Obedience

Tonight at our Wednesday Night Fusion Service we had a time for the congregation to move around the Auditorium and to visit 6 to 8 prayer stations.  I was sitting at one of the six and had a lady walk up to me and ask for prayer on how to be obedient to God.

Obedience is a very tough word for anyone, let alone Christians.  Seriously, when the Word of God tells us to obey His word what do you really think that means? (Please send us comments - we want your thoughts). I asked her this relevant question:  "Are you reading the Bible daily and are you praying continually throughout the day (not every second of every minute of every hour of every day), but are you praying daily?

Scripture says the following:  Romans 8:28 - And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

John 15:10 - If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love.

James 1:25 - But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it--he will blessed in what he does.

The Word of God is very clear in this.  Obey the Lord and his precepts.  Allow the Holy Spirit to dwell in your temple (that is your body- if you are Saved) and not to be tormented by your sin.  Allow the Holy Spirit free reign in your life.  Renew your mind and set your heart on things above.  

Seriously, please tell us what Biblical Obedience means to you.  What does that look like in your daily walk?  I want to know?  (Comments please)

WORTHY IS THE LAMB

Worthy Is The Lamb

 

 

Hebrews12  1Therefore, since we aresurrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easilyentangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2Let us fix our eyes on Jesus,the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him enduredthe cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne ofGod. 3Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that youwill not grow weary and lose heart. 4In your struggle against sin, you have notyet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. 5And you have forgotten thatword of encouragement that addresses you as sons: "My son, do not make light of the Lord'sdiscipline, and do notlose heart when he rebukes you, 6because the Lord disciplines those heloves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son."[a]  7Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. Forwhat son is not disciplined by his father? 8If you are not disciplined (andeveryone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not truesons. 9Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and werespected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live! 10Ourfathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but Goddisciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. 11No disciplineseems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces aharvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.   12Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms andweak knees. 13"Make level paths for your feet,"[b] so that the lamemay not be disabled, but rather healed. 14Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to beholy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. 15See to it that no onemisses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble anddefile many. 16See that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau,who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son.17Afterward, as you know, when he wanted to inherit this blessing, he wasrejected. He could bring about no change of mind, though he sought the blessingwith tears.  18You have not come to amountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloomand storm; 19to a trumpet blast or to such a voice speaking words that thosewho heard it begged that no further word be spoken to them, 20because theycould not bear what was commanded: "If even an animal touches themountain, it must be stoned."[c] 21The sight was so terrifying that Mosessaid, "I am trembling with fear."[d]  22But you have come to Mount Zion, to theheavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God. You have come to thousands uponthousands of angels in joyful assembly, 23to the church of the firstborn, whosenames are written in heaven. You have come to God, the judge of all men, to thespirits of righteous men made perfect, 24to Jesus the mediator of a newcovenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the bloodof Abel. 25See to it that youdo not refuse him who speaks. If they did not escape when they refusedhim who warned them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from himwho warns us from heaven? 26At that time his voice shook the earth, but now hehas promised, "Once more I will shake not only the earth but also theheavens."[e] 27The words "once more" indicate the removing ofwhat can be shaken—that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken mayremain.  28Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom thatcannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably withreverence and awe, 29for our "God is a consuming fire."[f]

The Secret to Life

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2k1uOqRb0HU&hl=en_US&fs=1&&w=480&h=385]

As a lay leader in Ministry I often here this question, "What do you think God's will is for my life."  I always find that question really interesting because we are all created differently and uniquely each in our own special way.  Here, in the United States, we are bombarded by multi media applications ranging from television to radio to social networks and even twitter and text messaging.  The bottom line is usually more to indulge the "me" and not the "we".  This culture usually is about what I can get next or how can I best please myself.  It is this sense of Entitlement that we really don't deserve.

Above is the video from the move, City Slickers, which stars Billy Crystal.  He is on this cattle drive with Curly Joe (I believe) and his wife sent him on this trip during his mid-life crisis (or should we say identity crisis) of who he should be.   In Christian terms, he is searching for that one thing, the Secret to Life.

