I have a great two way communication. The Bible adds depth and content to my praying.
David in Ps 19 describes the impact of the Bible on us.
Ps 19:7,8
7 The law of the LORD is perfect,
reviving the soul.
The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy,
making wise the simple.
8 The precepts of the LORD are right,
giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the LORD are radiant,
giving light to the eyes.
I can read the Bible for several things.
I can let God talk with me about developing my own character. I can then pray that character into my life, such as “God help me to listen more and speak less.”
I can find things I can pray into the life of another person.
I can find passages of praise to God.
Bev reads the Bible watching for a particular theme. A couple of years ago she read Ps and Proverbs looking for things it said about leadership.
I like to study what the Bible says about a particular word. One word study I did a few years ago was on the heart. I learned so much about how to guard my heart from wrong thinking when I looked up verses that had the word heart in them.
Biblegateway.com is a website where you can read in many versions of the Bible. You can also do word studies. You can do a word search for “love” for instance and see all the verses in the Bible where the word love is mentioned.
You can also look up where a verse is that you have heard of but can’t remember its location.
Sometimes when I read the Bible I become aware of areas in my life that are messed up, areas where I have sinned. This leads naturally to another kind of praying. I can confess my sins to God.
III. Confess My Shortcomings to God
Ps 139: 23,24 David is opening himself up to God’s insight.
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
24 See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting.
God shows us areas of weakness so we can grow and become stronger in character than we are.
I John 1:8,9
8If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
When I am willing to admit an area where I am wrong, it opens my whole attitude to God to be teachable and is purifying to my whole life.
Another thing we can do in prayer is not say anything.
IV. Wait and Listen for God’s Voice
I don’t thinks Americans in general like to be quiet. It is unnerving to be silent. But quiet can be very useful at times.
After you read God’s thoughts, and you have gotten your heart ready, just sit quietly and listen. God could use something you read to change your thoughts about your life or your world. He might have something He wants you to do.
Have a pencil handy to write down you thoughts.
Ps 37:7
7 Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him;
do not fret when men succeed in their ways,
when they carry out their wicked schemes.
Ecc 5:2
2 Do not be quick with your mouth,
do not be hasty in your heart
to utter anything before God.
God is in heaven
and you are on earth,
so let your words be few.
There are some cool words that describe different kinds of praying. One is intercession.
V. Intercession is Praying for Others
It means standing between God and the person. You are coming to God on their behalf. You can pray for God to help them, to heal them, to teach them or to protect them.
I Tim 2:1,2
1I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone— 2 for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.
I write the names of people I am praying for on a regular basis on 3x5 cards. It helps me keep focus. I don’t feel tied to the cards, but when I want to be structured it is there.
I can include any thing I want to pray for like our nation, or any movement or cause.
Use the power of God’s Word to pray for others and for yourself. give example
Another cool word for praying is petition.
VI. Petition is praying for Your Own Needs
When a person brings a petition to a king they are asking a special favor from a king. We can petition God for needs we have.
Matt 7:7
"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.
Matt 6:11
Give us today our daily bread.
James 4:2 tells us some wrong approaches to petition.
You want something but don't get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God. 3When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.
Simply share your needs with God and ask him to meet them.
I also write some of the ongoing needs I have on a 3x5 card.
VII. Words of Thanks to God
Phil 4:6
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
Thanksgiving balances the asking for your needs. It keeps us from having a complaining heart.
Bev read that people who end the day thanking God for good things in their life are healthier and happier than those who don’t.
When our kids were little we had thank you nights. We would not ask God for anything in our prayers. We would thank him for a good thing and for a bad thing, realizing that God could help us with the difficult things that happen in life.
VIII. Sing
Ps 100:2
Worship the LORD with gladness;
come before him with joyful songs.
Ephesians 5:19
Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord,
The power of singing it that it involves the emotions and the mind. It is hard to sing and be depressed at the same moment. You don’t want to hear me sing, I sing, but I usually do it when I am by myself.
The last aspect of prayer I want to share about is meditation.
IX. Meditation
We hear a lot about meditation these days. Christian meditation is not getting rid of things in my mind, but is filling my mind with a thought about God and then thinking about it’s implications in my life. For instance I can think about the fact that God is forgiving and think about what that means for me.
Ps. 1:1,2
1 Blessed is the man
who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked
or stand in the way of sinners
or sit in the seat of mockers.
2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
and on his law he meditates day and night.
I hope that you may have been encouraged this morning to spend some time with God this week.
You can take this list and pray in different ways at different times. Prayer does not have to be boring. It is developing an friendship with the Great and Awesome God. Remember He wants to be with you.
Monday, December 7, 2009
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
It is Not All About Me
This is a sermon I gave at my church on Sunday. Hope you enjoy it.
It is Not All About Me
When I shared about the process of character development a few weeks ago I shared that the first rung of the ladder moving toward character development was humility. I thought it would be fun today to flesh out the concept of humility.
This also ties with what Ken has been teaching us on the process of change. One of the first things I need to do is admit I can not change on my own power, that I need God’s help to change.
I. Opposite of Humility
As we look at Humility, let’s look at the opposite of humility.
A. Satan’s Rebellion
Is 14 is the story of Satan’s revolution against God. For all of eternity all of God’s creation obeyed and followed him. At some time a long while ago Lucifer the most beautiful of God’s created creatures decided, for the first time ever, to go against God’s will. History is the playing out of the results of that rebellion.
Is 14
2 How you have fallen from heaven,
O morning star, son of the dawn!
You have been cast down to the earth,
you who once laid low the nations!
13 You said in your heart,
"I will ascend to heaven;
I will raise my throne
above the stars of God;
I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly,
on the utmost heights of the sacred mountain. [c]
14 I will ascend above the tops of the clouds;
I will make myself like the Most High."
Heaven was stunned. 1/3 of the angels said right on man, let’s rebel. Thus was set up the atmosphere within which man was created. Man believed the lie of Satan, that he could be a god, and the rebellion came to men as well.
What did Satan do?
Replaced
love with lust
joy with happiness (sin bring short term happiness, but not long term joy)
truth with lies
integrity with image
life with death
obedience with rebellion
respect with accusations
helping with hurting
Wow, don’t we have a better world.
This may make us understand the feeling God has about pride.
Prov 6:16-19
16 There are six things the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to him:
17 haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood,
18 a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil,
19 a false witness who pours out lies and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers. (NIV)
We are in a momentary period when disobedience to God is allowed. I think of it as the great demonstration. God said, ok, you want to see what creation will be like going opposite of my will.
He limited the impact in time, and place.
We think that is terrible for Satan to do. He should not try to make himself God.....but if we are honest we will admit that we have thought we have a better way of living than God’s plan for us.
When we think that God’s will is limited and narrow. When we choose sin over righteousness.”
What is the ultimate result of Satan’s rebellion?
B. Satan’s Downfall
Rev 12
7And there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. 8But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. 9The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.
10Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say:
"Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God,
and the authority of his Christ.
For the accuser of our brothers,
who accuses them before our God day and night,
has been hurled down.
11They overcame him
by the blood of the Lamb
and by the word of their testimony;
they did not love their lives so much
as to shrink from death.
At some time in the future This “experiment” with rebellion will be complete. The whole creation will be tired of the impact of sin and pride, and will long for a world where only God’s will is accomplished.
I believe that it will lead to greater creativity, joy, standard of living, peacefulness and so much more when there is just one will in the universe, God's.
Contrast the impact of this rebellion with the impact of the humble God/man Jesus.
II. Jesus the Model of Humility
A. Jesus Takes the Towel
John 13
1It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love.[a]
2The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus. 3Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 4so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
I am fascinated by the comment that Jesus “knew the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God;”
The beginning of humility is knowing yourself in relation to God. Jesus is so loved by the Father, he does not have go reach out and grasp after greatness. He is just content to serve.
If we really get it....really know how very much we are loved by God, how dear we are to him, that he thinks about us constantly, our emotional tanks are full. Being filled with that knowledge gives us left over energy to serve others. You know, I enjoy being liked by people, but it is not as powerful an need if I am convinced that I am dearly loved by the infinite God.
Jesus took time after he served to explain the meaning of that service.
B. We are to Take the Towel
John 13
12When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. "Do you understand what I have done for you?" he asked them. 13"You call me 'Teacher' and 'Lord,' and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. 15I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.
How astounding, the God who made everything. Who designed human DNA, who created a world with a Milky Way Galaxie of over 100 Billion stars, and billions of Galaxies beside, knelt before some lowly fishermen, and washed their grimy feet. Man they must have been ugly.
What a contrast. Satan who demands service from others, and God who serves out of a deep heart of love.
Later in the Bible Paul wrote about the meaning of Jesus’ attitude.
Phil 2
1If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. 3Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 4Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.
5Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
6Who, being in very nature[a] God,
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
7but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature[b] of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
8And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
9Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
10that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
Satan’s destiny is destruction, Jesus’ destiny is to be worshiped.
III. The man that God humbled.
One of the great stories in the bible about God’s humbling of Nebuchadnezzar. He was the king of the world. Babylon was the dominant world power.
Daniel had predicted the fall of Nebuchadnezzar.
Daniel 4 28 All this happened to King Nebuchadnezzar. 29 Twelve months later, as the king was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, 30 he said, "Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?"
31 The words were still on his lips when a voice came from heaven, "This is what is decreed for you, King Nebuchadnezzar: Your royal authority has been taken from you. 32 You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like cattle. Seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone he wishes."
33 Immediately what had been said about Nebuchadnezzar was fulfilled. He was driven away from people and ate grass like cattle. His body was drenched with the dew of heaven until his hair grew like the feathers of an eagle and his nails like the claws of a bird.
34 At the end of that time, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven, and my sanity was restored. Then I praised the Most High; I honored and glorified him who lives forever.
His dominion is an eternal dominion;
his kingdom endures from generation to generation.
35 All the peoples of the earth
are regarded as nothing.
He does as he pleases
with the powers of heaven
and the peoples of the earth.
No one can hold back his hand
or say to him: "What have you done?"
36 At the same time that my sanity was restored, my honor and splendor were returned to me for the glory of my kingdom. My advisers and nobles sought me out, and I was restored to my throne and became even greater than before. 37 Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because everything he does is right and all his ways are just. And those who walk in pride he is able to humble.
IV. Jesus’ story about Humility
Luke 18
The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector
9To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable: 10"Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11The Pharisee stood up and prayed about[a] himself: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.'
13"But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner.'
14"I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."
The Little Children and Jesus
15People were also bringing babies to Jesus to have him touch them. When the disciples saw this, they rebuked them. 16But Jesus called the children to him and said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 17I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it."
Do you see how being humble can bring you toward needed change in our lives. When we are honest about where we are, and our need for God in our lives, we can face the changes we need in our lives.
Practical Humility--Get your relationships repaired.
21"You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not murder,[a] and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.' 22But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother[b]will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, 'Raca,[c]' is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, 'You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of hell.
23"Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.
It is Not All About Me
When I shared about the process of character development a few weeks ago I shared that the first rung of the ladder moving toward character development was humility. I thought it would be fun today to flesh out the concept of humility.
This also ties with what Ken has been teaching us on the process of change. One of the first things I need to do is admit I can not change on my own power, that I need God’s help to change.
I. Opposite of Humility
As we look at Humility, let’s look at the opposite of humility.
A. Satan’s Rebellion
Is 14 is the story of Satan’s revolution against God. For all of eternity all of God’s creation obeyed and followed him. At some time a long while ago Lucifer the most beautiful of God’s created creatures decided, for the first time ever, to go against God’s will. History is the playing out of the results of that rebellion.
Is 14
2 How you have fallen from heaven,
O morning star, son of the dawn!
You have been cast down to the earth,
you who once laid low the nations!
13 You said in your heart,
"I will ascend to heaven;
I will raise my throne
above the stars of God;
I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly,
on the utmost heights of the sacred mountain. [c]
14 I will ascend above the tops of the clouds;
I will make myself like the Most High."
Heaven was stunned. 1/3 of the angels said right on man, let’s rebel. Thus was set up the atmosphere within which man was created. Man believed the lie of Satan, that he could be a god, and the rebellion came to men as well.
What did Satan do?
Replaced
love with lust
joy with happiness (sin bring short term happiness, but not long term joy)
truth with lies
integrity with image
life with death
obedience with rebellion
respect with accusations
helping with hurting
Wow, don’t we have a better world.
This may make us understand the feeling God has about pride.
