Category: Uncategorized

What happened when I stopped calling myself a Christian

I’m sharing this, because a shift in perspective happened when I stopped calling myself a Christian – and became a student and follower of Jesus Christ. I moved from a concept of religion and tradition – into an alive relationship with the one true, living God.

So I’ll ask you to consider:

Are we most comfortable hearing a sermon from someone, based on a sermon they heard from someone else, based off of a sermon they heard from someone else, based off of theological teachings that they learned from someone else, based off of theological evidence that they gleaned from scripture?

Are we most satisfied with a God that is far away from our reach and away from touching and impacting our lives?

Is this the closest that we are comfortable getting to the one true teacher?

Matthew 23:8-12
But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brothers. And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven. Neither be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Christ. The greatest among you shall be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

HE is your teacher.

HE is your instructor.

HE is your Father.

And yes, He will send messages through others until you are ready to come close to him yourself. And He will continue to do so even once you are His.

But –

We don’t remain satisfied far from God, looking to others to trade us some of their religion and tradition in return for a purse full of your silver and gold. The things passed down from man to man are not all that He has for us, friend. He has blessings for our lives, and I’m not talking about Properity Gospel, I’m talking about the Eternal Good News of Jesus Christ risen to life.

God isn’t just interested in you hearing ABOUT Him from someone else. He isn’t just interested in you hearing about GOOD and EVIL and understanding the difference. He isn’t just interested in bringing to light those things in your life that are IMPERFECT.

He wants to come into your life and be a part of your life. He wants to be close and accessible and intimately involved in your life. We don’t have to remain satisfied with a far away God that only speaks to us through some far away, distant man in a pulpit or screen. And the blessings poured out are far better than that house, car, paycheck, job, party, mate, or pleasure that has caught your eyes. And He doesn’t say that you will go without those things, unless you decide that you cannot go without them. But a close and accessible God is much better than a far away genie. So let’s don’t decide to only talk to Him when we are in trouble or want something – but let’s don’t hesitate asking Him in those times as well.

Do not misunderstand. This is an encouragement to not be content with where you we with Him today. Today doesn’t have to remain the closest that we are willing to get.

This is not a slam against those who are true messengers of His Word. The only ones this should anger are those trying to lord over others and those who have no interest in His will being done. I don’t bring this as a raised sword in a clinched fist, but as an open hand offering bread. If you do not want to eat the bread, I will not strike you down in condemnation and judgement.

There are many that know ABOUT Him that will go to destruction.

There are many that know about HIS WAYS that will go to destruction.

There are many that do MIGHTY WORKS that will go to destruction.

Matthew 7:21-23
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’

So you see, this question of where we are with Him matters. Are we calling ourselves Christians, learning about Him, learning about His ways, doing mighty works in His name but we don’t know Him as closely and personally as we should?

Will anyone be so proud as to say that they don’t need to draw even closer to Him personally?

Will anyone foolishly say that His work is completed in them and that they don’t need to grow?

So what do we do?

We seek Him, find Him, love Him, and serve Him – remaining in a relationship with Him. If we wish that He would draw us near and know us, should’t we draw near to Him?

Matthew 7:7-14
Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him! So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets. Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.

We will each be an example and demonstration of His power – either an example of His grace and mercy, or an example of His power and wrath. This is not my judgement, this is His truth – and I have confidence that this is Good News for our lives and for our eternal destination. Let’s find confidence and assurance that are pressing on toward the finish to one day see ourselves as the few.

 

We don’t celebrate until we’re taking off our armor

Hear my cry for help,
my King and my God,
for to you I pray.

In the morning, Lord ,
you hear my voice;
in the morning I lay my requests before you
and wait expectantly.
For you are not a God who is pleased with wickedness;
with you, evil people are not welcome.

The arrogant cannot stand in your presence.
You hate all who do wrong;
you destroy those who tell lies.
The bloodthirsty and deceitful
you, Lord , detest.

But I, by your great love,
can come into your house;
in reverence I bow down
toward your holy temple.

Lead me, Lord ,
in your righteousness because of my enemies—
make your way straight before me.

Not a word from their mouth can be trusted;
their heart is filled with malice.
Their throat is an open grave;
with their tongues they tell lies.

Declare them guilty, O God!
Let their intrigues be their downfall.
Banish them for their many sins,
for they have rebelled against you.

But let all who take refuge in you be glad;
let them ever sing for joy.
Spread your protection over them,
that those who love your name may rejoice in you.

