The Beauty of the Bible...

I've recently been reading as the Spirit leads me...or trying to. It's hard to fall out of a reading program because I'm so fond of schedules. This morning, I read Psalms 40.
When I reached the end, I thought, "I need to share this on the blog today!" Then I reconsidered. "But it's just a Psalm," I thought, "Nobody will want to read it."
But I still felt like I should post it.
I felt ashamed that I would think that I should share a special blog post that I had written and would blow your mind with the revelation of it...
I think too often we get caught up in words of our own when we should be consumed by the Word of God.
And I have to ask myself, "How often do I sit in awe of the fact that the God of Eternity used humble human hands to write letters of love to me?"
There shouldn't be anything that captures my heart or my love more than the beauty of His Words:

"To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David. I waited patiently for the Lord; And He inclined to me, And heard my cry. He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, Out of the miry clay, And set my feet upon a rock, And established my steps. He has put a new song in my mouth--Praise to our God; Many will see it and fear, And will trust in the Lord. Blessed is that man who makes the Lord his trust, And does not respect the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies. Many, O Lord my God, are Your wonderful works Which You have done; And Your thoughts toward us Cannot be recounted to You in order; If I would declare and speak of them, They are more than can be numbered. Sacrifice and offering You did not desire; My ears You have opened. Burnt offering and sin offering You did not require. Then I said, "Behold, I come; In the scroll of the book it is written of me. I delight to do Your will, O my God, And Your law is within my heart." I have proclaimed the good news of righteousness In the great assembly; Indeed, I do not restrain my lips, O Lord, You Yourself know. I have not hidden Your righteousness within my heart; I have declared Your faithfulness and Your salvation; I have not concealed Your lovingkindness and Your truth From the great assembly. Do not withhold Your tender mercies from me, O Lord; Let Your lovingkindness and Your truth continually preserve me."

Breath In...Breath Out: Applied

Those that God has placed in leadership have great responsibility. God has special roles for us to play in their lives.

Hebrews 13:7-16 exhorts believers to remember them. That is, pray for them that they would stay firm in their faith. We are also called to follow their Biblical faith as it manifests itself in godly conduct, character, and communication.

Hebrews 13:17-21 exhorts believers to obey them. This obedience is one guarded in Biblical reasoning and logic. We need to listen to them and watch them and obey that teaching and example that is in agreement with God's Word.

Hebrews 12:22-24 exhorts believers to salute them and each other. That is, we recognize them and know them and love them.

Remembering to pray for, obey, and salute our leaders is something we take way to lightly. These are men who have received a great call from God. How often do you think they would just love to go back to being regular men who are just in charge of their own families??? Yet, they do not. May we plead with God that He would continue to work mightily in and through their lives, keeping them standing firm in Him.

We must not underestimate the opportunities that the judgment of God brings.

When judgment comes, many find it as an excuse to backslide. If we would graciously receive God's correction and seek to bring His love and hope to those around us, I think we would be pleasantly surprised that times of judgment are quite fruitful.

May we trust in God and submit ourselves to His wonderful plan!

Breath In....Breath Out: Are You Refusing God?

Last week, we talked about the warnings Hebrews gives to believers to keep them from backsliding.

One thing I want to say is that if you are not going forward you are going backward. This is because we are sinners who tend to go our own way unless we are submitting to God and going His. Backsliding is something we must guard against.

One of the signs that you are backsliding it that you refuse the judgment of God when it comes to you.

God speaks His will to His people in His Word, by His Spirit, and even by His people. It is important that we test all things back to His Word as we seek His will for our lives.

Sometimes, the will of God is judgment. That is, correction. When judgment comes, the Christian would do well to receive it and embrace it.

We are currently living in a culture that is receiving the judgment of God. For the most part, our country has lived under the blessing of God. This is just no longer so.

As Christians, this is reason to rejoice!!! The judgment of God brings people to a place where they realize just how needy they are. They are not able to go about with life as usual convincing themselves that they have because they work.

In times of judgment, God's people have the answers, the security, and most importantly the hope!

So, in these days. Seek to be one who does not refuse the judgment of God. Receive it and embrace it and make the most of it be arming yourselves with these attitudes:

Love - for God and for people. We love by KNOWING them. You, reach out to people get to know them and look for ways that you can bless them.

Practice hospitality - in times of hardship, we tend to withdraw from hospitality. Yet, these are the times when it must increase. Simply open your heart and your home to those around you. Christian, nonChristian, friends, family, and strangers....Have a vision to CARE for those around you in good times and in bad. They'll notice and want more of the God that made it possible.

Remember persecuted Christians - At this time, these are people in other countries. Remember them, pray for them, seek to help them if the opportunity arises. But, count yourself like them. That is, make their urgency, their sincerity for carrying out God's work your own.

Guard Purity - Yours and that of those around you. Cultivate godliness in yourself and those around you with everything you do! Lift up the standard, stick to is, honor God and one another. Value marriage and build it up. Let there be no appearance of evil.

Contentment - Do not fall into materialism. Be prepared for crisis, but do not be consumed. Speak contentment and faith to your children. This way they will see and know and rest in God's goodness no matter what.

On a final note for this week. Remember that whenever judgment comes, it is speaking first to God's people (1 Peter 4:17). Haiti was hit with a blow earlier this year. We should not think that it was God wagging His finger at the evils that go on there. As Christians, we should look at what happened to Haiti and thank God for an opportunity to work out our salvation and offer the hope we have received in Christ to those in desperate need!

Breath In...Breath Out: Warnings

Last week, I talked about some of the work that God has been doing in my life.

This week, I just wanted to share some of the things that stuck out to me during the sermon on Hebrews 13 that I heard at church last week.

There are five warnings given to backsliders through the book of Hebrews.

Warnings Against:

Neglecting salvation (that is, you've received it, but you do not seek to work it out)

Unbelief (that is, you have believed and yet your life shows that you don't really trust God enough to obey Him)

Immaturity (that is, you are not growing to maturity in Christ)

Drawing out of fellowship with God's people (that is, you don't "feel" like being around them, serving them, or knowing them, so you simply don't)

and finally

Refusing God's judgment when it comes to you (that is, God's judgment comes and you ignore it; you do not use it as a catalyst to bring renewal in your life)