Prov 6:16-19
16 There are six things the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to him:
17 haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood,
18 a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil,
19 a false witness who pours out lies and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers. (NIV)
We are in a momentary period when disobedience to God is allowed. I think of it as the great demonstration. God said, ok, you want to see what creation will be like going opposite of my will.
He limited the impact in time, and place.
We think that is terrible for Satan to do. He should not try to make himself God.....but if we are honest we will admit that we have thought we have a better way of living than God’s plan for us.
When we think that God’s will is limited and narrow. When we choose sin over righteousness.”
What is the ultimate result of Satan’s rebellion?
B. Satan’s Downfall
Rev 12
7And there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. 8But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. 9The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.
10Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say:
"Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God,
and the authority of his Christ.
For the accuser of our brothers,
who accuses them before our God day and night,
has been hurled down.
11They overcame him
by the blood of the Lamb
and by the word of their testimony;
they did not love their lives so much
as to shrink from death.
At some time in the future This “experiment” with rebellion will be complete. The whole creation will be tired of the impact of sin and pride, and will long for a world where only God’s will is accomplished.
I believe that it will lead to greater creativity, joy, standard of living, peacefulness and so much more when there is just one will in the universe, God's.
Contrast the impact of this rebellion with the impact of the humble God/man Jesus.
II. Jesus the Model of Humility
A. Jesus Takes the Towel
John 13
1It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love.[a]
2The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus. 3Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 4so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
I am fascinated by the comment that Jesus “knew the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God;”
The beginning of humility is knowing yourself in relation to God. Jesus is so loved by the Father, he does not have go reach out and grasp after greatness. He is just content to serve.
If we really get it....really know how very much we are loved by God, how dear we are to him, that he thinks about us constantly, our emotional tanks are full. Being filled with that knowledge gives us left over energy to serve others. You know, I enjoy being liked by people, but it is not as powerful an need if I am convinced that I am dearly loved by the infinite God.
Jesus took time after he served to explain the meaning of that service.
B. We are to Take the Towel
John 13
12When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. "Do you understand what I have done for you?" he asked them. 13"You call me 'Teacher' and 'Lord,' and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. 15I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.
How astounding, the God who made everything. Who designed human DNA, who created a world with a Milky Way Galaxie of over 100 Billion stars, and billions of Galaxies beside, knelt before some lowly fishermen, and washed their grimy feet. Man they must have been ugly.
What a contrast. Satan who demands service from others, and God who serves out of a deep heart of love.
Later in the Bible Paul wrote about the meaning of Jesus’ attitude.
Phil 2
1If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. 3Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 4Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.
5Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
6Who, being in very nature[a] God,
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
7but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature[b] of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
8And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
9Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
10that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
Satan’s destiny is destruction, Jesus’ destiny is to be worshiped.
III. The man that God humbled.
One of the great stories in the bible about God’s humbling of Nebuchadnezzar. He was the king of the world. Babylon was the dominant world power.
Daniel had predicted the fall of Nebuchadnezzar.
Daniel 4 28 All this happened to King Nebuchadnezzar. 29 Twelve months later, as the king was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, 30 he said, "Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?"
31 The words were still on his lips when a voice came from heaven, "This is what is decreed for you, King Nebuchadnezzar: Your royal authority has been taken from you. 32 You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like cattle. Seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone he wishes."
33 Immediately what had been said about Nebuchadnezzar was fulfilled. He was driven away from people and ate grass like cattle. His body was drenched with the dew of heaven until his hair grew like the feathers of an eagle and his nails like the claws of a bird.
34 At the end of that time, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven, and my sanity was restored. Then I praised the Most High; I honored and glorified him who lives forever.
His dominion is an eternal dominion;
his kingdom endures from generation to generation.
35 All the peoples of the earth
are regarded as nothing.
He does as he pleases
with the powers of heaven
and the peoples of the earth.
No one can hold back his hand
or say to him: "What have you done?"
36 At the same time that my sanity was restored, my honor and splendor were returned to me for the glory of my kingdom. My advisers and nobles sought me out, and I was restored to my throne and became even greater than before. 37 Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because everything he does is right and all his ways are just. And those who walk in pride he is able to humble.
IV. Jesus’ story about Humility
Luke 18
The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector
9To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable: 10"Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11The Pharisee stood up and prayed about[a] himself: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.'
13"But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner.'
14"I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."
The Little Children and Jesus
15People were also bringing babies to Jesus to have him touch them. When the disciples saw this, they rebuked them. 16But Jesus called the children to him and said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 17I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it."
Do you see how being humble can bring you toward needed change in our lives. When we are honest about where we are, and our need for God in our lives, we can face the changes we need in our lives.
Practical Humility--Get your relationships repaired.
21"You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not murder,[a] and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.' 22But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother[b]will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, 'Raca,[c]' is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, 'You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of hell.
23"Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Listening to the Right Voices
Listening to the Right Voices
Introduction: Scene from Lord of the Rings
Lord of the Rings is about an epic battle between good and evil. In the following scene, an agent of the evil Saroman named Snick has the ear of King Theodon of Rohan. In this scene King Theodon comes to realize that he has been bewitched by Snick. The power of light into his mind frees him from the darkness that had captured his mind.
Scene from Lord of the Rings the Twin Towers 58:00-103:58
It is so easy to be lulled to sleep like King Theodon
We have a flood of voices, like Snick, trying to capture our minds and hearts.
Advertisers mine for spare moments when they can get our attention. Music artists throw their beguiling philosophy to people in every conceivable form. Humor in movies pulls us toward watching things we would not ordinarily watch. Of course, not all these voices are bad for us, but many of these voices can lull us to sleep--put us in a sort of mental and emotional stupor like that of King Theodon.
When King Theodon was shaken out of his mental lethargy his whole soul comes to life. You can even see light come into his face. He now has power to stand against the lies of Snick and the witchcraft of Saroman.
As we saw the light wake up the king, we can be woken up by a different kind of voice. God’s quiet voice does not invade our senses, but is simply there sharing His love and kindness to our starved hearts. Sometimes he shouts, but usually he is just there, faithfully loving day in and day out. When we hear that voice, when our vitality is renewed by His truth, our deadened heart comes to vibrant life, like the color that came back into the kings countenance.
All of this input into our lives comes into the heart. The heart is the whole of who I am--the person who is housed in my body. The soul and the heart are very similar.
The Heart
I love thinking about the heart. The heart is wider than the mind. It is the combined force of your mind and your emotion. Your heart is the core of who you are as a person.
Today I want to look together at the heart and how important it is to protect the heart.
The heart is first of all an abundant storehouse of all our loves.
A. Abundant Storehouse
Our physical heart is an amazing pump. It pumps 5 quarts of blood a minute, 2,000 gallons a day, and 51 million gallons in 70 years.
Our biblical heart is abundant in the amount of data it processes. Think of everything you have ever seen, or heard, all the TV shows and movies you have ever watched, the books you have read, classes you have taken, the friendships you have had, the betrayals you have experienced, the people you have loved, all the times you have prayed to God and read His Word. They are all stored in the heart. Scripture describes the heart as "the well spring of life".
Matt 12:3335
33 "Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit.
34 You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.
35 The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him.
(NIV)
The example Jesus gave of this if I hate a person it is like murder in the impact on my heart, of if I lust it has the impact of adultery.
Once I had an illustration I did with a youth group. I had them choose candy based on what they had been putting into their heart in the past 24 hours. The green candy represented good things put into their heart. Green is for “go”. The red pieces represented bad things put in your heart. Red for Stop! Each put 5 pieces in the same percentage of their good or bad thoughts. The bowl which represented their hearts looked something like this. (showed a bowl with two colors of candy, and had some people pull some candy from the bowl representing us taking an action based on what we put in our heart.)
You can think about your conversations, what you have read or watched on tv, things you have been thinking about. Red not have to necessarily be bad, but can just be unhealthy or unhelpful thinking. What kind of candy would you have put into the bowl?
When we choose an action in our lives we reach into our heart and draw out what is there.
Now, I will have someone pull out an action based on this collection of thoughts. Do you see how the more green candy put into the heart will encourage a green decision or action. This causes the verse we have up on the screen come to life.
Hopefully this will encourage you to think of storing good productive things in your heart as you would invest money in a bank. The investment is put in so that you have something for a rainy day.
You have control of what is stored in your heart. What you decide to store in your heart today will say a lot about what you will be, and how you will act, in 5 years.
Not only is the heart an abundant storehouse, but it is a secret place.
B. It is a secret place
No one else can see into your heart. There are things you know about yourself that no one else knows. Peter describes character as the hidden person of the heart:
This is specifically written to women, but the principle of the hidden person of the heart showing outwardly is true for all of us.
1 Pet 3:34
3 And let not your adornment be merely external braiding the hair, and wearing gold jewelry, or putting on dresses;
4 but let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God. (NAS)
Though the heart is a secret place, it is not hidden from God. He alone knows the heart of a person.
Ps 139:16-18
16 Thine eyes have seen my unformed substance; and in Thy book they were all written, the days that were ordained for me, when as yet there was not one of them.
17 How precious also are Thy thoughts to me, O God! How vast is the sum of them!
18 If I should count them, they would outnumber the sand. When I awake, I am still with Thee. (NAS)
What is good about God knowing your heart?
God sees and loves the real me. He is not limited by human constraints so he can take infinite interest in each of us, and see us continually.
There is nothing that will surprise him. He knows me through and through. The amazing thing about God is that he loves me in spite of what is in my heart. He desires the best for me, and will do all he can to make my heart a good and healthy place.
What scares you about God knowing your heart?
Almost the same answer as above. He knows me completely. There is no hiding from his watchful eye. He sees the things I struggle with. He knows where I am weak. He sees my mental choices and the things I let into my heart. The amazing thing is that he still loves me.
Last week I talked about integrity being a day by day by day decision to do what is right. In that secret place the choices I make all the time are either setting me up for spiritual victory, or spiritual failure. I encourage you to make a good investment for your future success and joy.
The heart is not only a secret place, but it is a place of spiritual battle.
C. A Place of Spiritual Battle
The story in Acts 5:1-5 tells of Ananias and Sapphira.
The setting--
It says that Satan filled their heart to lie to God
Acts 5:15
1 Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property.
2 With his wife's full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles' feet.
3 Then Peter said, "Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land?
4 Didn't it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn't the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied to men but to God."
5 When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard what had happened. (NIV)
Their heart was a battlefield. Imagine the thoughts that went into their mind.
What do you think God was telling them?
God is always on the side of truth. God would want them to humbly give some money and not make a big deal of it.
What was Satan telling them?
He told them they could have an awesome reputation with the church. Wouldn’t everyone think they are wonderful for giving the money they got for their land?
Did you know that every thought
that comes into your mind is
not necessarily your thought?
A thought in your mind can just be a temptation. Temptation is not sin. Yielding to temptation is sin. Ananias and Sapphira listened to Satan’s input into their heart rather than God’s. If they had been keeping their thought life thinking of God and His ways, the choices they would have made would have been much better.
II. Potential Input to the Heart
A. World
The world in the Bible is the world system of evil that pressures us to do bad stuff. The best illustration I can think of for this is peer pressure at school. Friends want you to think and talk a certain way, and when you do not follow their “rules” they can make life very difficult for you. Adults experience the same stuff, but usually in a more subtle form.
Rom 12:1-2
1 I urge you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.
2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.
(NAS)
The defense to the world is not to conform
B. Flesh
2 Tim 2:22
22 Now flee from youthful lusts, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.
(NAS)
The defense to the flesh is to run. Get out of there. Turn of the computer, get out of the car or the bar. etc.
C. Devil
James 4:7
7 Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.
(NAS)
Tell Satan you will not listen to his temptations lies.
The battle in the heart results in two kinds of hearts.
Let's look at the characteristics of evil and good hearts.
III. Types of Hearts:
A. The diseased heart.
There are people who have diseased, or evil hearts. Disease is hidden until it is too late.
The fascinating thing about the diseased heart is that no one can tell it is diseased.
Autopsies done on soldiers in World War II showed that many young men had fat deposits on the heart, but seemed in perfect health. Heart disease sneaks up on a person. Suddenly, without warning, at 50 the arteries become totally blocked, and there is a heart attack.
A spiritually diseased heart can also be hidden until it is too late.
What does the evil heart do?
It talks itself into sin. (Matthew 24:48-51)
Matt 24:48-51 The Master is gone and the servant is left in charge of the home.
48 But suppose that servant is wicked and says to himself, 'My master is staying away a long time,'
49 and he then begins to beat his fellow servants and to eat and drink with drunkards.
50 The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of.
51 He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
(NIV)
Do you have these little talks with your heart?