Surely, Lord ,
you bless the righteous;
you surround them with your favor
as with a shield.
Psalm 5:2-12 NIV
http://bible.com/111/psa.5.2-12.NIV

“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.  But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.   

“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.  By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?  Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.  A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.  Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.  Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.   

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.  Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’  Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’   

“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.  The 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.  But 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.  The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”  

When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.
Matthew 7:13-29 NIV
http://bible.com/111/mat.7.13-29.NIV

And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.
Romans 13:11-14 NIV
http://bible.com/111/rom.13.11-14.NIV

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
Ephesians 6:10-17 NIV
http://bible.com/111/eph.6.10-17.NIV

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.  Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Matthew 6:33-34 NIV
http://bible.com/111/mat.6.33-34.NIV

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.  All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. Only let us live up to what we have already attained.  Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do. For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things.
Philippians 3:12-19 NIV
http://bible.com/111/php.3.12-19.NIV

1 Timothy 6:5
These people always cause trouble. Their minds are corrupt, and they have turned their backs on the truth. To them, a show of godliness is just a way to become wealthy.

2 Timothy 4:3-4
A time will come when people will not listen to accurate teachings. Instead, they will follow their own desires and surround themselves with teachers who tell them what they want to hear. People will refuse to listen to the truth and turn to myths.

Isaiah 8:20
Look to God’s instructions and teachings! People who contradict his word are completely in the dark.

Malachi 3:18
Then you will again see the difference between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not.

Galatians 5:22-26
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things. Now those who belong to the Messiah Jesus have crucified their flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, by the Spirit let us also be guided. Let’s stop being arrogant, provoking one another and envying one another.

The king of Israel answered, “Tell him: ‘One who puts on his armor should not boast like one who takes it off.’ ”
1 Kings 20:11 NIV
http://bible.com/111/1ki.20.11.NIV

Confirmed? Transformed?

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Romans 12:2 ESV
http://bible.com/59/rom.12.2.ESV

This verse does not need to be a condemnation, a judgemental statement speaking against us,  convicting us – it can be a declaration of God that we be transformed and renewed.

If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, but you must rule over it.”
Genesis 4:7 ESV
http://bible.com/59/gen.4.7.ESV

Yes,  this is an encouragement for those who do want to do well. It does not have to be a condemnation, but it is the direction of our hearts and desires that determine whether this feels like an encouragement or feels like an accusation.

You see, it is instruction pointing to the one true and narrow gate and path. And if that is what we seek, then it is like like the healing power of His annointing oils poured out on our heads. But if we seek the other path, then it is like hot coals poured out onto our heads. If we seek to walk with Christ,  as our faithful friend and comforter, then this instruction and guidance is a blessing. If we seek to serve that other master,  to love ourselves and the carnal things of this world, then we hear this same Word of God as chastisement and as conviction.

And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.  For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed.  But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”
John 3:19-21 ESV
http://bible.com/59/jhn.3.19-21.ESV

And this judgement is beautiful and wonderful and encouraging if we have decided to come to Him for the transforming and renewal that He offers. He gives us the gift of the Holy Spirit to teach us,  guide us,  comfort us,  and instruct us, in His ways.

“If you love me, you will  keep my commandments.  And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever,  even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.   “I will not leave you as orphans;  I will come to you.
John 14:15-18 ESV
http://bible.com/59/jhn.14.15-18.ESV

And this gift,  this Spirit of Christ in us, it is a filing of our lives with power,  love and self-control.

For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.
2 Timothy 1:6-7 ESV
http://bible.com/59/2ti.1.6-7.ESV

And this power frees us from the power and hold that sin once had over our lives.

For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.  What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness. I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations. For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification.
Romans 6:14-19 ESV
http://bible.com/59/rom.6.14-19.ESV

So we must examine ourselves to be sure that we are in the faith. We must either find that we are walking as a humble and faithful servant of the Lord Jesus Christ and Almighty God – or admit to ourselves that we have chosen to serve a  different master. And there is an eternal consequence for our choice. If we hate the heavenly things of God,  if our cold, hard hearts cannot bear the blessings of love, joy, peace, patience,  kindness,  goodness,  faithfulness, and self-control that are very divine nature of God,  then we will not be forced to accept His gifts,  His grace,  His glory, His blessings eternal. He will allow us to cling to the darkness and go into destruction with it and be permanently separated from those things in our lives.

Oh, that you could know for a moment the burden of your life being fully separated from these blessings of God so that you might fear and tremble at the possibility,  at the weight of an existence void of His nature available to you. Maybe then you would then realize His value and that He is truly worthy of all praise and worship and honor.

