Simon Says...

From infancy to adulthood we are constantly faced with others telling us what we should be, act like, feel, etc.  This is something that, no matter how hard we try, we will never be able to get away from.  The real question is who will you listen to?  


Recently God has brought to my attention a passage of Romans.  I am sure that I have read this passage countless times since I became a follower of Jesus Christ but for some reason now, today, these verses are speaking through a bull horn directed in my direction.  I think the reason that I never took much notice of them before is because they are so jam-packed full of dos and don'ts that I have become overwhelmed.  But I know that with God's help breaking them down will make them more obtainable.  


Romans 12:9-21


Let love be genuine.  
     Genuine:  true, real, actual, undisputed, no-strings-attached.  We are to have this sort of love, a 'genuine' love for not only God, but also others and ourselves.  The only way to exhibit a no-strings-attached love is to break down any walls and masks that we have put up to protect our selves from others.  It is time to start being genuine with God, others and ourselves.
Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.  
     Abhor:  despise, regard with disgust, shrink away from.  We are to turn our back's away from any evil and instead 'hold fast', with a white-knucked grip, to all that is good.  Think of how better the world would be if we all held fast to the good and turned our back to what is evil!
Love one another with brotherly affection.  
     We are to love one another as if a brother.  Through the bickering, laughs, adventures and torment siblings will always be that...siblings bonded by love and blood.
Outdo one another in showing honor. 
     Honor:  integrity, honesty, uprightness, ethics, morals, principles, virtue, goodness, decency, character, fairness, trustworthiness, reliability, dependability.  We are taught growing up that outdoing someone has both negative and positive consequences depending on what it is that we are outdoing them in.  But if we make it a point to only outdo others in showing honor than we become more and more like Jesus.
Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in sprit, serve the Lord.  
     Zeal:  passion, love, fervor, fire, devotion, enthusiasm, gusto, intensity.  We are to no be slow but instead let our passion and devotion take off, being fervent (sincere, zealous) in sprit and our service to the Lord.
Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.  
     We are to always be happy and rejoicing in the hope that we have in Christ and our future with Him.  We are to be patient in our tribulations (problems, worries, afflictions).  The best way to do that is to be constant in prayer.  
Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.  
     We are to contribute (donate, grant) the needs of the saints (fellow believers) and go out of our way to show them hospitality (kindness, generosity, courtesy).  This requires us to open our eyes and look past our needs to see how we can help others.  
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.  
     As much as it pains us sometimes we are still called to bless (give thanks and be gracious to) those who persecute us.  We are to be the better person and rise above the circumstance.  It may seem easier to curse them and turn our backs on them but, as Christians, we are called to love as Christ loved.
Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who week.  
     We are called to celebrate with those who are celebrating and mourn with those who are going through hard times.  We are called to be there for others.
Live in harmony with one another.  
     Living in harmony with one another, this does not always mean that we like them but we have to put on our 'big-girl' panties, so to speak, and deal with it. 
Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly.  
     Haughty:  proud, arrogant, vain, conceited, snobbish, patronizing, big-headed.  We are to put ourself aside and befriend and connect with the lowly.  
Never give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all.  
     We should never think twice about doing something that is honorable in the sight of others.  In today's world, this happens far too often.  The norm of today is dis-honorable, so to stand out in a crowd and do the honorable is looked at with shifty eyes.  But the real question becomes, who are you trying to impress?  Men of this world or your Father and Creator?
If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.  
     We are called to live peaceable with all.  I love that God puts the ball in our court on this one.  In order to keep peace with those around us, everyone acts differently.  Some deal with the problem, other avoid it, etc.  And God knows that sometimes, on our own, living peaceably is not an option; hence the 'if possible so far as it depends on you' but that is when God can step in and be our mediator and peacemaker.  
Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord."  To the contrary, "if your enemy is hungry, freed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head."  
     We are never to take revenge into our own hands.  This is hard because our first instinct tends to be, "You'll regret that!!!!"  But God can avenge us so much better than we could ever image.  Instead we called to turn the other cheek and cater to our enemy through hospitality and love.  God says that this is like heaping burning coals on their heads.  
     Growing up, my sister and I would fight all of the time.  When she would say, "I hate you!" I would always respond with "well... I love you!!!"  This would absolutely drive her nuts.  I didn't do it to drive her nuts but it is similar to turning the other cheek in this verse.  
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."  
     Overcome:  defeat, conquer, trounce, overwhelm, overpower, triumph over, prevail over, outdo, demolish.  We are to defeat evil with good.  This may be hard but if we are focusing on the good, instead of the evil, then our vision will become one full of blessings.  It is equivalent to putting on our 'rose-colored glasses' so to speak.  If we put on our blessings glasses we will live in such a way where evil has no place and joyousness abounds.  