Where are the fault lines for you? How can you shore up the fault lines so they do not take over your actions?
God's response to an evil heart--
Gen 6:6
6 And the LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. (NAS)
When we sin, we grieve God’s heart. Sin makes God sad at so many levels. Sin hurts us, and He does not want to see us hurt. Sin offends God’s sense of what is right and wrong. He hates to see the impact of our sin on others in our life.
B. The Good Heart
God yearns for us to have a heart that is faithful--the reason: he wants to bless us.
A good heart is pure
Matthew 5:8
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
A good heart thinks about positive things
Phil. 4:8
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me--put it into practice.
A good heart is gentle and humble:
Matt 11:29
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. (NIV)
Gentle means tractable, docile; not harsh, stern, or violent; mild, soft and delicate.
We can actually learn from God’s heart. King David in the Bible was said to be a man after God’s own heart.
IV. Guard Your Heart
The wild media availability creates a problem for us all. How do we protect our hearts in a digital world that is gone crazy toward bad stuff?
Solomon in Proverbs makes a powerful statement.
Proverbs 4:23
Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.
Since, as we have seen, all of our decisions in life flow out of the abundance of our heart, we are to guard that heart. Guarding the heart has to be one of the greatest priorities in our life. So much in life is based on our input into the heart. Make your heart rich with a world of good stuff.
Bottom Line: We need to put good things in our heart, so that when we reach for an action, good actions will result.
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
What Ever Happened to Integrity
What Ever Happened to Integrity
This is a talk I gave Last Sunday at New Day Fellowship in Cuyahoga Falls, OH
Many people’s motto is “Image is Everything” We are often more worried about our image, than the substance of who we are.
Notice in this scene from Evan Almighty how concerned Evan Baxter is about his image as a Congressman.
Scene: 8:26--11:46
Concern over image is not bad. I have a friend who lets the hair grow in his ears to the point of being bushy. I wish he was more interested in his image.
Substance is of significantly greater value than image: Not what we look like, but who we are; Not our appearance, but our character.
To help us understand Integrity, let’s look at what integrity is not.
I. What integrity is not
A. Integrity is not putting on a show.
One pastor, years ago, was preaching when a woman walked in the church and shot him dead in the pulpit. It turns out he had been having an affair with this woman. The hidden aspect of his life came to light in this horrible way.
He had been putting on a show. His thought life and private actions did not agree with this public image. This is called hypocrisy.
B. Integrity is not a one time shot.
You don’t become a person of integrity overnight.
We are an instant culture. We love our fast food. We do not like sitting in the Doctor’s office for an hour. We want another lane to open at Wal-Mart if there are more than two people in front of us.
Character is developed over time. Character happens through a series of choices which a person makes. Paul shows in this passage from Romans that integrity has to do with persistence.
Romans 2
6God "will give to each person according to what he has done."[a] 7To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. 8But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger.
There is a day in and day out quality to integrity.
A person of integrity realizes that a reputation is a fragile thing.
“A single lie destroys a whole reputation for integrity”
Baltasar Gracian (Spanish Philosopher and Writer from 1600’s)
Walter Concrite died last week at age 92. Someone described him as the most trusted man in America. This reputation came from years of good non-partisan reporting. He was known for reporting the facts. As a result he was invited into the living rooms of a whole generation of Americans.
C. Integrity is not something I have to drum up in my own strength.
All that I do comes through God’s strength.
In John 15, Jesus is speaking to us:
4 Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
The burden is taken off of me when I realize I have God’s strength that can help me be a good person.
D. Integrity is not just being true to yourself.
Integrity has come to mean being true to yourself. The problem with that is that people are sinful. What self am I going to be true to?. The self that desires to cheat on tests and get high?
No, integrity has to do with being committed to principles of truth. Those principles have been laid out by God in the Bible.
Things like speaking truth, acting in kindness to your neighbor, loving God with all my heart are the correct things for us all to strive for.
Character is developed when the heart is touched by truth.
Bill Thrall (Leadership Catalyst)
E. Not living with a mask
Integrity is where I willingly admit my weakness, acknowledge I am on my way like every other person in the world. It is being on the outside what I am on the inside.
What is integrity.
Enhancing our image is relatively easy, but keeping a good character is relatively hard. It is not a quick fix. It is a choice year after year after year.
The other day I went out in my backyard and saw that a picket on the fence had the top broken off. A little boy named Raymond always plays there and so I knew he probably broke it. I was out one night, and I said to him. Hey the picket has been broken off here, if you happen to see the picket while you are playing could you bring it to me so I can glue it on?
He said, “It was me, I broke the picket.” I really praised him for telling the truth. Yesterday I saw him, and said, “There’s that honest guy.” Raymond is beginning his journey toward integrity.
A. Definition of Integrity
Integrity may be seen as the quality of having a sense of honesty and truthfulness in regard to the motivations for one's actions. The term "hypocrisy" is used in contrast to integrity... Wikipedia
Another thought is that “Integrity is doing what is right, even when others are not watching”.
B. Couple of Quotes on Integrity
“The supreme quality for leadership is unquestionably integrity. Without it, no real success is possible, no matter whether it is on a section gang, a football field, in an army, or in an office.”
Dwight David Eisenhower
And that’s from a politician.
“Live so that when your children think of fairness and integrity, they think of you.”
Jackson Brown, Jr. author of Life's Little Instruction Book)
III. Character Ladder
When I was thinking about integrity I thought of an illustration that I heard at a conference put on by Leadership Catalyst. Many of the concepts in this section come from Leadership Catalyst. There were two ladders of growth, one without character, and one with character.
The first ladder was called the Capacity Ladder. Many of you have seen this at work, when a person is put in leadership before he or she is personally ready for leadership.
One of our girls had a young boss at work that told her she was going to be let go because of the economy. She was weeping for a half hour. He finally told her he was kidding. Later he discussed this with her and it was a big wake-up call for him. His position was clearly ahead of his character development.
The leader growing up the Capacity Ladder is often isolated from others. His job responsibility gets ahead of his character. A leader who has not seriously worked on his character may have a horrible fall when he is at the apex of leadership.
Rung 1: The person has natural leadership abilities.
Bernie Madoff was a hard worker, working while going to law school
Rung 2. The person develops those gifts through training, education.
He developed a program that is used today as the foundation to the NASDAQ.
Rung 3: He or she gets validated by being given title and a position.
He was on all sorts of boards, and was a consultant to regulators on the investment industry in Washington DC
Rung 4: Exhalation People presume maturity in the leader and therefore give misplaced trust.
Bernie was at the top. People trusted him with their whole life savings. Charities gave him extra money to invest for them.
But because his character was not strong and developed he used the vulnerability of these people to hurt them, and used them. When the financial boom stopped in 2008 his house of cards came crashing down and left devastation in its wake.
90 year old people having to go back to work because their life savings were destroyed. Charities had to close because they were bankrupt.
Is there a better way? How can I grow so that my capacity does not outgrow my maturity and character? Let’s look together at the Character ladder.
Before looking at the rungs of the ladder it is important to see one of the great differences between the two ladders.
The person climbing the Character Ladder has to let other people in. If I remain proud and aloof from people I will not see my weaknesses as easily, and will not get them repaired. The first two rungs require vulnerability to other people and to God.
Rung 1: Humility
Pride can keep us from listening to God and to others. It gives us a sense that we are above others and can therefore use them for our purposes.
I need to lay aside independent use of my abilities and time.
I use my gifts under the authority of God and learn from trusted friends how to be the best person I can be.
Psalm 149:4
For the LORD takes delight in his people; he crowns the humble with salvation.
NIV
1 Peter 5:5
Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."
Humility frees God to be able to show his strength through a person.
Rung 2: Submission
If I am a humble person I will be willing to be under another person’s authority.
Jesus is our best example of humility and submission to the Father’s will.
Phil 2: 8-11
8And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
9Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
10that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
Jesus completely submitted himself to God the Father.
Rung 3: Obedience
A humble person, willing to do things God’s way, leads perfectly to obeying God.
Romans 6:17 “But thanks be to God that though you were slaves to sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed.”
You can see how this ladder is so different from the Capacity Ladder. Character keeps up with growth in skills on the job.
Rung 4: Suffering
Problem, we do not want to suffer but suffering brings maturity
Joseph--As a young person he was sold into slavery and was falsely accused and thrown into prison. These experiences helped him to be ready to be a leader.
I Peter 4:19 Therefore, let those also who suffer according to the will of God so trust their souls to the faithful creator in doing what is right.
John 15
1"I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes[a] so that it will be even more fruitful.
There have been horrible things that have happened to me, but God has used them to bring maturity in my life.
Rung 5: Maturity, Character
As a mature person I do what is right, though I feel like it or not.
I will have the inner strength to be others-centered rather than self-centered.
Col 3:12-17
12Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
Rung 6: Exaltation
The top of the ladder is the same as the capacity ladder. Now, however, I become a leader with a solid foundation of character development.
Here is what is different about this ladder. My influence is used by God to bless others rather than use them.
If God exalts us too quickly pride takes over and we fall. God is correct to make the process slow.
I have several last comments about the Character Ladder. Leadership Catalyst points out that:
Influence is based on the pursuit of humility, not power and position.
You now influence because of who you are, not what you can do.
Do not pursue suffering. Suffering is the result of being Godly.
Do not pursue exaltation. Pursue humility. Pursue obedience of heart.
Daily Thinking and Actions that Lead to Integrity
Here are a few thoughts about choices you can make that lead to integrity.
Speak the truth. When we have a habit of telling the truth people can trust us.
Don’t take advantage of vulnerable people. Build up, encourage, serve and strengthen the vulnerable.
Love doing what is right. Let it get into your DNA.
Take time to develop your relationship with God. Reading a Proverb daily is a good beginning.
Character is not something that happens from going with the flow, doing what comes naturally.
My character is developed by making a choice of my will to obey God’s principles.
Haymaker
God will fill in our character:
A famous pianist Pat Oriski was playing. A child slipping away from parents got on the stage and started to play chopsticks. Orisiki told him to keep playing. Oriski played all around the chopsticks and filled in where the child messed up. That is what Christ does for us. The master of integrity is with us. He will is here too, to make some grand music through us.
When I am true to God and his principles it is really cool. I really find myself. God uses my personality, background, experiences, education and relationships of my life to create something that is truly me. A fully integrated personality centered around the truth of who God is who I am, made in his likeness.
My life takes on value, because I am part of a big plan that God has to bring people back to himself and restore the relationship broken by our sin.
This is a talk I gave Last Sunday at New Day Fellowship in Cuyahoga Falls, OH
Many people’s motto is “Image is Everything” We are often more worried about our image, than the substance of who we are.
Notice in this scene from Evan Almighty how concerned Evan Baxter is about his image as a Congressman.
Scene: 8:26--11:46
Concern over image is not bad. I have a friend who lets the hair grow in his ears to the point of being bushy. I wish he was more interested in his image.
Substance is of significantly greater value than image: Not what we look like, but who we are; Not our appearance, but our character.
To help us understand Integrity, let’s look at what integrity is not.
I. What integrity is not
A. Integrity is not putting on a show.
One pastor, years ago, was preaching when a woman walked in the church and shot him dead in the pulpit. It turns out he had been having an affair with this woman. The hidden aspect of his life came to light in this horrible way.
He had been putting on a show. His thought life and private actions did not agree with this public image. This is called hypocrisy.
B. Integrity is not a one time shot.
You don’t become a person of integrity overnight.
We are an instant culture. We love our fast food. We do not like sitting in the Doctor’s office for an hour. We want another lane to open at Wal-Mart if there are more than two people in front of us.
Character is developed over time. Character happens through a series of choices which a person makes. Paul shows in this passage from Romans that integrity has to do with persistence.
Romans 2
6God "will give to each person according to what he has done."[a] 7To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. 8But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger.
There is a day in and day out quality to integrity.
A person of integrity realizes that a reputation is a fragile thing.
“A single lie destroys a whole reputation for integrity”
Baltasar Gracian (Spanish Philosopher and Writer from 1600’s)
Walter Concrite died last week at age 92. Someone described him as the most trusted man in America. This reputation came from years of good non-partisan reporting. He was known for reporting the facts. As a result he was invited into the living rooms of a whole generation of Americans.
C. Integrity is not something I have to drum up in my own strength.
All that I do comes through God’s strength.
In John 15, Jesus is speaking to us:
4 Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
The burden is taken off of me when I realize I have God’s strength that can help me be a good person.