And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord , choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord .”
Joshua 24:15 ESV
http://bible.com/59/jos.24.15.ESV

Oh, that you wouldn’t just seek Him because you have become aware of the cost,  that you are fearful of the coming judgement – but that you believe and understand this gift offered to you. Because it is in understanding the price paid that grattitude is found. And when we find grattitude for the gift received, this Word of God is no longer burdensome,  but is fertilizer for our souls,  divine and loving instructions to protect us from all kinds tricks, traps, poison, and consequences.

For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.
1 John 5:3 ESV
http://bible.com/59/1jn.5.3.ESV

We don’t serve to fill an obligation, but to seize an opportunity.

Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness, just as David also speaks of the blessing of the one to whom God counts righteousness apart from works:  “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered;  blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin.”
Romans 4:4-8 ESV
http://bible.com/59/rom.4.4-8.ESV

So the question is, what will we choose to do today?

They loved not their own lives unto death

Father, if it is possible that you can take this cup of suffering from the hands of those facing martyrdom, we pray together that you would do so.  But nevertheless, your will be done. We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose(Romans 8:28). You tell us to expect trials and tribulations while we are in this world (John 16:33) and that the world will hate us just like it hated you (John 15:18). You tell us about the narrow gate and path that few will find (Matthew 7:13) and that you are the one truth,  life,  and way (John 14:6).

May the example of these true Christian martyrs of today testify against the many false teachers of prosperity (Matthew 6:19-21),  positive thinking spirituality (Collosians 2:8), “name it and claim it” (Matthew 16:24-26, 1 John 2:14), “speak it into existence” (Philippians 4:11), that are nothing short of demonic(James 4:4),  self-centered lawlessness (Jude 1:4) seeking to make themselves fat and wealthy off of the ones they surround themselves with (1 Timothy 6:4-6). Lord, open eyes to recognize the hirelings (John 10:12) and wolves that are living off of those around them (Acts 20:29) instead of feeding and serving them (John 21:15). Chastise those seeking after the honor of men (John 5:44), the treasure of this earth (Matthew 6:19), and a kingdom of their own (Mark 10:44) – so they might repent, receive your Holy Spirit,  and instead seek your will,  your Kingdom, your righteousness (1 Timothy 5:20).

Chasten our nation that murders it’s unborn children by the thousands each day,  Lord. Empower your mighty church to rise up in revival and say, “No more. We will no longer sleep in the complacency and comfort of our grand tombs that are bought with debt and oppression and wickedness of every kind and nature. Lord, we ask you to breath life and power into us to see either the repentance of our nation, or our safe deliverance out of her before the fulfillment of her pending destruction – as she follows in the ways of Jeremiah and Lamentations, of Sodom and Gomorrah, of the great flood.”

Lord,  have mercy upon us for not crying loud enough from the watch tower, that more might have heard the warnings and turned away from the darkness and clung to the light. Use us still to share your Good News to those few who might yet repent and come to know the glories of your grace and mercy before their time and opportunity is past.

Lord, embolden us to stand firm and confident in the blood of the Lamb, and the word of our testimony, and our not loving our own lives even unto death. If we must one day stand beside these martyrs for your glory and honor,  may we be filled with your peace that passes all understanding. Amen.

24/7? At all times? Is that costly, or valuable?

Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.
Ephesians 6:18 NLT
http://bible.com/116/eph.6.18.NLT

I come in contact with people who are in need almost every day. Many times the people that I come into contact know that they are in trouble or struggling,  but they are only aware of the surface level symptoms of what they are dealing with – they don’t understand the root cause or the purpose and lesson that can be gained by their coming through their situation. Much of the time,  they are blinded by the visible circumstances,  but they are blind to the spiritual ramifications.

So many of us are only concerned with the surface level, because treating the symptoms is easy and quick and doesn’t take a lot of work or preparation – it doesn’t require examining ourselves and examining the situation to see how the Word of God might instruct us and guide us to handle it in His way. It doesn’t require prayer and time seeking the Lord’s guidance.

The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice.
Proverbs 12:15 ESV
http://bible.com/59/pro.12.15.ESV

I know many that are homeless and needy,  and the thing that they will tell you over and over once you get close to them and get to know them personally is that you should never give cash. That the best thing that we can do is to offer  a job,  an opportunity. They will say that it is best to give them an opportunity to work for what they receive, not to just hand them money and not to just turn them away empty handed.