In biblical terms, we can find the answer in Philippians 4:12b, which states, "12I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want..."  The one word definition is called Contentment.  Here is the thing, if we are serious about finding God's will in our life, then we have to be serious about God.  We cannot be lukewarm, nor can we pretend that the God of this Universe, a Holy God, will simply be content with us serving two masters:  God and Sin.  We cannot do that because He is a Holy God.  We can start by eating his Word daily (reading scripture) and praying daily.  I would, once again, start with Colossians Chapter 3 and also Romans Chapter 12.  Here are two chapters that will put you in the right path to find God's will.  Once you find Contentment you will hear His will.  That one thing:  Philippians 4:13 says that, "I can do all things, through Christ Jesus, who gives me Strength."  

Legacy Ready to Roll (Rite of Passage)

Came across this very legacy-ish dialog below while updating the Year of Passage outline with soninlaw Matt for Taylor to be 12 in two weeks.  It’s an outline that may prod you.  Glad to answer questions and give references on the Passage issue.  If the year 12 to 13 is to have a meaningful memorializing at “graduation,”  it should be intentional, deliberative, and taken seriously enough to pray over all the prep as well as launching the event. 

Ours launching event is coming up in a week.  Family joining us from Utah.  First event is a glider flight for Taylor.  Then he writes about it, 500 words or more.  (Homeschooled, so Mom gives credit).  Next is Scripps Oceanographic museum then whale-watching trip.  Another essay.

Here’s my dialog with Todd on John Eldredge's Ransomed Heart Net (you should all visit, join..Powerful: www.ransomedheart.net )

Todd, what a cherished photo. What a great drill it would be to re-post it and ask guys for a one or two-sentence caption. Mine might be, "Dad, that looks so beautiful out there...so big, so, well…scary. I'm not sure I'm ready. Would you lead me?"    [Photo of great expanse from edge of cliff during a father-son “Passage” camp out]

Swiss Army knife. A Blessing. It's authority comes from On High. Through you. Maybe through your dad even grand dad. Legacy. Particularly because it was intentional, the keystone of true love.

My 11 and 9 and their dad and I just returned from a cattle drive; a big one. They have their Leatherman's, boots, hats, and ropes. I wanted my love, framed in intentional (grand) fathering, to be distinct. I'm pretty much a "tell it" didactic guy. So, I began a monthly letter to each. Short and age-readable. Same topic for them and their 6 year-old princess sister (hey, let’s be sure to remember our fathering include the girls, a hard one to get right--impossible if mom is not on the "fathering team"). I mail each one real mail separately.

When "Popi" comes to visit, it's date time. This round it was both of the boys at McDonalds, Happy Meals and all. We discuss the letter which they read in their home schooling. Letter Three was Walking with God. They got it. Last week's #4 was "Goals" (this year, this life). The ten-year-old got it: "I want to lead someone to God". I withheld testosterone tears but still shouted, "Wow!"  The 8, as is his ADHD wont, went all over the place but ended with, "Be really good." Their dad, for whom I am " Adjunct Fathering Team Dad," follows this up in dad talks. I think I am going to staple these in my journal form with their responses for posterity.

Gary Taylor (Popi).  www.GenerationalFathering.com

(talk to me about journeys of “passage” at gary@newseason.us)

The Sky before Katrina

Psalm 148:8 (New International Version)

 ⁸ lightning and hail, snow and clouds, 
       stormy winds that do his bidding,

Trials and Tribulations

AsI write this entry, I have just returned from a four night business conferenceand had the pleasure in being able to take my wife.  What I find interesting is when you aretrying to take that step and walk by faith where the littlest things (things =attacks and trials) come from.  I willnot bore you with the details, but I can honestly say that I am not surprisedby the circumstance.  Here is the thing,when we are attacked we cannot control the situation, but we can decide on howwe are going to respond to that attack. The Book James put is like this:  “James1:2-4 (New International Version)  “2Considerit pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3because youknow that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4Perseverance mustfinish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”  I like the saying that says we cannot controlour days or what happens every hour, but we can make a cognitive decision abouthow we let our attitudes dictate the course of our action.  For instance, I was blindsided today by someonewho I would never have guessed could give into rage and/or lack hospitality,but nothing will surprise me anymore given today’s course of events.  I could have chosen to respond in a verynegative way, or I can take the words of James and put things into the biggerpicture. 