D. Integrity is not just being true to yourself.
Integrity has come to mean being true to yourself. The problem with that is that people are sinful. What self am I going to be true to?. The self that desires to cheat on tests and get high?
No, integrity has to do with being committed to principles of truth. Those principles have been laid out by God in the Bible.
Things like speaking truth, acting in kindness to your neighbor, loving God with all my heart are the correct things for us all to strive for.
Character is developed when the heart is touched by truth.
Bill Thrall (Leadership Catalyst)
E. Not living with a mask
Integrity is where I willingly admit my weakness, acknowledge I am on my way like every other person in the world. It is being on the outside what I am on the inside.
What is integrity.
Enhancing our image is relatively easy, but keeping a good character is relatively hard. It is not a quick fix. It is a choice year after year after year.
The other day I went out in my backyard and saw that a picket on the fence had the top broken off. A little boy named Raymond always plays there and so I knew he probably broke it. I was out one night, and I said to him. Hey the picket has been broken off here, if you happen to see the picket while you are playing could you bring it to me so I can glue it on?
He said, “It was me, I broke the picket.” I really praised him for telling the truth. Yesterday I saw him, and said, “There’s that honest guy.” Raymond is beginning his journey toward integrity.
A. Definition of Integrity
Integrity may be seen as the quality of having a sense of honesty and truthfulness in regard to the motivations for one's actions. The term "hypocrisy" is used in contrast to integrity... Wikipedia
Another thought is that “Integrity is doing what is right, even when others are not watching”.
B. Couple of Quotes on Integrity
“The supreme quality for leadership is unquestionably integrity. Without it, no real success is possible, no matter whether it is on a section gang, a football field, in an army, or in an office.”
Dwight David Eisenhower
And that’s from a politician.
“Live so that when your children think of fairness and integrity, they think of you.”
Jackson Brown, Jr. author of Life's Little Instruction Book)
III. Character Ladder
When I was thinking about integrity I thought of an illustration that I heard at a conference put on by Leadership Catalyst. Many of the concepts in this section come from Leadership Catalyst. There were two ladders of growth, one without character, and one with character.
The first ladder was called the Capacity Ladder. Many of you have seen this at work, when a person is put in leadership before he or she is personally ready for leadership.
One of our girls had a young boss at work that told her she was going to be let go because of the economy. She was weeping for a half hour. He finally told her he was kidding. Later he discussed this with her and it was a big wake-up call for him. His position was clearly ahead of his character development.
The leader growing up the Capacity Ladder is often isolated from others. His job responsibility gets ahead of his character. A leader who has not seriously worked on his character may have a horrible fall when he is at the apex of leadership.
Rung 1: The person has natural leadership abilities.
Bernie Madoff was a hard worker, working while going to law school
Rung 2. The person develops those gifts through training, education.
He developed a program that is used today as the foundation to the NASDAQ.
Rung 3: He or she gets validated by being given title and a position.
He was on all sorts of boards, and was a consultant to regulators on the investment industry in Washington DC
Rung 4: Exhalation People presume maturity in the leader and therefore give misplaced trust.
Bernie was at the top. People trusted him with their whole life savings. Charities gave him extra money to invest for them.
But because his character was not strong and developed he used the vulnerability of these people to hurt them, and used them. When the financial boom stopped in 2008 his house of cards came crashing down and left devastation in its wake.
90 year old people having to go back to work because their life savings were destroyed. Charities had to close because they were bankrupt.
Is there a better way? How can I grow so that my capacity does not outgrow my maturity and character? Let’s look together at the Character ladder.
Before looking at the rungs of the ladder it is important to see one of the great differences between the two ladders.
The person climbing the Character Ladder has to let other people in. If I remain proud and aloof from people I will not see my weaknesses as easily, and will not get them repaired. The first two rungs require vulnerability to other people and to God.
Rung 1: Humility
Pride can keep us from listening to God and to others. It gives us a sense that we are above others and can therefore use them for our purposes.
I need to lay aside independent use of my abilities and time.
I use my gifts under the authority of God and learn from trusted friends how to be the best person I can be.
Psalm 149:4
For the LORD takes delight in his people; he crowns the humble with salvation.
NIV
1 Peter 5:5
Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."
Humility frees God to be able to show his strength through a person.
Rung 2: Submission
If I am a humble person I will be willing to be under another person’s authority.
Jesus is our best example of humility and submission to the Father’s will.
Phil 2: 8-11
8And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
9Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
10that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
Jesus completely submitted himself to God the Father.
Rung 3: Obedience
A humble person, willing to do things God’s way, leads perfectly to obeying God.
Romans 6:17 “But thanks be to God that though you were slaves to sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed.”
You can see how this ladder is so different from the Capacity Ladder. Character keeps up with growth in skills on the job.
Rung 4: Suffering
Problem, we do not want to suffer but suffering brings maturity
Joseph--As a young person he was sold into slavery and was falsely accused and thrown into prison. These experiences helped him to be ready to be a leader.
I Peter 4:19 Therefore, let those also who suffer according to the will of God so trust their souls to the faithful creator in doing what is right.
John 15
1"I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes[a] so that it will be even more fruitful.
There have been horrible things that have happened to me, but God has used them to bring maturity in my life.
Rung 5: Maturity, Character
As a mature person I do what is right, though I feel like it or not.
I will have the inner strength to be others-centered rather than self-centered.
Col 3:12-17
12Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
Rung 6: Exaltation
The top of the ladder is the same as the capacity ladder. Now, however, I become a leader with a solid foundation of character development.
Here is what is different about this ladder. My influence is used by God to bless others rather than use them.
If God exalts us too quickly pride takes over and we fall. God is correct to make the process slow.
I have several last comments about the Character Ladder. Leadership Catalyst points out that:
Influence is based on the pursuit of humility, not power and position.
You now influence because of who you are, not what you can do.
Do not pursue suffering. Suffering is the result of being Godly.
Do not pursue exaltation. Pursue humility. Pursue obedience of heart.
Daily Thinking and Actions that Lead to Integrity
Here are a few thoughts about choices you can make that lead to integrity.
Speak the truth. When we have a habit of telling the truth people can trust us.
Don’t take advantage of vulnerable people. Build up, encourage, serve and strengthen the vulnerable.
Love doing what is right. Let it get into your DNA.
Take time to develop your relationship with God. Reading a Proverb daily is a good beginning.
Character is not something that happens from going with the flow, doing what comes naturally.
My character is developed by making a choice of my will to obey God’s principles.
Haymaker
God will fill in our character:
A famous pianist Pat Oriski was playing. A child slipping away from parents got on the stage and started to play chopsticks. Orisiki told him to keep playing. Oriski played all around the chopsticks and filled in where the child messed up. That is what Christ does for us. The master of integrity is with us. He will is here too, to make some grand music through us.
When I am true to God and his principles it is really cool. I really find myself. God uses my personality, background, experiences, education and relationships of my life to create something that is truly me. A fully integrated personality centered around the truth of who God is who I am, made in his likeness.
My life takes on value, because I am part of a big plan that God has to bring people back to himself and restore the relationship broken by our sin.
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Abiding in the Vine
Yesterday we went to see an Amish farm with the girls in our home. I saw some grape vines on the farm. I always love seeing grapevines because John 15 comes to my mind. I gave the girls in our home some promise verses from John 15 this week, so they could have fun thinking about the wonderful promises in that chapter.
One statement which strikes me is that we can do nothing of ourselves. We can only live by the spiritual life and energy of Christ, just as the grape vine cannot have any fruit unless it gets the life from the vine. Spiritual fruit is the natural result if we rest in God's strength to live the Christian life.
Another promise that hits me is that the Father prunes every branch that bears fruit. Not some of the branches. So we can know that we will be pruned. Unhelpful growth will be trimmed off of us. You may think that does not sound very exciting.
The exciting part of the pruning is the purpose for pruning. We are pruned so we will bear more fruit. In the past when I have gone through a hard time, I realize that God is using it in my life to prune me. That hard time is made easier when I live by the promise that it will produce more fruit in my life.
The thought that good things will result from pruning has really helped me when I have lost a job, or when a project didn't work out the way I hoped, or someone disappointed or hurt me. I have hope that I will perhaps be a greater blessing to more people. Perhaps my character will grow. Perhaps I will be better positioned to use my gifts, or to be blessed by the Lord. There is always a way in which I will be more fruitful after the pruning. Wow, what a hope and a promise.
It is good to live in the vine and to have God the Father as the gardner in my life.
One statement which strikes me is that we can do nothing of ourselves. We can only live by the spiritual life and energy of Christ, just as the grape vine cannot have any fruit unless it gets the life from the vine. Spiritual fruit is the natural result if we rest in God's strength to live the Christian life.
Another promise that hits me is that the Father prunes every branch that bears fruit. Not some of the branches. So we can know that we will be pruned. Unhelpful growth will be trimmed off of us. You may think that does not sound very exciting.
The exciting part of the pruning is the purpose for pruning. We are pruned so we will bear more fruit. In the past when I have gone through a hard time, I realize that God is using it in my life to prune me. That hard time is made easier when I live by the promise that it will produce more fruit in my life.
The thought that good things will result from pruning has really helped me when I have lost a job, or when a project didn't work out the way I hoped, or someone disappointed or hurt me. I have hope that I will perhaps be a greater blessing to more people. Perhaps my character will grow. Perhaps I will be better positioned to use my gifts, or to be blessed by the Lord. There is always a way in which I will be more fruitful after the pruning. Wow, what a hope and a promise.
It is good to live in the vine and to have God the Father as the gardner in my life.
Friday, June 26, 2009
He is Coming Again
Tonight I was reading in Matthew 24, and 25. I was not so impressed by all the details about Jesus coming again, but more by how I should live, knowing that he is coming back.
The parable of the 10 virgins hit me. Five were watching for the bridegroom. They were ready for him to come. Five were not paying attention. They were just living their lives without thinking about the coming of the Bridegroom.
I want to be ready. I want to be living my life on fire for God, so that when he comes he will find me ready. I do not want to be passive about my life, but active in pursuing God's ways. This encourages me among other things to pray and read the Word of God more faithfully. I need to watch for what I am to speak, and speak boldly, but gently.
The parable of the 10 virgins hit me. Five were watching for the bridegroom. They were ready for him to come. Five were not paying attention. They were just living their lives without thinking about the coming of the Bridegroom.
I want to be ready. I want to be living my life on fire for God, so that when he comes he will find me ready. I do not want to be passive about my life, but active in pursuing God's ways. This encourages me among other things to pray and read the Word of God more faithfully. I need to watch for what I am to speak, and speak boldly, but gently.
Agape' Love
Talking with a friend the other day I was reminded of a definition that I heard of Agape' Love.
Agape' love is a love centered in the character of the one loving and not the lovableness of the one loved. God loves because he is love, not because we are so adorable. Because it is in God's nature and character to love, he loves.
Human love is usually, as Josh McDowell used to say, a "love if", or a "love because". People love us "if" we perform in a certain way, or "because" we have a quality the person likes. That love is usually centered on Beauty, Brains, or Bucks. It is a selfish love that wants to get something rather than give.
We can ask God to help us to be people who love period, and not love just to get something! And we can know that God loves us with unconditional love.
Agape' love is a love centered in the character of the one loving and not the lovableness of the one loved. God loves because he is love, not because we are so adorable. Because it is in God's nature and character to love, he loves.
Human love is usually, as Josh McDowell used to say, a "love if", or a "love because". People love us "if" we perform in a certain way, or "because" we have a quality the person likes. That love is usually centered on Beauty, Brains, or Bucks. It is a selfish love that wants to get something rather than give.
We can ask God to help us to be people who love period, and not love just to get something! And we can know that God loves us with unconditional love.
Monday, June 1, 2009
Pruning
When I garden I am always reminded about God's working in my own life. In John 15 God the father is called the gardener. He keeps the vine healthy and growing.
Today I had to do a lot of clearing of weeds. God has to clear the weeds out of my life. The weeds are the ways in which I allow sin to creep into my life. The ground looks so nice when all the weeds are gone. Healthy growth can happen. When I am cleared of sin healthy spiritual growth can happen in my life. Spiritual weeds can choke out the healthy growth.
I have to prune plants. I get rid of growth that will not produce fruit. I clear away dead branches. There are many times in my life when I go through difficult times. God uses those times to get me back to basics--back to fruitful activities that will be used for God's kingdom.
Those times are hard on plants, but today I stood back satisfied with the changes in the garden and the lawn. I had a peaceful feeling. I am sure that God looks at our lives and he loves to see the growth he helps to produce as we go through the ups and downs of life.