But most of us are just interested in what is quick and easy and is the least interruption to our daily lives. We would rather give the starving man on the corner 10 dollars out of our pocket to hide or guilt and shame and conviction over the fact that we really don’t care about this man or his problems,  we just want Him out of our lives so we can return to business as usual.

And isn’t that how many treat God as well? Aren’t we satisfied with a message once a week and maybe some money in the offering plate to get God off of our backs so we can get back to life as usual in this carnal world.

Wake up,  dying world!

Do you even know Him?

Are you even in communication with the only one who can save you from destruction?

Do you think that just because you know His name that you will be saved from the fire of His wrath?

“Not everyone who  says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will  enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who  does the will of my Father who is in heaven.  On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’  And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’
Matthew 7:21-23 ESV
http://bible.com/59/mat.7.21-23.ESV

Are you a worker of lawlessness?

Are you participating in those things that the Word of God says shall not inherit the kingdom of God?

Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Galatians 5:19-21 ESV
http://bible.com/59/gal.5.19-21.ESV

Or are you walking in the Spirit, washed by the blood of, Jesus, Christ,  touched by the very annointing of His Holy Spirit?

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.  If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.
Galatians 5:22-25 ESV
http://bible.com/59/gal.5.22-25.ESV

There are only two types of trees, those producing good fruit and those to be cut down and cast into the fire.

“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are  ravenous wolves.  You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?  So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit.  A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit.  Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.  Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.
Matthew 7:15-20 ESV
http://bible.com/59/mat.7.15-20.ESV

If we are not bearing fruit, we will be cut down and cast into the fire. Do not rest in a promise of forgiveness with no faith or belief in the one who offers it,  because that is not grace. Grace is not a license to sin. The freedom offered demonstrates to us who it is that we really serve – humbling and chastising us if we step off this narrow path, not giving us confidence to make sin a comfortable part of our existence.

And he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none.  And he said to the vinedresser, ‘Look, for three years now I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I find none. Cut it down. Why should it use up the ground?’  And he answered him, ‘Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and put on manure.  Then if it should bear fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.’”
Luke 13:6-9 ESV
http://bible.com/59/luk.13.6-9.ESV

Carnal person,  chasing the desires and pleasures and temptations of this world, lying and cheating and stealing and oppressing your fellow man – examine yourself for the daily fruit of your life. Is it rotten and putrid and dead in those things that we are told shall not inherit the Kingdom of God? Or are you alive and bearing fruit.

Decide today who it is you will serve. And if you will serve Him,  walk with Him and enjoy His presence and His guidance throughout your day. Stay in prayer and fellowship with Him and seek His way. It is a narrow gate of only Jesus Christ that leads to salvation, and it is a narrow way of faith that proves us out as either children of wickedness or Children of God.

Is my attitude making me a slave to my job?

Slaves, obey your earthly masters with deep respect and fear. Serve them sincerely as you would serve Christ. Try to please them all the time, not just when they are watching you. As slaves of Christ, do the will of God with all your heart. Work with enthusiasm, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Remember that the Lord will reward each one of us for the good we do, whether we are slaves or free.
Ephesians 6:5-8 NLT
http://bible.com/116/eph.6.5-8.NLT

Truth
I can get discouraged at my job. My statement in the past has been “if it was all fun,  they wouldn’t pay you to do it”. And there are times when I just don’t understand some of the decisions that are made because I don’t have the full picture of all of the factors in play “above my pay grade”. And sometimes my integrity can be challenged by the things that some people in the business world are willing to do to make a buck. And a times,  I’ve worked for employers who promised me one thing and then did another,  who were harsh people to work under because they enjoyed trampling others with their position and authority.  And at times in my life, these things have put me at odds with my job and I have not been grateful for the opportunity and blessing of providing for my family.

At times, I’ve found myself grumbling about this or that in the workplace – sharing in conversations with coworkers about working conditions or about other employees. At times,  I’ve found my spirit crushed under the heavy load of my labor as I see my attitude turn to negativity. When this happens,  I forget to be thankful,  to be grateful – instead,  I have let my mind soft into a perspective of expectation of how it should be. I have let myself fall into the pride of entitlement,  saying to myself,  I deserve X instead of what I am getting. And this then affects my attitude towards my job,  my coworkers and those above me in authority. And I can fall victim to all kinds of traps of the enemy, like dissention,  division, envy,  jealousy – the types of things that Galatians 5 says “shall not inherit the Kingdom of God”.