Hereis the thing, we are going to make mistakes, it is not the sin nor the mistakeswe make that marks the type of Christian we are.  Rather, it is the course of action andattitude that we chart our path through the course.  I could have chosen the path that leads toanger, which leads to rage, which would be followed up by more sin, or I canchoose to weigh my response and to consider it pure joy when trials andtribulations come my way.  I thank Godthat He is patient with a sinner like me and that He gives me mercy and graceto not only say that I am forgiven, but to also say that I am a child ofGod.  I am royalty and I need to acceptthat things are this earth will come and pass us by, but we should be trainingfor the long race ahead and be asking ourselves, “how do you plan on finishingthis race.  The Christian race whereothers in your paths will ask you where your hope comes from and how your lifeis different from theirs? 

Nomatter what curveball life throws at you, next time take a step back andreflect (say a little prayer) and ask God to guide you through His Holy Spiritand to make your path straight and your footsteps sound.  To God be the glory, forever and ever,amen!!!

Mercy Me, Daddy please

All right dads, this one is for you.  My son and I have been having an interesting week now that Spring is finally in the air.  Between videos, walks outside, the park and pancakes for breakfast we have both learned a valuable lesson in Mercy this week.  I would like to preempt this story by the fact that my son has been very trying on my wife and has been a little on the "testing his boundaries" week.  Anyway, two nights ago I was putting him to bed and he lost his privilege of a bedtime story, which was also going to include a final video on the computer from You tube (Veggie Tales - Jonah).    

My wife and I firmly believe in rearing the children and we also believe in spankings, however, we don't always believe that spankings are necessary as kids can sometimes get the point a lot quicker when you either remove them from a situation or you remove something they want from their situation.  In this case, he was tired and very distraught and instead of spanking him, I leaned on the premise of taking away his privilege (not a right) to the bedtime story and video the next night.  As I was putting him to bed we knelt down and said our prayers and we talked about what he did wrong and why he was being punished.  He understood and even though he wasn't completely happy with the situation, he accepted the terms willingly.  

Here is the point of the night that I want to resonate with all of you.  I asked my son the following question about God's Mercy.  I asked him what is God's Mercy.  To my surprise, he said, "A second chance."  I asked him to explain that to me and he said in his own kind of way that when we mess up God still gives us a second chance.  It was at this point that I felt moved with compassion and I said to him quietly in his ear, "Son, because God loves us so much, he gave us his son Jesus and had mercy on us even when we didn't deserve a second chance."  God had compassion on us and gave us his son Jesus to save us so we could be with him in Heaven.  At this point of the night, I also said, "because of God's Mercy, I am going to show you mercy and let you watch the rest of Veggie Tales with your sisters tomorrow night before bed (we were finishing the last part of the 1hr22minute video).  

The next night as we watched Veggie Tales Jonah, the part of that movie talked about God's Mercy and compassion for his children.  I looked at my son and whispered to him, do you see how God's Mercy works all the time?  He smiled and said to me, "Yes daddy."

Even in our worst of days, God still loves us.  I think he gives us children (sometimes our own, sometimes others that we mentor, teach in kids programs at church, etc.,) in order to teach us what true love really means and to also give us (parents, teachers and mentors) the gift of Mercy and Compassion.

With this, I said to him last night as I tucked him in bed, "God is good" and he said, "All the time," and I said, "God is good.

To God be the Glory, forever and ever, Amen!