From infancy to adulthood we are constantly faced with others telling us what we should be, act like, feel, etc.  This is something that, no matter how hard we try, we will never be able to get away from.  The real question is who will you listen to?  

When Clouds Encroach

As I was sitting out on our neighbor's dock, this morning doing my quiet time, I couldn't help but sit back and admire the sky.  God not only creates for us so many amazing colors and beauty in the sky but also an ever changing 'sky'scape of clouds.  This morning was no different, expect for the fact that as I was admiring His creation I noticed some massive thunder heads moving towards the sunrise that I was watching.  After a few more minutes all I noticed was the dark gray, massive and looming clouds.  Then, just as if the sky had opened up and poured down it's water, God opened my eye's to see a parallel in our lives.

How often do we find ourselves sitting back and admiring the beauty of life?  I do it occasionally, but definitely not enough.  I get too distracted by the gray clouds that surround it.  At first it is just a glance, but then after a while it seems to be all I can see.  The things in our lives that seem to be dreary, overcast and looming capture our attention and keep us from focusing on the beauty that is just behind those clouds.  

As I sat on the dock a bit longer I noticed that the lower, gloomy, clouds were moving much fast than the white clouds at a higher altitude.   Between the breaks I could still see the beautiful pinks, purples and blues of the sunrise.  All I had to do was refocus my eyes to see what was still there behind the dingy clouds.

Likewise, when we find ourselves focusing on the negative and depressing things of this world, all we really need to do is refocus our vision to push past the dismal and instead concentrate on the splendor that never truly goes away.  God's glory and blessing is always there, it just may not be in the forefront of our vision.  

As I tried to focus on the sunrise, it soon became too hard to see it.  The storm clouds had completely covered the entire sky, I could see nothing but gray.

Even though we try to see the good, sometimes it is just too hard to see God's glory.  We find ourselves completely overcome and surrounded by the problems, trials and cares of this world.

As soon as I walked inside, the sky opened up and with a blinding streak of lightning and a boisterous clap of thunder the downpour began.

When we face those days of gloom and overcast in our lives sometimes it feels like we are caught in a storm that is never ending, with no hope of seeing the sun again.  But it is in those times when we can take hope and reassurance that we will see the Son and that He never leaves us unprotected during those storms.  Just as my house provided protection from the storm for me, God will always provide a form of protection and reassurance for us, we just have to make the decision to get out of the storm and take refuge.  

As I sat in my kitchen watching the rain pour down from those dismal clouds, I began to see how beneficial it was.  Even though it caused me to come inside, off the dock, the grass desperately needed the water, as did the flowers and the farming vegetation in the area.

As much as we despise when we get caught in the storms of life, we can't help but see their benefit when they are over.  We may experience pain, fear, loneliness, and even depression during those storms, but when the sky begins to clear we realize how much we have grown, just as the grass has.  

It seemed like just as quickly as the rain started it stopped.  The clouds changed back to white, the sky was blue, the birds were singing , and the beautiful colors of God's promise to us were again on display.

We may not always like or appreciate the storms of life, but in reality the storm is only temporary and the beauty and glory of God is always on display just above the gloom.  He never leaves us, even when we can't see Him.  So if you are finding yourself surrounded by those gray clouds, know that by refocusing your eyes and remembering the hope and assurance that God provides, the rainbow is never far away!!!