Hope
I’m so thankful for grace,  because as I dig into the Word of God each day,  and new things in my life are revealed that need the healing touch to be brought in line with His will,  I understand more and more about His perfect and righteous and holy nature. And I’m no longer crushed in guilt and shame that I have fallen short in the past,  but I’m encouraged that He is strengthening me to wage battle and see my old ways overcome. I encouraged by His promise that if I will resist evil that it will flee from me,  that if I am going through a trial that I can find strength in Him. Hope isn’t about a life of ease as much as it is about the peace that He provides to carry us through when we set our eyes on Him. 

I’m thankful that I can pay and ask Him to provide me with strength and growth in these areas of my life where I sometimes let’s my circumstances dictate my attitude – when I forget that He is in control and He has me where He had me for a reason, and that He is sending me where He is sending me for a reason.

Faith
You see,  the Lord wants me to be content with the things of this world that I have, but desperately in need of more of Him. How many times have I gotten this turned upside down? How many times when I have a want our need,  do I focus on more stuff,  more resources, more money – instead of desperately needing more of God’s miraculous and wonderful involvement in my life? I wonder how many times people trade in blessings eternal because our prayers are not “give me more of you, Lord” but they are “give me more of the world, master”. And those two prayers are to very different masters.

No one said that faith was easy,  but it is not meant to be burdensome. Yes, there is a cost to discipleship, but even though it is high in the eyes of men,  it is nothing in comparison to the glory of the inheritance of a Child of God. You see,  when we learn to love God and to trust Him,  and when we realize that He is the only peon worth having – our perspective changes because we understand the difference between the worthlessness of carnal, worldly things compared to the immeasurable value of things eternal. Our walk of faithfulness teaches us this through a combination of seeking Him, being taught by Him,  and being tested and proven by the temptations and trials and sufferings of this world.

So, in the workplace, I need to see past the discomfort of the trials and see the opportunity to serve Him faithfully – whether as a visible example to others or just a personal sacrifice of my natural response yielding to trust in Him. Sometimes my actions are visible to others and can serve as a testimony to others,  but even when unseen by others my actions are always a testimony to my heart,  because God sees all and knows all.

Love
And all of the strength to overcome,  all of the strength to see His will fulfilled in our lives – it all comes from love. It comes from a Godly love,  not some carnal perversion of lust that the world would offer us as a poor substitute. You see,  love is not about self, love pours out onto others. Love is like an annointing oil,  it is like living waters that spring forth from inside us to fill our cup to overflowing and spill out over the lives of others. Love is receive from God,  who first loved us – and it has a multiplying effect when we are willing to receive it and share it with others.

You see, everything in this world is finite and numbered – so that if you give me something,  I have taken it away from you and you have less in turn. But when I share love with others –  true, selfless, sacrificial love – both the give and the receiver end up with more in their hearts,  because love springs forth from the Holy Spirit of God who is infinite and all powerful and Almighty.

And if we love God,  then we will do His will,  we will obey His commandments.

And we can be sure that we know him if we obey his commandments.
1 John 2:3 NLT
http://bible.com/116/1jn.2.3.NLT

“Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?” Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’  This is the first and greatest commandment.  A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’  The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.”
Matthew 22:36-40 NLT
http://bible.com/116/mat.22.36-40.NLT

All of the law depends on loving God with our everything and loving others as ourself.

An attitude of “What can I do to serve?” instead of “What do I deserve?”

A perspective of being the humble servant, instead of thinking that we have the right to be a demanding master.

Help me today in my workpiece,  Lord, to bear your Holy Spirit and to walk in your will as a humble and willing servant,  working for you,  thankful for all of my many blessings.  Amen.

“It’s not about how much you got – it’s about how much you appreciate it.” – My Wife 

These words aren’t just wise words for our children to understand,  a lot of us adults can learn from this lesson as well. We’ve received an amazing gift,  a Savior born this day.

We’ve received so much – mercy,  forgiveness, grace, adoption into the family of Christ – and I hope that today we appreciate it. I hope that we see past the commercialism and the ritual and the presents under the tree, and the food on the table. I hope that we appreciate that greatest gift of all, because He is the only gift truly worth receiving and talking hold of and claiming as our own.

Thank you,  Lord. Teach us to appreciate you,  to know you,  to love you – and nor just one day a year,  or just one day a week – help us remember you, and walk with you. Because that restored relationship,  that fellowship, that pouring out of your Spirit into our lives is truly something worth appreciating.