The Final Word

Ever been around children who seem to be at the same level as their parents on "authority"?  Have you been the parent or child?  This back and forth on the final word.  I believe there is something deeper within us that wants to be heard moreso understood.  We haven't quite learned the way to communicate it though.  For one person it is shutting down and running away, for another, yelling. 

Let me pose a question, were we as mankind meant to have the final word?  Yes there are decisions to be made, places to go, jobs to be done, etc.  Let me put it a different context, "In the beginning was the word, and word was with God, and the Word was God."  In a loud voice Jesus cried out on the cross "It Is Finished".  If something is finished, it is done, complete, not lacking, etc.  What we as humanity cry out for, Christ has already done, he has heard our cry even before it left our lips.  "He humbled himself taking on the very nature of a servant and became obedient to death, even death on a cross".  Christ came into the middle of our heart wrenching dilemna of "does anyone, anybody hear me or see me?"  His answer is Yes, It is finished, I have the last word.   Jesus is the way the truth and the life, no man comes to the Father except through Him.  He has the last word.  God ran to you. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2WhRD9TZ-U

Setting it straight just right

What about things being not straight drive you crazy?  Is it the picture on the wall?  The painted trim in your house?  Maybe the way your husband/wife drives?  There is within us this desire to set "it" straight.  In some form or another we all experience this, alot of interesting habits develop from this.

Habit 1. You get in your car, you tweak all the mirrors "just right" (that being said you maybe move them 1/8 of an inch)

Habit 2. For the ladies it may be that one pesky curl in your hair that sits "just right". (While us men sit there befuddled not seeing any change and not seeing any reason for the big deal, anywho)

Habit 3. For the Men it may be setting it straight is getting out in the wild.  Be it flyfishing, hunting, camping, etc.  Something about just getting out there can set things right. 

Some Habits may appear light hearted others more engrained and serious.  The fact is we all have a desire/need for things to be right.  One problem, we weren't born right.   Scripture says that "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."  How frustrating that would be if that were the end, that we have this desire for things to be right, for our spirit to know that we are ok, not just ok, but created for something or even someone amazing but there didnt exist a cure.

There exists a Just, Perfect, Unblemished, Pure, Cure.  That sets "it" straight, that as scripture records, "restores the years the locusts have stolen", that "heals the broken hearted and binds up their wounds" that brings "freedom for the captives".   Our security is found not in what we dont know, but what we know, or more importantly who we know.  Jesus Christ.  What do you know of Christ?  What do you know of His Character?  Put feelings and emotion aside for a moment, what do you know of Christ.  The truth is this, He has set "it" straight just right.  To live off what we know of God instead of what we dont know of life is truth.

Rescued

"In a flawless operation that unfolded before a hopeful, transfixed world, 33 miners who were trapped for more than two months deep beneath the Chilean earth were raised one by one Wednesday through a smooth-walled shaft of rock."- this is first line today in the headlines.  I have been captivated by this story.

Yesterday I watched live as they pulled out the 20th miner from 2,000 feet beneath the earth to safety.  One of the miner was quoted to say to the effect of what an amazing thing it is to breathe the air and see the stars.  When one of the miners came out a rescuer said this to him ""Welcome to life".   Welcome to LIFE, I cannot help but think about my rescue that occured some 2000 years ago.  Trapped beneath the weight of sin, seperated from God, each man and woman and child was what seemed to be hopeless and without aid. 

This plan was planned since the beginning, with great care, perfection and precision.  Just as the rescuers sent the pod down to the miners in the earth, our great God sent His son to the earth, not only to it, but in it.  Jesus knows what its like to be buried under the weight of sin, he bore the weight and said...."Welcome to LIFE".   My friends, brothers and sisters, Welcome to LIFE.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhpQ8_q5awo&feature=related

Steps of Faith

What does a step of faith look like?  Is it our job to determine its merit?  Or is it just to step, and that is what defines is "success" or not, not the result of our obedience, but the act of it.  Remember this scene from indiana jones?  Its not our job to find something to stand on, but to hear the voice of the Lord saying, "step forward and trust me". 

Fall is here

Leaves are changing, what a great time of beauty, the forest and trees and vibrant in color. For many of us, what we see outside doesn't match what we see or "feel" inside. Today as I got in my car to drive to work I stopped and just looked at creation all around me. It was a peaceful moment, seasons bring change, it reminds me of different ups and downs in my life.


For some this can be a season of great joy because it has to do with an event that brings great joy, for others this can be the start of a season that reminds you of loneliness, pain and heartache. I think about the woman at the well in scripture, each day was a "season" for her, she walked by herself to a far off well to get water. Each day reminding her off who she thought she was, how people viewed her, etc. For her, it could have been fall or spring, etc but it was a season of being alone. Here is where Jesus meets her, He meets her on her turf. He replaces her old day to day experience with a new one, not just any experience, but one of LIFE. Remember what he offers her?

My prayer today is that each of us would see the Lord bringing LIFE into areas of us that we are "alone". I believe that God's faithfulness is shown in its splendor when we are facing the eye of the storm and we hear a voice call out "Peace be still". Allow Him to lead you through those times, its in those times He whispers...."I AM".

Method vs. Relationship

So...method we have lots of it around us. Processes, things set in place to ensure success and a certain outcome. What happens when we don't have a method? Panic? Anxiety? Stress? What about peace?

In talking about life, most if not all what we experience is on a relational level. Constantly interacting with people singular or plural. We have our methods at work, home, driving, eating, etc. When it comes to relationships, we all look for a method, the "how to" books seem to be enough to choke a camel. Don't get me wrong there is great wisdom and knowledge to gain from alot of books. But when we rely upon someone Else's experience to be true for us, we can be setting ourselves up for a possible let down, etc.

Specifically in what it means to walk with Christ. Now understand, there are biblical principles in which we live by, God's everlasting unchanging truth. You can't get around that, but understand, that is not method. Each thing we read in the word of God is alive and active, its personal to each account. I recently had a friend say, "I'm glad Jesus never healed someone the same way twice, because we would have denominations like "the church of healing mud on your eyes", etc. When we are talking about what God has done in our life, it can be easy to share method with people on how you "gained" victory. When scripture says "His divine power has given us everything, for life and godliness" I believe this speaks of the power of God that is alive, and active. We can't say in order to be a good christian you must "1, 2, 3". What that does it take the personal leadership of Christ out of our lives. Dependence upon Christ and His word and His spirit are key. Not dependence on "God did this for that person that way because they did this". We are only to be observant of others fruit, not their motive, can we really judge that? If God leads me to do one thing, it can be in freedom but another person can try to achieve a result based off what they see in me by "method" and they will walk right into a wall.

Sometimes its easier to go off other peoples revelation and manna, than seek and receive our own.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=c2U3PU-E32E&feature=related

Yearn

Ahhh yes, for those who know me I am a non scary obsessed shane and shane fan. What draws me to their music is the depth from which they sing and write from. I dont want to draw on, so check out this link. Take a moment and breathe.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=uzKCp2tLqUo