The end result of God's pruning in our lives is our spiritual health and vitality.
Today I had to do a lot of clearing of weeds. God has to clear the weeds out of my life. The weeds are the ways in which I allow sin to creep into my life. The ground looks so nice when all the weeds are gone. Healthy growth can happen. When I am cleared of sin healthy spiritual growth can happen in my life. Spiritual weeds can choke out the healthy growth.
I have to prune plants. I get rid of growth that will not produce fruit. I clear away dead branches. There are many times in my life when I go through difficult times. God uses those times to get me back to basics--back to fruitful activities that will be used for God's kingdom.
Those times are hard on plants, but today I stood back satisfied with the changes in the garden and the lawn. I had a peaceful feeling. I am sure that God looks at our lives and he loves to see the growth he helps to produce as we go through the ups and downs of life.
The end result of God's pruning in our lives is our spiritual health and vitality.
Monday, May 4, 2009
Guilt or Grace, What's Your Motivation
This is a sermon I preached at church
Introduction
A story that Bill Bright used to tell goes something like this. There was a woman who was married. The guy she married had a grading sheet on how well she was doing as a wife. At the end of the day he would give her a grade such as c- or b+. Year after year this graded on her and she hated the pressure she felt. Thankfully this husband died, and her new husband was totally different. When they settled in in the evening he would tell her how much he loved her and they worked together to meet the needs of the family. About 5 years after she was married to the new husband she was rummaging through the attic and came across one of the old grading sheets. At first rage rose up in her remembering the old hurt. But then she began to laugh. She was now doing all the same things the old husband had demanded of her, but was acting out of deep love and joy.
Many see God as being like the first husband. Having a long list of things I have to do to be loved. Like Santa they see him making a list and checking it twice to determine if we have been naughty or nice.
But I want to show you that God is more like the second husband toward whom we can respond with love and respect.
Do vs. Done
It is the difference between “do” and “done”.
It is not about what I do for God, but it is about what he has already done for me when he died on the cross and forgave those who believe in Him. I do not obey God in order to be forgiven. I obey God because I am so grateful that he has brought me into his family and that he has forgiven me through his death on the cross.
Today I am sharing with you some of my personal motivations in obeying God.
I. God is Smart, I am Dumb.
I have never allowed my kids to say they are dumb.
But when I compare what I know to what God knows there is not contest.
One little hint of God’s intelligence is the amazing universe that he has created. He has built an infinitely large universe and an infinitely small universe. A God with this kind of understanding knows what is best for me in the choices I make.
My favorite illustration top understand the proportion of things in the universe is this:
If the earth is a pinhead, the sun is a grapefruit out in the parking lot. The next closest star is another grapefruit in Miami. Then to get a sense of the scope of the universe imagine billions of grapefruit just in our galaxy and then billions of those clusters of grapefruit.
Now, creation does not just go infinitely big, but goes infinitely small. This is a computer animation to give you a sense of the wonder of life at the atomic and the cell level.
Section from a DVD "The Case for the Creator" shows how DNA organizes the production of protein in the cell. The process is extremely intricate on a small basis.
Do you think the God who created all of this would have a little bit of an idea about how I should live?
Jesus said this about the value of living life the way he suggests.
Matt 7:24-27
24"Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash."
When we build out lives on the basis of God’s wisdom our life is solid and strong, and can take a punishing wind.
Story about “You want to fight?” God spoke and the stars were put in place. He then fashioned a little small planet. Then on that little planet he put a little creature. After the creature was created he put up his dukes and in a squeeky voice said "You want to fight?".
How rediculous for us to invent strategies to live a good life opposite of this wise God. I have met a lot of people who think they are smarter than God. Right!
God is not only smart, he is loving.
II. God Loves Me
If I truly believe that God loves me, Really, really believe that, then why would I want to step out of that loving care and do things my own way.
Jesus’ death on the cross is the ultimate demonstration of that love.
But also we can see little evidences all around us daily. God’s love for us is shown in the beautiful world he has given us. God has calculated and designed every aspect of the world in which we can not only survive, but thrive.
This time of the year I am so impressed by the flowers and flowering trees. We think we are so clever that we can make larger or smaller tulips, or have a new color come out this year. But God invented the concept of a tulip and created it and built it from scratch, something our brilliant botanists have not figured out. God made them beautiful, and gave them the qualities to reproduce, so we can see them year after year.
God is abundant in his plan to renew nature. Last spring the maple trees created so many helicopters that I am convinced the one tree in our neighbor’s yard could have populated a forest by itself. I was plucking maple trees out of my lawn and garden for the rest of the summer. This spring I am still taking out little maple trees. God lavishes us with good things to sustain our lives.
Because God loves us I can trust that:
His intensions toward me are good.
In John 10 Jesus tells us that he is the good shepherd. He lovingly cares for and watches over his flock of sheep, us.
John 10:9-11 (New International Version)
9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
11 "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”
Jesus is saying, “Look around and see if there is my kind of love anywhere else.”
When I know God loves me, I am no longer motivated by fear, but by his love for me.
Love Drives out Fear
1 John 4:18-20 (New International Version)
18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
When I really understand God’s love, I will not be afraid of him. My motivation to obey God will not be fear. I will obey God because I will do anything for someone who loves me.
My love for God and Others
My love for God is the foundation of being a loving person, and doing what God wants me to do. I learn how to love from God’s love for me.
19We love because he first loved us. 20If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen.
Loving other people is the natural result of knowing we are loved by God. Jesus modeled this when he took the towel and washed the feet of the disciples.
John 13:3-5 (New International Version)
3 Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God;
4 so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist.
5 After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
Because Jesus knew he was loved by God he served others.
God is not a God who loves to put limits on us to keep us from doing fun stuff. But, he says, look at this wide world of things you can do that bring benefit to yourself and to others. Because I love you, I am only asking you not to do things which will hurt you and hurt others in your life.
That kind of living makes sense to me.
There are lots of benefits I have found in obeying God. Here are just a few:
III. Other Kinds of Benefits of Obedience
Obedience stops sin from getting me in its grip
Notice in this section the power of sin. It can grab you and not let go.
James 1:13-15
13 When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 14 but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. 15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.
When I obey God I keep myself free of sin’s powerful grip.
Feel good inside
The girls in our home after playing tennis cleaned up trash around the court. they did not want to at first, but when they did they loved the results and commented how much fun it was to clean the area.
Obeying God is the right thing to do
There are times in life when we have to do something just because it is the right thing to do. There may not be any rewards for doing something, but just knowing it is the right thing to do can make you so happy that you chose to do it.
Clear conscience
Obedience results in a clear conscience.
1 Peter 3:15-17 (New International Version)
15 But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 16 keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. 17 It is better, if it is God's will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.
Obedience brings the least regrets
Lady at AA She was 40 and had been clean for 2 years. She told with regret the things she had done and the effect on her children.
Obedience results in best long term results.
Sin for the moment is joyful, but long term it always brings sorrow.
IV. How do I have the power to obey
You may say, Bob, I want to obey God, but feel so weak. The good news is that if you have Jesus in your heart you have all you need to obey God. The moment we ask Jesus Christ into our hearts God comes to live in us. God is Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit has been given to us to guide us in how to live our lives.
Power of Holy Spirit
Galatians 5:16-26
16 So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. 17 For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law.
19 The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.
Conclusion:
Obedience to Christ is a daily choice
Trust His Love
Learn his teachings
Ask for his power
Act on what you sense to be the right thing
Introduction
A story that Bill Bright used to tell goes something like this. There was a woman who was married. The guy she married had a grading sheet on how well she was doing as a wife. At the end of the day he would give her a grade such as c- or b+. Year after year this graded on her and she hated the pressure she felt. Thankfully this husband died, and her new husband was totally different. When they settled in in the evening he would tell her how much he loved her and they worked together to meet the needs of the family. About 5 years after she was married to the new husband she was rummaging through the attic and came across one of the old grading sheets. At first rage rose up in her remembering the old hurt. But then she began to laugh. She was now doing all the same things the old husband had demanded of her, but was acting out of deep love and joy.
Many see God as being like the first husband. Having a long list of things I have to do to be loved. Like Santa they see him making a list and checking it twice to determine if we have been naughty or nice.
But I want to show you that God is more like the second husband toward whom we can respond with love and respect.
Do vs. Done
It is the difference between “do” and “done”.
It is not about what I do for God, but it is about what he has already done for me when he died on the cross and forgave those who believe in Him. I do not obey God in order to be forgiven. I obey God because I am so grateful that he has brought me into his family and that he has forgiven me through his death on the cross.
Today I am sharing with you some of my personal motivations in obeying God.
I. God is Smart, I am Dumb.
I have never allowed my kids to say they are dumb.
But when I compare what I know to what God knows there is not contest.
One little hint of God’s intelligence is the amazing universe that he has created. He has built an infinitely large universe and an infinitely small universe. A God with this kind of understanding knows what is best for me in the choices I make.
My favorite illustration top understand the proportion of things in the universe is this:
If the earth is a pinhead, the sun is a grapefruit out in the parking lot. The next closest star is another grapefruit in Miami. Then to get a sense of the scope of the universe imagine billions of grapefruit just in our galaxy and then billions of those clusters of grapefruit.
Now, creation does not just go infinitely big, but goes infinitely small. This is a computer animation to give you a sense of the wonder of life at the atomic and the cell level.
Section from a DVD "The Case for the Creator" shows how DNA organizes the production of protein in the cell. The process is extremely intricate on a small basis.
Do you think the God who created all of this would have a little bit of an idea about how I should live?
Jesus said this about the value of living life the way he suggests.
Matt 7:24-27
24"Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash."
When we build out lives on the basis of God’s wisdom our life is solid and strong, and can take a punishing wind.
Story about “You want to fight?” God spoke and the stars were put in place. He then fashioned a little small planet. Then on that little planet he put a little creature. After the creature was created he put up his dukes and in a squeeky voice said "You want to fight?".
How rediculous for us to invent strategies to live a good life opposite of this wise God. I have met a lot of people who think they are smarter than God. Right!
God is not only smart, he is loving.
II. God Loves Me
If I truly believe that God loves me, Really, really believe that, then why would I want to step out of that loving care and do things my own way.
Jesus’ death on the cross is the ultimate demonstration of that love.
But also we can see little evidences all around us daily. God’s love for us is shown in the beautiful world he has given us. God has calculated and designed every aspect of the world in which we can not only survive, but thrive.
This time of the year I am so impressed by the flowers and flowering trees. We think we are so clever that we can make larger or smaller tulips, or have a new color come out this year. But God invented the concept of a tulip and created it and built it from scratch, something our brilliant botanists have not figured out. God made them beautiful, and gave them the qualities to reproduce, so we can see them year after year.
God is abundant in his plan to renew nature. Last spring the maple trees created so many helicopters that I am convinced the one tree in our neighbor’s yard could have populated a forest by itself. I was plucking maple trees out of my lawn and garden for the rest of the summer. This spring I am still taking out little maple trees. God lavishes us with good things to sustain our lives.
Because God loves us I can trust that:
His intensions toward me are good.
In John 10 Jesus tells us that he is the good shepherd. He lovingly cares for and watches over his flock of sheep, us.
John 10:9-11 (New International Version)
9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
11 "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”
Jesus is saying, “Look around and see if there is my kind of love anywhere else.”
When I know God loves me, I am no longer motivated by fear, but by his love for me.
Love Drives out Fear
1 John 4:18-20 (New International Version)
18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
When I really understand God’s love, I will not be afraid of him. My motivation to obey God will not be fear. I will obey God because I will do anything for someone who loves me.
My love for God and Others
My love for God is the foundation of being a loving person, and doing what God wants me to do. I learn how to love from God’s love for me.
19We love because he first loved us. 20If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen.
Loving other people is the natural result of knowing we are loved by God. Jesus modeled this when he took the towel and washed the feet of the disciples.
John 13:3-5 (New International Version)
3 Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God;
4 so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist.
5 After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
Because Jesus knew he was loved by God he served others.
God is not a God who loves to put limits on us to keep us from doing fun stuff. But, he says, look at this wide world of things you can do that bring benefit to yourself and to others. Because I love you, I am only asking you not to do things which will hurt you and hurt others in your life.
That kind of living makes sense to me.
There are lots of benefits I have found in obeying God. Here are just a few:
III. Other Kinds of Benefits of Obedience
Obedience stops sin from getting me in its grip
Notice in this section the power of sin. It can grab you and not let go.
James 1:13-15
13 When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 14 but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. 15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.
When I obey God I keep myself free of sin’s powerful grip.