Psalm 77

The Storm

I cry aloud to God, aloud to God, and he will hear me.  In the day of my trouble I seek the Lord; in the night my hand is stretched out without wearying; my soul refuses to be comforted.  When I remember God, I moan; when I meditate, my spirit faints. - Selah 
You hold my eyelids open; I am so troubled that I cannot speak.  I consider the days of old, the years long ago.  I said, "Let me remember my song in the night; let me mediate in my heart."  Then my spirit made a diligent search:  "Will the Lord spurn forever, and never again be favorable?  Are his promises at an end for all time?  Has God forgotten to be gracious?  Has he in anger shut up his compassion? - Selah 

Refocusing on Him

Then I said, "I will appeal to this, to the years of the right hand of the Most High."  I will remember the deeds of the LORD; yes, I will remember your wonders of old.  I will ponder all your work, and mediate on your mighty deeds.  Your way, O God, is holy. What god is great like our God?  You are the God who works wonders; you have made known your might among the peoples.  You with your arm redeemed your people, the children of Jacob and Joseph.- Selah

God's hope, provision and assurance

When the waters saw you, O God, when the waters saw you, they were afraid; indeed, the deep trembled. The clouds poured out water; the skies gave forth thunder; your arrows flashed on every side.  The crash of your thunder was in the whirlwind; your lightings lighted up the world; the earth trembled and shook.  Your way was through the sea, your path through the great waters; yet your footprints were unseen.  You led your people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron.

1 John 1:1-3

As I was reading this morning I came across three verses in First John that were so jam-packed full of stuff I had to slow down and read it again in sections.

1That which was from the beginning,

The beginning?  To me that means before our world was created.  A God that was around long before the earth came into being.  A God who created a tremendous and incalculable universe full of so many wonderful and ferocious things.  A universe that is so vast that, as of right now, we can only peak through a pinhole at it and we still feel small in comparison.  There is so much out there and God 'that which was from the beginning' has created it all.

which we have heard, 

So often we find ourselves, or at least I do, wondering why we can't hear God's audible voice as if we were just having a phone conversation.  I mean, seriously, how easy would that make it... "Hey God, so can you please give me some advice here?  I'm not sure what I should do."  I know that I have fallen victim to wanting a vocal audible voice, but I quickly forget that God doesn't always speak to us audibly; but that doesn't mean that we can't still hear Him clear as day.  It has been so amazing to be able to 'hear' God speak to me through gut feelings, thought processes, songs, billboards, others, and most of all His Word.  So even when we don't physically hear an audible voice, it doesn't mean we need spiritual hearing aids.  It may mean we just need to tune our radio to a different frequency to be able to pick up our God channel more clearly through other means.

which we have seen with our eyes, 

How blessed we are to have the ability to see.  I thank God everyday for such a wonderful blessing.  I love to go on walks or even just sit on the back porch and marvel at God's beautiful masterpieces He creates for us, just because He can.  I mean think about it, He continually paints us a new pictures in the sky every few minutes.  He doesn't have to, He could leave it looking grey and dark all of the time, but instead He decided to provide breathtaking colors and clouds.  Or think about the people you pass each day, how different each person is, how much thought goes into the creating of each individual.   Or what a blessing it is to see God at work in someone else's life.  God is always at work around us everyday, it is just a matter of seeking out our great Physician to get the right prescription for our glasses to be able to see clearly.

which we looked up on and have touched with our hands, 

I think that it is so amazing that a spiritual God would provide for us tangible things in order to show us His majesty and grace.  He knows the ways in which our brains are hardwired, well after all He created them that way.  But in order to learn we are first tactile.  Think of babies, they touch everything they can get their hands on in order to figure out what they are.  Being God's children, He provides ways for us to learn and grow spiritually through physical touch in the world around us.  How BIG is our God?!?!

concerning the word of life--2the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, 

Personally I used to think that every time I read or heard the phrase 'word of life' it was referring to Jesus as a person.  Today, I think this is correct to some extent, but I have more recently come to realize how everything around us is "God breathed".  Think about it, in order to speak a word, breathing is necessary for us.  But God, being an all powerful God, has the ability to speak without words; therefore, just the ability to breath, when God is concerned, can bring life to something.  God's word tells us how powerful His breath is.  In Genesis chapter two we learn that from dust God breathed into Adam's nostrils the "breath of life, and the man became a living being."  And in Second Timothy chapter three we come to understand that "all scripture is God-breathed and useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness."  God has a breath that produces life, not only in us but more importantly in His son Jesus Christ who came to earth, and that life, His life, we have been blessed enough to be able to see.

and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us--3that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his son Jesus Christ.