Feel good inside
The girls in our home after playing tennis cleaned up trash around the court. they did not want to at first, but when they did they loved the results and commented how much fun it was to clean the area.
Obeying God is the right thing to do
There are times in life when we have to do something just because it is the right thing to do. There may not be any rewards for doing something, but just knowing it is the right thing to do can make you so happy that you chose to do it.
Clear conscience
Obedience results in a clear conscience.
1 Peter 3:15-17 (New International Version)
15 But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 16 keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. 17 It is better, if it is God's will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.
Obedience brings the least regrets
Lady at AA She was 40 and had been clean for 2 years. She told with regret the things she had done and the effect on her children.
Obedience results in best long term results.
Sin for the moment is joyful, but long term it always brings sorrow.
IV. How do I have the power to obey
You may say, Bob, I want to obey God, but feel so weak. The good news is that if you have Jesus in your heart you have all you need to obey God. The moment we ask Jesus Christ into our hearts God comes to live in us. God is Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit has been given to us to guide us in how to live our lives.
Power of Holy Spirit
Galatians 5:16-26
16 So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. 17 For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law.
19 The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.
Conclusion:
Obedience to Christ is a daily choice
Trust His Love
Learn his teachings
Ask for his power
Act on what you sense to be the right thing
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Life of Service
I am teaching a Bible study on Leadership. I was struck again by the powerful lesson from Jesus picking up the towel and washing the disciples' feet.
John 13:3-5 (New International Version)
3Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 4so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
One of the thoughts that I bring from this is that Jesus knew Himself. He did not have to do anything to prove who he was. With this positive self image he could take the lowliest job and be content.
He saw the need for the guys to have clean feet after walking in the dusty road. He determined to meet that need. He is a model for us to quit worrying what people think of us and just serve. Who cares about my rep when I know that I am loved and cared for by the God who created it all.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Our Mortality
I performed a funeral service this week. I thought about eternity, and thought of the options about eternity. The following is an excerpt.
Our lives are filled with many important and meaningful things. We experience the love of close friends and family, we find meaning in productive work, we enjoy hobbies and recreation. All these things are meaningful but pale in comparison to the main issue of life, our preparation for eternity.
On Nightline a few years ago there was an interview with a lady dying of terminal cancer. She made the comment, “No one makes it out of here alive.” What a powerful thought--one that we do not like to face.
How do we handle this? How do we face our mortality without going crazy?
King David of Israel grapples with his mortality in the following passage from Psalm 90.
Ps 90:16, 10, 12-17
1 Lord, you have been our dwelling place throughout all generations.
2 Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.
3 You turn men back to dust, saying, "Return to dust, O sons of men."
4 For a thousand years in your sight are like a day that has just gone by, or like a watch in the night.
5 You sweep men away in the sleep of death; they are like the new grass of the morning
6 though in the morning it springs up new, by evening it is dry and withered.
10 The length of our days is seventy years or eighty, if we have the strength; yet their span is but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away.
11 Who knows the power of your anger? For your wrath is as great as the fear that is due you.
12 Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.
17 May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us; establish the work of our hands for us yes, establish the work of our hands. (NIV)
I see only four main options related to after we die.
One is that we stop existing. There is nothing more. It is over. Our purpose or lack of purpose is finished. Now, with all the evidence of after death experiences, few, even in the scientific world, believe this.
Another option is that all of us will go to heaven. Let me say, if there is a God that option would be totally unfair. Adolph Hitler and Mother Therisa would have the same future. I don’t think so!
Another popular idea lately is reincarnation. We will be reincarnated in some other form based on the lives we have lived. There is no hope in this.
If we live a messed up life, we start all over at the bottom of the food chain. There’s a lot of hope in that! If we live a good life we have to face living through this broken world again, and again, and again until we get it right. Where is the hope in that.
The Bible presents another perspective to consider. We have one life to live here on the earth. How we live that life has an impact on our eternal state. At the end of that life we place our fate in the hands of a God who is loving, and merciful, but just.
We forever escape from sin and the broken sinful world which came as a result of the fall. The pain is over forever.
And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment, so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, shall appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him. (NAS) Heb 9:27-28
C. S. Lewis said, “Christianity is a statement which, if false, is of no importance, and, if true, of infinite importance the one thing it cannot be is moderately important.”
Christ has done everything. He has loved you from before you were born. He has died on the cross, and has literally taken the punishment you and I deserve and paid the penalty himself. He has given us a way to receive his forgiveness and his gift of eternal life.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life.
We can do nothing else but rest in his forgiveness and mercy. We can turn our futures and our lives over to Him, to direct us in a new life through Jesus.
Our lives are filled with many important and meaningful things. We experience the love of close friends and family, we find meaning in productive work, we enjoy hobbies and recreation. All these things are meaningful but pale in comparison to the main issue of life, our preparation for eternity.
On Nightline a few years ago there was an interview with a lady dying of terminal cancer. She made the comment, “No one makes it out of here alive.” What a powerful thought--one that we do not like to face.
How do we handle this? How do we face our mortality without going crazy?
King David of Israel grapples with his mortality in the following passage from Psalm 90.
Ps 90:16, 10, 12-17
1 Lord, you have been our dwelling place throughout all generations.
2 Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.
3 You turn men back to dust, saying, "Return to dust, O sons of men."
4 For a thousand years in your sight are like a day that has just gone by, or like a watch in the night.
5 You sweep men away in the sleep of death; they are like the new grass of the morning
6 though in the morning it springs up new, by evening it is dry and withered.
10 The length of our days is seventy years or eighty, if we have the strength; yet their span is but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away.
11 Who knows the power of your anger? For your wrath is as great as the fear that is due you.
12 Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.
17 May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us; establish the work of our hands for us yes, establish the work of our hands. (NIV)
I see only four main options related to after we die.
One is that we stop existing. There is nothing more. It is over. Our purpose or lack of purpose is finished. Now, with all the evidence of after death experiences, few, even in the scientific world, believe this.
Another option is that all of us will go to heaven. Let me say, if there is a God that option would be totally unfair. Adolph Hitler and Mother Therisa would have the same future. I don’t think so!
Another popular idea lately is reincarnation. We will be reincarnated in some other form based on the lives we have lived. There is no hope in this.
If we live a messed up life, we start all over at the bottom of the food chain. There’s a lot of hope in that! If we live a good life we have to face living through this broken world again, and again, and again until we get it right. Where is the hope in that.
The Bible presents another perspective to consider. We have one life to live here on the earth. How we live that life has an impact on our eternal state. At the end of that life we place our fate in the hands of a God who is loving, and merciful, but just.
We forever escape from sin and the broken sinful world which came as a result of the fall. The pain is over forever.
And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment, so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, shall appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him. (NAS) Heb 9:27-28
C. S. Lewis said, “Christianity is a statement which, if false, is of no importance, and, if true, of infinite importance the one thing it cannot be is moderately important.”
Christ has done everything. He has loved you from before you were born. He has died on the cross, and has literally taken the punishment you and I deserve and paid the penalty himself. He has given us a way to receive his forgiveness and his gift of eternal life.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life.
We can do nothing else but rest in his forgiveness and mercy. We can turn our futures and our lives over to Him, to direct us in a new life through Jesus.
Monday, February 23, 2009
God's Power
Do you feel weak? Do you feel like it is hard to do God's will in your life?
Someone once said that the Christian life isn't hard, it's impossible. In our own strength we cannot obey God.
So how can we live the Christian life? If we have received Christ, God lives inside of us. He has the ability to live out the Christian life completely. We ask him to give us the power to live for Him.
John 15:4,5 "Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing."
This has been called "the abiding life". As I abide in Christ he gives me the power to do what is right. I simply have to ask him.
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Overcoming Temptation
I was talking to a friend today who is struggling with temptation. Here are some of the things that I suggested.
The best advice I was given as a college student was to follow 2 Tim 2:22 "Now flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart." NASU
When in temptation of the flesh the best thing is to escape. Run. This escape is in two ways. Get your mind on something else. Often I used memorized scripture verses to get me thinking in a new direction. My favorite was Ps 119:9-11 "How can a young man keep his way pure?By living according to your word. I seek you with all my heart;do not let me stray from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heartthat I might not sin against you." NIV
The second way to escape is to literally walk away. Pull yourself out of an embrace that is tempting you, kiss your love good night and leave, or you both go out together to some place public. In fact you should avoid getting to that place anyway by escaping earlier :-)
The second part of 2Tim.2:22 talks about filling your life with good things. If find if I am running after righteousness in an aggressive way, I will not as easily get caught in temptation.
Remember temptation is not sin. Yielding to temptation is sin.
The best advice I was given as a college student was to follow 2 Tim 2:22 "Now flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart." NASU
When in temptation of the flesh the best thing is to escape. Run. This escape is in two ways. Get your mind on something else. Often I used memorized scripture verses to get me thinking in a new direction. My favorite was Ps 119:9-11 "How can a young man keep his way pure?By living according to your word. I seek you with all my heart;do not let me stray from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heartthat I might not sin against you." NIV
The second way to escape is to literally walk away. Pull yourself out of an embrace that is tempting you, kiss your love good night and leave, or you both go out together to some place public. In fact you should avoid getting to that place anyway by escaping earlier :-)
The second part of 2Tim.2:22 talks about filling your life with good things. If find if I am running after righteousness in an aggressive way, I will not as easily get caught in temptation.
Remember temptation is not sin. Yielding to temptation is sin.
Monday, February 16, 2009
Friendship (a Sermon)
How to Be a Good Friend
In literature one of the most powerful pictures of friendship is Samwise Gamgee in the Lord of the Rings. He helps his friend Frodo Baggins through some difficult adventures on their way to destroying the ring representing the power of evil. Here is a scene where Frodo is at the end of his strength.
Scene 233.42-236.13 The Last Battle
There are times when friendships are essential for life.
Our lives get so busy sometimes we forget to remember the really essential things in life. One of those essentials is friends. Consider this quote:
"If a man does not make new acquaintance as he advances through life, he will soon find himself left alone. A man, Sir, should keep his friendships in constant repair."- Samuel Johnson (1709 - 1784) British lexiographer.
Let’s look at the value of friendship.
Introduction: Value of Friendship
God has designed life to be a place where we need friends, rather than gutting life out on our own.
"Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up. "Eccl 4:9,10
Jesus sent his disciples out two-by-two for mutual strength.
Study: At a University a study was done to see how people stand up for something they believe. A class of 250 people. All but one person was in on the study. The professor said things that were obviously not true. The one student tried to say something, but all other students went with the professor. The person gave up quickly.
A second experiment was done. This time 2 students were not in on it. They stood up to the professor and the rest of the class and did not back down the way the lone person had done.
I am bolder when I have company. So, what is necessary in a friendship?
I. Elements necessary for Friendship
A. Friends need a Common Mindset
A friend usually shares your view of the world.
When I was sharing about this talk with a friend. She said that in her bad times she had this saying. “A good friend will stop you from drinking. A great friend will be sitting in the cell next you you saying, “Wasn’t that a blast?”
The apostle John had a higher view of friendship-- to help each other walk in truth. He said:
3 John 2-4 2 Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well. 3 It gave me great joy to have some brothers come and tell about your faithfulness to the truth and how you continue to walk in the truth. 4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.
NIV
"Associate yourself with men of good quality if you esteem your own reputation; for 'tis better to be alone than in bad company."- George Washington (1732 - 1799) US Statesman.
B. Friends draw out the best in each other
Jesus was amazing. He could see the potential in people. He was always encouraging people to grow to their best. The first time he met Peter, he saw the potential of this bragging, headstrong fisherman. Andrew introduced Peter to Jesus.
John 1:42
42 He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him, and said, "You are Simon the son of John; you shall be called Cephas" (which is translated Peter a rock). NASB
When Jesus saw the faith of some friends who brought a paralyzed man to Jesus, Jesus was moved by the man and his friends.
Luke 5:20
20 When Jesus saw their faith, he said, "Friend, your sins are forgiven." NIV
Friendship inspires change!
"Treat people as if they were what they ought to be and you help them to become what they are capable of being." -Goethe
C. Friends keep Confidences
Trust is a really big thing in friendships. There can be no friendship without trust. One thing that promotes trust is the ability to keep secrets. I am not talking about unhealthy secrets, like abuse, but ordinary secrets between friends.
High school students are famous for pulling a secret out of you and then blabbing it all over school. It is devastating when trust is broken in this way.
Solomon the wisest man in the world had some great advice for healthy friendships. Several of these Proverbs dealt with keeping secrets.
Prov 11:12-13
12 A man who lacks judgment derides his neighbor,
but a man of understanding holds his tongue.
13 A gossip betrays a confidence,
but a trustworthy man keeps a secret. NIV
Prov 12:23
23 A prudent man keeps his knowledge to himself,
but the heart of fools blurts out folly. NIV
So, what are the….
II. Choices One Makes to Be a Good Friend
A. Friendship requires Effort
One of the most famous friendships in history is the friendship between David and Jonathan in the Bible. Jonathan saw the kind of man David was when he killed the giant Goliath. His friendship was tested when Jonathan’s dad decided he wanted David killed out of jealousy.
1 Sam 19:1-3 19 Saul told his son Jonathan and all the attendants to kill David. But Jonathan was very fond of David 2 and warned him, "My father Saul is looking for a chance to kill you. Be on your guard tomorrow morning; go into hiding and stay there. 3 I will go out and stand with my father in the field where you are. I'll speak to him about you and will tell you what I find out." NIV
George Washington, another military man understood the power of a tested friend. The word “friend” for him had high value.
"True friendship is a plant of slow growth, and must undergo and withstand the shocks of adversity before it is entitled to the appellation."- George Washington, (as above)
Another choice we make to be a friend is
B. Be Alert to the Needs of my Friend
We can get so busy in our lives that we can loose track of our friend’s needs.
3 John 5-7
5 Dear friend, you are faithful in what you are doing for the brothers, even though they are strangers to you. 6 They have told the church about your love. You will do well to send them on their way in a manner worthy of God. NIV
Walter Winchell said:
"A friend is one who walks in when others walk out" -Walter Winchell
Kathy from our previous church was always there when things were the toughest. It was a gifting.
Another choice I make to be a good friend is to be:
C. Willing to Speak Truth to my Friend
One of the hardest, but most important things I can do as a friend is challenge my friend when I see them going in a wrong direction.
Prov 27:6
6 Wounds from a friend can be trusted,
but an enemy multiplies kisses.
NIV
Treasure someone who is willing to lovingly correct you.
Prov 27:9
9 Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart,
and the pleasantness of one's friend springs from his earnest counsel.
NIV
"The best mirror is an old friend." - George Herbert
A true friend will appreciate your input. As a friend I must not only give good advice but be willing to receive good advice.
Prov 9:8-9
8 Do not rebuke a mocker or he will hate you;
rebuke a wise man and he will love you.
9 Instruct a wise man and he will be wiser still;
teach a righteous man and he will add to his learning.
NIV
Another choice I make to be a good friend is to:
D. Seek Friends of Character
Prov 1:10,11,18
10 My son, if sinners entice you,
do not give in to them.
11 If they say, "Come along with us;
let's lie in wait for someone's blood,
let's waylay some harmless soul;……
18 These men lie in wait for their own blood;
they waylay only themselves!
NIV
Prov 18:24 24 A man of many companions may come to ruin,
but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
NIV
"Tell me what company thou keepst, and I'll tell thee what thou art."- Miguel de Cervantes (1547 - 1616) Spanish novelist.
As I thought of friendship I thought about friendship with God.
III. God as a Friend
Just as in human relationships
A. We have to take time to be God’s friend: Moses
Moses made the effort to connect regularly with God.
Ex 33:10-11
10 Whenever the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance to the tent, they all stood and worshiped, each at the entrance to his tent. 11 The Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks with his friend. Then Moses would return to the camp, but his young aide Joshua son of Nun did not leave the tent.
NIV
What an awesome thing to be considered by the God of creation to be his friend.
To truly be God’s friend we have to love what he loves. Our hearts have to really respond to his passions.
As God’s friend:
B. I am Part of God’s Personal Conversation
God the Holy Spirit prays for us.
Rom 8:26-28 26 And in the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; 27 and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
NASB
Christ’s advocates for us to the Father.
1 John 2:1-2
2 My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense — Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.
NIV
Jesus regularly brings us up in conversation with the Father.
Heb 7:25
25 Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.
NIV
Jesus showed friends:
C. Faithfulness right to the End
Jesus was amazing how long he held in there with Judas. Judas will be judged by God for betraying Jesus. But Jesus never gave up on him right to the end, until Judas drew his last breath. This gives me hope that Jesus will patiently hang in there with me.
Matt 26:47-51
47 While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived. With him was a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and the elders of the people. 48 Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: "The one I kiss is the man; arrest him." 49 Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, "Greetings, Rabbi!" and kissed him.
50 Jesus replied, "Friend, do what you came for."
Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested him.
NIV
"Your friend is the person who knows all about you, and still likes you." - Elbert Hubard
Jesus gave the ultimate in friendship
C. He has Given His All
Jesus made the effort to become our friend. He came to a hostile world in order that we would have the opportunity to have us as a friend.
John 1:14
14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
NIV
John 3:16-18 16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
NIV
My logical response to this kind of love is to desire God’s friendship. If you are searching for God, be sure to chat with any of us here about how to get to know God as a friend.
I encourage you to also make the effort to be a good friend. It will pay you rich dividends.
In literature one of the most powerful pictures of friendship is Samwise Gamgee in the Lord of the Rings. He helps his friend Frodo Baggins through some difficult adventures on their way to destroying the ring representing the power of evil. Here is a scene where Frodo is at the end of his strength.
Scene 233.42-236.13 The Last Battle
There are times when friendships are essential for life.
Our lives get so busy sometimes we forget to remember the really essential things in life. One of those essentials is friends. Consider this quote:
"If a man does not make new acquaintance as he advances through life, he will soon find himself left alone. A man, Sir, should keep his friendships in constant repair."- Samuel Johnson (1709 - 1784) British lexiographer.
Let’s look at the value of friendship.
Introduction: Value of Friendship
God has designed life to be a place where we need friends, rather than gutting life out on our own.
"Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up. "Eccl 4:9,10
Jesus sent his disciples out two-by-two for mutual strength.
Study: At a University a study was done to see how people stand up for something they believe. A class of 250 people. All but one person was in on the study. The professor said things that were obviously not true. The one student tried to say something, but all other students went with the professor. The person gave up quickly.
A second experiment was done. This time 2 students were not in on it. They stood up to the professor and the rest of the class and did not back down the way the lone person had done.
I am bolder when I have company. So, what is necessary in a friendship?
I. Elements necessary for Friendship
A. Friends need a Common Mindset
A friend usually shares your view of the world.
When I was sharing about this talk with a friend. She said that in her bad times she had this saying. “A good friend will stop you from drinking. A great friend will be sitting in the cell next you you saying, “Wasn’t that a blast?”
The apostle John had a higher view of friendship-- to help each other walk in truth. He said:
3 John 2-4 2 Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well. 3 It gave me great joy to have some brothers come and tell about your faithfulness to the truth and how you continue to walk in the truth. 4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.
NIV
"Associate yourself with men of good quality if you esteem your own reputation; for 'tis better to be alone than in bad company."- George Washington (1732 - 1799) US Statesman.
B. Friends draw out the best in each other
Jesus was amazing. He could see the potential in people. He was always encouraging people to grow to their best. The first time he met Peter, he saw the potential of this bragging, headstrong fisherman. Andrew introduced Peter to Jesus.
John 1:42
42 He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him, and said, "You are Simon the son of John; you shall be called Cephas" (which is translated Peter a rock). NASB
When Jesus saw the faith of some friends who brought a paralyzed man to Jesus, Jesus was moved by the man and his friends.
Luke 5:20
20 When Jesus saw their faith, he said, "Friend, your sins are forgiven." NIV
Friendship inspires change!
"Treat people as if they were what they ought to be and you help them to become what they are capable of being." -Goethe
C. Friends keep Confidences
Trust is a really big thing in friendships. There can be no friendship without trust. One thing that promotes trust is the ability to keep secrets. I am not talking about unhealthy secrets, like abuse, but ordinary secrets between friends.
High school students are famous for pulling a secret out of you and then blabbing it all over school. It is devastating when trust is broken in this way.
Solomon the wisest man in the world had some great advice for healthy friendships. Several of these Proverbs dealt with keeping secrets.
Prov 11:12-13
12 A man who lacks judgment derides his neighbor,
but a man of understanding holds his tongue.
13 A gossip betrays a confidence,
but a trustworthy man keeps a secret. NIV
Prov 12:23
23 A prudent man keeps his knowledge to himself,
but the heart of fools blurts out folly. NIV
So, what are the….
II. Choices One Makes to Be a Good Friend
A. Friendship requires Effort
One of the most famous friendships in history is the friendship between David and Jonathan in the Bible. Jonathan saw the kind of man David was when he killed the giant Goliath. His friendship was tested when Jonathan’s dad decided he wanted David killed out of jealousy.
1 Sam 19:1-3 19 Saul told his son Jonathan and all the attendants to kill David. But Jonathan was very fond of David 2 and warned him, "My father Saul is looking for a chance to kill you. Be on your guard tomorrow morning; go into hiding and stay there. 3 I will go out and stand with my father in the field where you are. I'll speak to him about you and will tell you what I find out." NIV
George Washington, another military man understood the power of a tested friend. The word “friend” for him had high value.
"True friendship is a plant of slow growth, and must undergo and withstand the shocks of adversity before it is entitled to the appellation."- George Washington, (as above)
Another choice we make to be a friend is
B. Be Alert to the Needs of my Friend
We can get so busy in our lives that we can loose track of our friend’s needs.
3 John 5-7
5 Dear friend, you are faithful in what you are doing for the brothers, even though they are strangers to you. 6 They have told the church about your love. You will do well to send them on their way in a manner worthy of God. NIV
Walter Winchell said:
"A friend is one who walks in when others walk out" -Walter Winchell
Kathy from our previous church was always there when things were the toughest. It was a gifting.
Another choice I make to be a good friend is to be:
C. Willing to Speak Truth to my Friend
One of the hardest, but most important things I can do as a friend is challenge my friend when I see them going in a wrong direction.
Prov 27:6
6 Wounds from a friend can be trusted,
but an enemy multiplies kisses.
NIV
Treasure someone who is willing to lovingly correct you.
Prov 27:9
9 Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart,
and the pleasantness of one's friend springs from his earnest counsel.
NIV
"The best mirror is an old friend." - George Herbert
A true friend will appreciate your input. As a friend I must not only give good advice but be willing to receive good advice.
Prov 9:8-9
8 Do not rebuke a mocker or he will hate you;
rebuke a wise man and he will love you.
9 Instruct a wise man and he will be wiser still;
teach a righteous man and he will add to his learning.
NIV
Another choice I make to be a good friend is to:
D. Seek Friends of Character
Prov 1:10,11,18
10 My son, if sinners entice you,
do not give in to them.
11 If they say, "Come along with us;
let's lie in wait for someone's blood,
let's waylay some harmless soul;……
18 These men lie in wait for their own blood;
they waylay only themselves!
NIV
Prov 18:24 24 A man of many companions may come to ruin,
but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
NIV
"Tell me what company thou keepst, and I'll tell thee what thou art."- Miguel de Cervantes (1547 - 1616) Spanish novelist.
As I thought of friendship I thought about friendship with God.
III. God as a Friend
Just as in human relationships
A. We have to take time to be God’s friend: Moses
Moses made the effort to connect regularly with God.
Ex 33:10-11
10 Whenever the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance to the tent, they all stood and worshiped, each at the entrance to his tent. 11 The Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks with his friend. Then Moses would return to the camp, but his young aide Joshua son of Nun did not leave the tent.
NIV
What an awesome thing to be considered by the God of creation to be his friend.
To truly be God’s friend we have to love what he loves. Our hearts have to really respond to his passions.
As God’s friend:
B. I am Part of God’s Personal Conversation
God the Holy Spirit prays for us.
Rom 8:26-28 26 And in the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; 27 and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
NASB
Christ’s advocates for us to the Father.
1 John 2:1-2
2 My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense — Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.
NIV
Jesus regularly brings us up in conversation with the Father.
Heb 7:25
25 Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.
NIV
Jesus showed friends:
C. Faithfulness right to the End
Jesus was amazing how long he held in there with Judas. Judas will be judged by God for betraying Jesus. But Jesus never gave up on him right to the end, until Judas drew his last breath. This gives me hope that Jesus will patiently hang in there with me.
Matt 26:47-51
47 While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived. With him was a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and the elders of the people. 48 Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: "The one I kiss is the man; arrest him." 49 Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, "Greetings, Rabbi!" and kissed him.
50 Jesus replied, "Friend, do what you came for."
Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested him.