Everything we have heard, seen and touched we need to share with others.  Some people are so blind to everything that does not happen right in their personal bubble.  By us sharing with others the wonderful blessings and intimate moments from and with our Creator, it may help them to see past their bubble at a world full of wonders that God has provided.  When they begin to peer into that world they will soon realize that there is something different about us, the way we carry ourselves, the way we talk, the way we live our lives, the way we see things.  And those things may just get them to question what it is we have that they don't.  This is the best blessing of all, the ability to be able to share with others around us the wonderful relationship that Jesus longs for with each of us.

So the real question becomes... "Will you pop your own personal bubble and reach out to others around you by telling them what you have heard, seen and touched in order to share with them the amazing relationship you have with Jesus Christ?"

Patchwork

So lately I have been doing odd jobs around the neighborhood.  These jobs vary from remodeling a houseboat (gutting it, painting, putting up new paneling, installing new flooring, power-washing exterior and possibly painting a bit of the exterior), mowing lawns, babysitting, and patching up an old quilt.  I find pleasure in each of these jobs in different ways.  I love being able to work on something that produces visible results and being around kids so these jobs have been perfect for me.  I think the job that I have come to love the most is patching up that old quilt.  I love sewing, it is tedious but also relaxing, and in the long run, it provides a since of ownership and accomplishment.

My neighbor absolutely loves this quilt; it is old, faded, worn, and falling apart in many places but yet she still loves it.  This morning I was sitting and thinking about that old quilt and how it wasn't always that way, at one point it was new, right off of the sewing machine.  Then it dawned on me, how we are just like that quilt...
I don't know if you have ever made a quilt or know someone who has but there is loads of planning and prep work that go into a quilt long before it is even sewn together.  The maker must decide on a pattern, then pick the colors, then the layout of the colors, tediously sew each piece together, ironing out all of the seams on the back (the side that no one will see), then choose a batting, pin it all together, flip it inside-out sewing the back on, then reversing the quilt flipping it right-side out, tack the quilt to make sure the batting doesn't munch; then once all of that is done...the creator can sit back and marvel at their work.

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb.  I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.  My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place.  When I was woven together int he depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body.  All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. ~ Psalm 139:13-16

God, as our Creator, took the time to plan each of us.  He made each one of us out of a unique pattern with different colors and backing.  He took the time to stitch each one of us by hand until we were exactly what He pictured.  His masterpiece!

For we are God's masterpiece.  He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. ~ Ephesians 2:10

Once we are made, we are put to use, it may not be to keep someone warm, but God has a specific plan for each of us.  As we do what we were created for, we gradually get those wear and tear marks.  It starts with a small snag, where one of our seams has gotten stuck on something.  This something may distract us for a second or two and we think it won't be a problem so we keep going, doing what we were made to do.  Then that snagged seam begins to unravel, which leads to a hold, which exposes our weakness, our innermost stuffing.  We try and do what we can to cover it up, sometimes we may even just ignore it, but eventually we find ourselves getting snagged on more and more things around us.  This causes us to slowly loose sight of what we were made for because we become so consumed with trying to cover up our insides/stuffing.

We continue in this cycle for a while until our Owner, someone like my neighbor, who loves the mess of a quilt that we are, cares enough about us to find a way to patch us up.  Our Owner loves us to much that He becomes the Sewer.  He pulls out His needle and thread and begins to patch each of our ripped seams, one at a time.  This process is slow and tedious.  Some of the ripped fabric may need to be bunched up or stretched out in order to repair the damage.  It may seem easier at some points to just rip out the old pieces of fabric and repace them with new patches but...

"No one tears a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch will pull away from the garment, making the tear worse. ~ Matthew 9:16

So as we are mended from our wear and tear we are poked, prodded, stretched, cut and sewn.  The process is a painful one and many times during it we find ourselves questioning why we even need to go through it.  We may resist or even walk away from the Sewer's hands, but when we finally realize that we need to be fixed and that we can't do it ourselves, we come back.  The Sewer is always there, ready to mend and repair.

We cannot see how damaged we are but our Creator/Owner/Sewer/God has eyes that can see beyond our rips and tears, back to the masterpiece He created us to be. And only He has the means to restore us to that masterpiece!