NIV
"Your friend is the person who knows all about you, and still likes you." - Elbert Hubard
Jesus gave the ultimate in friendship
C. He has Given His All
Jesus made the effort to become our friend. He came to a hostile world in order that we would have the opportunity to have us as a friend.
John 1:14
14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
NIV
John 3:16-18 16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
NIV
My logical response to this kind of love is to desire God’s friendship. If you are searching for God, be sure to chat with any of us here about how to get to know God as a friend.
I encourage you to also make the effort to be a good friend. It will pay you rich dividends.
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Love of God Controls Me
Foundational to my Christian life is my motivation. The Christian Life would be miserable if the motivation for me to do right was out of guilt, fear, or duty. Obedience would be hollow, tiresome, and boring.
But I am so overwhelmed by God's love for me. It is his amazing love for me that causes me to respond in obedience. That response produces joy. Below is a verse that shows Paul's motivation in sharing the good news of Jesus--God's love.
2 Cor 5:14-1514 For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died; 15 and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf. NASU
I am so overwhelmed by the love and forgiveness that God has given to me, that I must act in love for God and for people.
John said it very simply: 1 John 5:2-42 This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. 3 This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, 4 for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.NIV
Do you love God? There is a very simple test. Do you obey him?
But I am so overwhelmed by God's love for me. It is his amazing love for me that causes me to respond in obedience. That response produces joy. Below is a verse that shows Paul's motivation in sharing the good news of Jesus--God's love.
2 Cor 5:14-1514 For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died; 15 and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf. NASU
I am so overwhelmed by the love and forgiveness that God has given to me, that I must act in love for God and for people.
John said it very simply: 1 John 5:2-42 This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. 3 This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, 4 for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.NIV
Do you love God? There is a very simple test. Do you obey him?
Saturday, January 31, 2009
When Things are Going Badly
Sometimes life is just hard. David had some great strategies to follow when he was in difficult circumstances
Ps 37:1-7
Do not fret because of evil men or be envious of those who do wrong;
2 for like the grass they will soon wither,like green plants they will soon die away.
3 Trust in the Lord and do good;dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.
4 Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart.
5 Commit your way to the Lord;trust in him and he will do this:
6 He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn,the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.
7 Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him;do not fret when men succeed in their ways,when they carry out their wicked schemes. NIV
Here are his ideas. Don't get wrapped up in worrying. Keep at faithfully doing good.
Take time to get to know God and learn to trust him.
What I love is the promise that he will bring forth your righteousness as the dawn. Through problems God is doing something. He is building your character. As you let him lead your life he will establish your character.
After developing your character he will give you an impact in others lives.
David finishes with encouraging us to be patient. God's ways are usually not quickly accomplished. He works thoroughtly though not quickly. Ultimately the righteous are blessed.
Ps 37:1-7
Do not fret because of evil men or be envious of those who do wrong;
2 for like the grass they will soon wither,like green plants they will soon die away.
3 Trust in the Lord and do good;dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.
4 Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart.
5 Commit your way to the Lord;trust in him and he will do this:
6 He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn,the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.
7 Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him;do not fret when men succeed in their ways,when they carry out their wicked schemes. NIV
Here are his ideas. Don't get wrapped up in worrying. Keep at faithfully doing good.
Take time to get to know God and learn to trust him.
What I love is the promise that he will bring forth your righteousness as the dawn. Through problems God is doing something. He is building your character. As you let him lead your life he will establish your character.
After developing your character he will give you an impact in others lives.
David finishes with encouraging us to be patient. God's ways are usually not quickly accomplished. He works thoroughtly though not quickly. Ultimately the righteous are blessed.
Monday, January 26, 2009
Motivated by Love
Bill Bright, the leader of Campus Crusade for Christ, used to tell this story.
A husband had a grading sheet for his wife. At the end of each day, depending on how good a wife she was, he would give her a grade. She hated this pressure.
Thankfully that husband died. She married a new husband. The new husband was amazing. He just loved her, not requiring anything in response. She was warmed by his consistant kindness, compassion, and loving care.
About 5 years later she was rumaging through the attic and came across one of the old grading lists of the first husband. Her first response was anger, just remembering the pain of that relationship. But then she laughed. As she looked at the list she was now doing all the things on the list for her new husband without being asked.
Our relationship with God is like being married to the second husband. God loves us. The great love he has given us causes us to just obey God naturally in response to his love. That obedience to God is not a burden.
In my walk with God I do not think about all the things I cannot do and all the things I have to do as a Christian. I am so greatful to be loved that obeying God is the most natural thing in the world.
A husband had a grading sheet for his wife. At the end of each day, depending on how good a wife she was, he would give her a grade. She hated this pressure.
Thankfully that husband died. She married a new husband. The new husband was amazing. He just loved her, not requiring anything in response. She was warmed by his consistant kindness, compassion, and loving care.
About 5 years later she was rumaging through the attic and came across one of the old grading lists of the first husband. Her first response was anger, just remembering the pain of that relationship. But then she laughed. As she looked at the list she was now doing all the things on the list for her new husband without being asked.
Our relationship with God is like being married to the second husband. God loves us. The great love he has given us causes us to just obey God naturally in response to his love. That obedience to God is not a burden.
In my walk with God I do not think about all the things I cannot do and all the things I have to do as a Christian. I am so greatful to be loved that obeying God is the most natural thing in the world.
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Sea of Galilee and the Dead Sea
We were hanging out as a family. We agreed how much more fulfilling life is when we are ministering to others. I know that when I am teaching others I grow.
While we were talking I was reminded of an illustration. "What is the difference between the Sea of Galilee and the Dead Sea?" The sea of Galilee is beautiful and clear. The Dead sea is putrid and ugly.
The Sea of Galilee has water flowing in and out. The Dead Sea only has water flowing in, with no outlet of the water. Many times our lives can be filled with input. We can become spiritually stagnant. But if we apply what we learn, and we pass what we learn on to others our spiritual lives tend to thrive. Ministering to others brings freshness and vitality to our walk with God.
Steve and Comfort, our son-in-law and daughter, teach a college age Sunday school class that has brought them a lot of joy. I love teaching and sharing with our foster children and have loved leading a Bible study at work.
While we were talking I was reminded of an illustration. "What is the difference between the Sea of Galilee and the Dead Sea?" The sea of Galilee is beautiful and clear. The Dead sea is putrid and ugly.
The Sea of Galilee has water flowing in and out. The Dead Sea only has water flowing in, with no outlet of the water. Many times our lives can be filled with input. We can become spiritually stagnant. But if we apply what we learn, and we pass what we learn on to others our spiritual lives tend to thrive. Ministering to others brings freshness and vitality to our walk with God.
Steve and Comfort, our son-in-law and daughter, teach a college age Sunday school class that has brought them a lot of joy. I love teaching and sharing with our foster children and have loved leading a Bible study at work.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
The Smartest Man in the World
Read a great joke in Faith and Doubt by Ortberg: A plane was going down. On board were the smartest man in the world, a boy scout, and the pilot. There were only two parachutes. The smartest man in the world grabbed one and yelled as he dove out of the plane that he was doing this for the world--it needed him. The pilot told the boyscout that he had lived a full and satisfying life, and the he wanted to boyscout to be able to have the parachute since he had his whole life ahead of him. The boyscout said, "Relax, the smartest man in the world just jumped out of the plane with my backpack."
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
God's Refining Fire
Today I watched the amazing inaguration and the massive sense of good will in the country. I pray that we not just follow Obama as our president, but really follow God with a full heart. As seen in the verses below God is always refining us into his pure Gold.
Mal 3:1-3
3 "See, I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come," says the Lord Almighty.
2 But who can endure the day of his coming? Who can stand when he appears? For he will be like a refiner's fire or a launderer's soap. NIV
When Gold is brought out of the mountain it is filled with impurities. The gold is put on a fire. The impurities rise to the surface. The impuities are skimmed off the top. How can you tell when the gold is pure? When the refiner sees his reflection in the gold.
The troubles we have right now as a country can be our refining fire. We can, under the leadership of our new president, let God's refining fire create in us a passion for doing what is right. I hope we can see Christ's attitude, beliefs, and actions reflected in all we do as individuals in this great nation. Then our nation can be truly great.
But if we reject God's truth even a great leader like President Obama can not save us.
Mal 3:1-3
3 "See, I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come," says the Lord Almighty.
2 But who can endure the day of his coming? Who can stand when he appears? For he will be like a refiner's fire or a launderer's soap. NIV
When Gold is brought out of the mountain it is filled with impurities. The gold is put on a fire. The impurities rise to the surface. The impuities are skimmed off the top. How can you tell when the gold is pure? When the refiner sees his reflection in the gold.
The troubles we have right now as a country can be our refining fire. We can, under the leadership of our new president, let God's refining fire create in us a passion for doing what is right. I hope we can see Christ's attitude, beliefs, and actions reflected in all we do as individuals in this great nation. Then our nation can be truly great.
But if we reject God's truth even a great leader like President Obama can not save us.
Monday, January 19, 2009
Many Times a Much
Having our daughter Sara home has reminded me of how hard parting has been over the years. We left my mom and dad in 1979. They accepted that graciously. God later blessed them with years with their grandchildren that they never expected.
It was hard for us to see Sara go to Kazhakstan. The separation has made the reunion sweet. We are with a young lady who is united with us in purpose and we are having a great time together. We are able to share at such a deep and real level.
It was hard for us to leave DC. But another way I have felt blessed this week is to get started on facebook. I have loved being on contact with so many old friends that have resulted from years of life and ministry.
Matt 19:29 "And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or farms for My name's sake, will receive many times as much, and will inherit eternal life.NASU
When we choose to run after God with abandon, He has ways of surprising us and blessing our lives so deeply.
Never fear obeying him and loving him. It is worth the journey now, and is really worth it in eternity!
It was hard for us to see Sara go to Kazhakstan. The separation has made the reunion sweet. We are with a young lady who is united with us in purpose and we are having a great time together. We are able to share at such a deep and real level.
It was hard for us to leave DC. But another way I have felt blessed this week is to get started on facebook. I have loved being on contact with so many old friends that have resulted from years of life and ministry.
Matt 19:29 "And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or farms for My name's sake, will receive many times as much, and will inherit eternal life.NASU
When we choose to run after God with abandon, He has ways of surprising us and blessing our lives so deeply.
Never fear obeying him and loving him. It is worth the journey now, and is really worth it in eternity!
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Joy vs. Happiness
There is a difference between happiness and joy. I heard a simple little thought that I liked. Happiness depends on "happenings", joy does not.
When things are going well it is fairly easy to be happy. When I get an A on a test, I have a new friend, someone gets married or has a baby, it is easy to be happy. But what sustains me when a friend dies, I get overlooked for a promotion, or I have bad news financially?
Joy is deeper and more foundational. God is fundamentally joyful. Galatians 5: 22,23 gives joy as one of the fruit of the Spirit. Joy is knowing that I am loved (by God). It is an underlying sense that everything will ultimately be worked out by God for my good. It is a deep and abiding belief in the goodness of God.
Joy remains even when I am not happy. Jesus wept. He felt deep emotion of pain for his friends. He was brutally killed. But at a deep level he felt the joy of the Father's love, had a sense of destiny, knew he was doing what was right.
We can claim His joy as our own if we have Jesus as our Savior. He lives inside of us.
There are days where I am not happy, but I sometimes have to ask God "Please give me your joy today." Even in my sadness I am given a foundation of God's joyful presence.
Today I am happy and joyful. Sofia is the first follower of my blog. That alone makes writing this blog worth the effort :-)
When things are going well it is fairly easy to be happy. When I get an A on a test, I have a new friend, someone gets married or has a baby, it is easy to be happy. But what sustains me when a friend dies, I get overlooked for a promotion, or I have bad news financially?
Joy is deeper and more foundational. God is fundamentally joyful. Galatians 5: 22,23 gives joy as one of the fruit of the Spirit. Joy is knowing that I am loved (by God). It is an underlying sense that everything will ultimately be worked out by God for my good. It is a deep and abiding belief in the goodness of God.
Joy remains even when I am not happy. Jesus wept. He felt deep emotion of pain for his friends. He was brutally killed. But at a deep level he felt the joy of the Father's love, had a sense of destiny, knew he was doing what was right.
We can claim His joy as our own if we have Jesus as our Savior. He lives inside of us.
There are days where I am not happy, but I sometimes have to ask God "Please give me your joy today." Even in my sadness I am given a foundation of God's joyful presence.
Today I am happy and joyful. Sofia is the first follower of my blog. That alone makes writing this blog worth the effort :-)
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
